McLean, Va.- Are you planning a visit to the Great Falls area? If your answer is yes, National Park Service (NPS) rangers encourage you to #RecreateResponsibly, follow CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and practice Leave No Trace principles. The Maryland and Virginia sides of the Great Falls area are managed by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Great Falls Park, respectively.
You can #RecreateResponsibly by following these five tips during your park visits:
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
Check the park website and social media for the most up-to-date information about the park. Restrooms and parking lots are open. Visitor centers are temporarily closed.
Starting on Monday, June 22, the NPS will resume the collection of entrance fees at Great Falls Park. Credit card transactions are preferred.
Per
Vehicle
Per
Person on Foot
Per
Motorcycle
Great Falls
Annual Pass
$20
$10
$15
$35
Passes purchased at either park are valid at both parks.
The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, active duty members of the U.S. military, fourth grade students and disabled citizens. The NPS will temporarily close parking lots when they are full and reopen them as they empty parking spaces.
Thursdays through Sundays during the month of June, a food truck will offer food and drinks at Great Falls Park.
KEEP IT CLOSE!
Follow the state and county orders governing the open status of the area you’re considering visiting. The NPS is working closely with governors and state and local health departments as we increase access and services across the national park system.
Park only in designated areas. Parking along roadways or impeding traffic may result in a citation or towing. Planning a visit in the early morning or in the late afternoon allows you to avoid the busiest part of the day.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!
Recreate with the people in your household. Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail, at a boat launch or in a parking lot. Follow CDC social distancing guidelines for staying six feet away from others. Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth if you’re near others. If you encounter a crowded trail-head or overlook, go elsewhere.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS!
Postpone challenging hikes or trying new activities while first responders, parks and communities continue to concentrate on responding to the pandemic.
To stay alive, stay out of the river. The appearance of the Potomac River in the gorge between Great Falls and Theodore Roosevelt Island is very deceptive. In many places, the river looks calm on the surface, but invisible, underwater currents pushing downward and can pull a person to the bottom and hold them there. Under the surface, fallen trees or litter can entrap swimmers and waders. Swimmers are subject to a $200 fine, arrest and appearance in federal court.
KEEP IT WITH YOU!
If you brought it, take it with you. Trash pickup may be limited in some areas. Follow Leave No Trace principles.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
