Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Great Falls Overlook loop from Carderock

Running trails & routes

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Great Falls Overlook loop from Carderock

Hard

5.0

(8234)

12,235

runners

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Great Falls Overlook loop from Carderock

03:14

31.2km

90m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

3.08 km

Widewater

Lake

4.01 km

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls

Highlight • River

Great Falls has a scenic Horseshoe Bend where the river curves in a horseshoe shape around a rocky outcrop. It's a nice spot to stop for photos on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail.

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5.10 km

Start of the Great Falls Foot Trail

Highlight • Trail

The Great Falls of the Potomac is a place with various rapids and small falls in the Potomac. The place marked here may only be entered on foot. Bicycles and dogs 😜 must stay outside.

Translated by Google •

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5.17 km

Great Falls Overlook

Highlight • Viewpoint

This is a spectacular waterfall on the Potomac River. Water gushes over a series of jagged rocks and flows through the Mather Gorge.

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5.54 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

9.46 km

Swains Lock

Highlight • Historical Site

These are hard to come by along the C&O canal and usually hidden. Always nice to know where to get water.

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15.7 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

17.2 km

Lock 22, aka Pennyfield Lock, was built between 1829 and 1831, and the name came from the misspelling of the Pennifield family name. It has been restored and offers overnight stays to recreate the rustic feeling from that period.

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27.1 km

Lock 15 and View of the Potomac River

Highlight • River

Lock 15 marks the beginning of the "Six Locks" series, which raises the canal 50 feet past Great Falls. Built from red sandstone boulders transported from Seneca, these locks differ …

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31.1 km

Billy Goat Trail Section C

Highlight • Trail

Section C of the Billy Goat Trail is located in Potomac, Maryland, and is a popular hiking route known for its scenic river views and relatively easier terrain. Stretching 1.6 …

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