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blueBlack Billy Goat Trail Section A

  4.6 ( 25 ) Favorite
  1. Areas
  2. MD
  3. …Central Maryland
  4. …Potomac
  5. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park-Great Falls
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Trail

1.6 mile 2.6 kilometer point to point
Singletrack
Intermediate/Difficult

Elevation

Ascent: 31' 10 m
Descent: -52' -16 m
High: 137' 42 m
Low: 95' 29 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 1% (1°)
Max Grade: 2% (1°)

Dogs

No Dogs
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Trail shared by JLDay Day

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Current trail conditions

All Clear 44 days ago See History

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“This is a great trail for someone who wants a challenge but doesn't want to travel too far from DC.”

— JLDay Day
GPX File

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

This trail can be entered from the east or west end. From the east, you would park at the Old Anglers Inn, cross the Canal, and travel west along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath approximately 0.5 miles to the entrance. From the west, park at the Great Falls Visitors Center and head east on the towpath until you reach the trailhead.

The trail itself is a challenging 1.7 miles along the Potomac River through rolling terrain with intermittent rock scramble areas.

Flora & Fauna

Frogs, tadpoles, turtles, spotted newts, and northern water snakes are common in this area.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Great Falls National Park

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Check-Ins

Apr 13, 2019
Donald Bayse
4mi — 1h 56m
Oct 23, 2018
Jpietr03 P
Beautiful
Oct 13, 2018
A L
Oct 7, 2018
Jenee' Saunders
Sep 30, 2018
Rashmi Ravichandran
Billy Goat Section A closed due to flooding, very crowded at this time! 4mi
Jun 17, 2018
J G
May 5, 2018
Lauren D
Rocky, fun, more upper body work than expected. Definitely need good grippy shoes. Also wear socks with padding.
Mar 18, 2018
John Needles
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 25 votes

#1

in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park-Great Falls

#64

Overall
  4.6 from 25 votes
5 Star
64%
4 Star
32%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#1

in Chesapeake and Ohio Ca…

#1

in Maryland

#64

Overall
111 Views Last Month
3,683 Since Jun 8, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
4%
0%
17%
65%
13%
0%
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Photos

Great Blue Heron closeup
Great Blue Heron closeup
 4
Potomac River MD side.
Potomac River MD side.
 4
Potomac River MD side.
Potomac River MD side.
 3

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