Field Trip: Great Falls MD (South End)

Great Falls is a DMV treasure and a favorite place for landscape photography. In November we will photograph the Potomac River and C&O Canal on the southeast end of the Maryland side of Great Falls. 

We will park in the (free) parking lots across from The Old Angler’s Inn and head over the Angler’s Footbridge and down to the shore of the Potomac River, which at that point provides a beautiful wide view of the river and the shores beyond it. We will then walk northwest along the C&O Canal and take advantage of the landscape and wildlife photo ops that the canal provides.  We will make our way back toward the parking lot on the same path. For those who would like to get something to eat afterwards, we will meet at Market on the Boulevard, a deli 3.6 miles down the road from the parking lot. 

When:

Saturday November 16 from 8 -11 a.m. (post-trip gathering at 11:15 a.m.)

Rain date: Sunday, November 17 from 8-11 a.m.

Where:

Great Falls National Park

Start at parking lot across from Old Angler’s Inn (10801 Macarthur Blvd, Potomac, MD)

Equipment and Notes:

A walkaround or landscape lens will work well. A wide angle lens (camera or phone) would be nice for river and footbridge shots. If you would also like to photograph birds on the canal, you can bring a longer lens, although the birds will be relatively close.    

Parking is free and there is no admission fee at this end of the park. There is an upper and lower parking lot across from Old Angler’s Inn, and restrooms at the lower lot. We will meet by the restrooms. 

The walk down to canal and river is moderately steep and the paths are not paved, so hiking footwear is recommended.

We hope you can join us!

Rena Schild and Steven Glintz
Field Trip Coordinators 2024-2025

Photographs courtesy of Rena Schild