Potomac Gorge
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Important Note
The Billy Goat Trail on Bear Island closes after heavy rain, snow or snow melt due to high and dangerous flood waters. Call (301) 767-3714 or click here for more info. When the river gauge at Little Falls is over 5.4 the trail is closed and only reopens after dropping back below 5.0.
New Feature!
How much do you know about America’s wildest urban river and its extraordinary diversity of life? Take our Potomac Gorge quiz and find out!
For More Information
Potomac Gorge BioBlitz: Read about how the BioBlitz revealed more than 1,000 species.
Good Neighbor Handbook: Tips and Tools for River-Friendly Living in the
Middle Potomac Region
Handbook (pdf, 786 KB) along the Potomac River Gorge during a 30-hour survey period.
Potomac Gorge brochure: Learn more about the gorge and our partnership with the National Park Service. Download front and back of this brochure.
(both pdf, 4.4MB and 3.3MB).
Billy Goat Trail, ppt
Bear Island brochure, pdf
Directions
From Washington
Take MacArthur Boulevard north. At intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Falls Road, go straight and follow signs to C&O Canal National Historical Park.
From Baltimore (I-695)
Take I-95 south to I-495 west towards Bethesda. Continue on I-495 towards Virginia at split with I-270. Take River Road exit north. At intersection of River Road and Falls Road in Potomac, take a left (west). Falls Road ends at a "T" intersection. Take a right to enter C&O Canal National Historical Park.
To reach Bear Island from the visitor center.
Walk 0.5 miles south on the towpath. Just before reaching the wooden bridge, turn right onto the Billy Goat Trail. Follow the blue blazes on trees and stones. The 2-mile trail ends at the towpath on the south side of the island. Walk 2 miles
Tick and Mosquito Alert
When you get home, plan to drop your clothing directly in the laundry and do a tick check before you shower. Deer ticks, the type that carry lyme disease, are about the size of a pinhead and tend to attach in hair, under ears, underarms, trunk of the body, groin, and backs of the knees. Remove them by gently pulling with tweezers and wipe the skin near the bite with a mild disinfectant.
If, within 7-10 days after exposure, you experience a rash (especially an expanding "bull's eye" rash), chills, fever, headache, stiff neck, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and/or aching joints and muscles, contact your doctor.
You can find more information on lyme disease at lyme.org or aldf.com, or by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404) 332-4555.
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A natural monument in the shadow of national monuments
Why You Should Visit
Of the hundreds of thousands of walkers, hikers, runners, bikers, fishermen, canoeists, and kayakers who enjoy the beauty of the Potomac River and the C&O Canal National Historical Park towpath each year, very few are aware of the natural treasures that exist literally within arm's reach.
Surprisingly, the Potomac Gorge — the 15-mile section of the Potomac River from above Great Falls south to Theodore Roosevelt Island — is one of the most significant natural areas in the entire National Park System. The Potomac Gorge site includes the well-known Billy Goat Trail — two miles of strenuous hiking along Bear Island. Access to the site is controlled by the National Park Service, who manages C&O Canal National Historical Park.
The preserve is open year-round during daylight hours.
Last year a donor gave Offutt Island, a 10-acre island located in the heart of the Potomac River Gorge, to the Conservancy The Potomac Gorge is the 15-mile river corridor from Great Falls to Georgetown, one of the most biologically rich natural areas in the Eastern United States. Learn more about this generous gift!
Location
Just northwest of Washington, D.C.
Access point for island
Great Falls Tavern
11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854
(301)767-3714
Fees
Vehicle
$5.00per car- 3 Days
20.00 annual pass
Cyclist/Walker
$3.00 - 3 Days
$20.00 annual pass
*If you have a National Parks pass, entry is free.
Before You Go
- Call ahead to check if the trail is open. It sometimes closes after a heavy rain event, heavy snow, heavy snow melt, or whenever the river is high. Call (301) 767-3714 and click here to learn more.
- Smoking is not permitted.
- Bring plenty of drinking water, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses), rain gear, and bug protection.
- Binoculars, field guides, and a camera may be useful.
- Pets are not allowed on Conservancy preserves or field trips, and they are not allowed on Bear Island.
- Wear socks and closed-toe shoes. Wearing light colors will help you spot and remove ticks.
How to Get the Most from Your Visit
- Please stay on labeled trails. Thousands of people visit Bear Island and over 2 million explore the Potomac Gorge each year. Staying on trail not only protects everyone's experience, but protects the rare plants and animals. Download our fact sheet on The Damage of Off-trail Travel .
- Smoking is not permitted.
- Please do not remove any plants, animals, or rocks.
- Please help us maintain this unique natural environment by taking home everything that you bring, including biodegradable materials.
What to See: Plants & Animals
Despite its proximity to the urban bustle of the capital of the United States, the Potomac River's Gorge section serves as an unusual meeting place for species from different places and altitudes. The effect is 15 globally-rare species, 100 state-rare species, and 30 different vegetation communities existing within the Gorge. Put simply, the Potomac Gorge has one of the highest concentrations of globally rare natural communities in the nation.
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
In 1996, The Nature Conservancy of Maryland/D.C. was invited by the National Park Service to help manage the incredible biodiversity of Potomac Gorge. The Nature Conservancy co-owns and manages Bear Island with the National Park Service.
What the Conservancy Is Doing Here
The Conservancy is working in partnership with the National Park Service, the George Washington Memorial Parkway, state agencies, and other private conservation groups to identify, protect, and restore the natural resources of the 9,700-acre Potomac Gorge area.
Weed removal — volunteers welcome!
Additional Contacts
Trail maintainers: Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and the C&O Canal Association have Volunteer events to help in the Gorge.
Photo Credit (left to right, bottom): © George Fleming (Potomac Gorge), © Mark Godfrey/TNC (Smithsonian entomologist John W. Brown searches for insects during the Potomac Gorge BioBlitz).
Join The Nature Conservancy on