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Routes
United States
Virginia
Fairfax County
Tysons

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Gravelly Point Park loop from Spring Hill

Routes
United States
Virginia
Fairfax County
Tysons

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Gravelly Point Park loop from Spring Hill

Hard

4.7

(8042)

12,385

riders

Horseshoe Bend at Great Falls – Gravelly Point Park loop from Spring Hill

07:59

141km

620m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 0 m for 208 m

After 141 km for 231 m

Waypoints

A

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

22.9 km

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Lake

27.4 km

Widewater

Lake

3

29.1 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.

Tip by

4

29.4 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 •

Tip by

5

33.7 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.

Tip by

39.9 km

Dierrsen Wildlife Management Area

Nature Reserve

7

77.2 km

Pennyfield Lock

Highlight • Monument

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.

Tip by

8

100 km

Lock 6, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Highlight • Monument

One of the locks (#6 of 75) on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. These should ensure the shipping traffic between Cumberland and Washington to transport coal.
The lock keeper's houses …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9

112 km

View of the Washington Monument from Lady Bird Johnson Park

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

A well-developed, but also frequented bike path with a magnificent panorama of the mall. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Obelisk to the Jefferson Memorial, everything is obvious.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

10

115 km

Gravelly Point Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

The approach to Reagan National Airport is not easy, following the Potomac River with a late, deep turn to land. At this point the planes fly close enough to touch. Anyone who has anything left for aviation should come here.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

115 km

Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary

Nature Reserve

12

127 km

W&OD Railway and Jim Crow Laws Historical Marker

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Beautiful smooth paved trail plus info board on the Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation on public transport.

Tip by

B

141 km

End point

Train Station

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

76.7 km

36.2 km

23.0 km

3.21 km

1.78 km

395 m

243 m

Surfaces

56.1 km

46.6 km

20.3 km

18.0 km

403 m

< 100 m

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Elevation

Elevation
Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (150 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Today

Sunday 25 October

18°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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