Virginia (Fairfax County) and Maryland Border (Montgomery County)
The Potomac River flows into the Atlantic Ocean

I had visited Great Falls as a part of a vacation to trip with my grandchildren, and to meet up with a Marine Grandmother. I had done not extensive research regarding Great Falls whitewater routes. I actually did not realize the greatness of the area. I had only visited the one location at the visitor center on the Virginia side. This was a very easy walk to three observation decks. I have split up my photos taken in each of the observation deck locations. The entire walk to the three observation decks is approximately a .5 round trip.

The following information should not be relied upon as completely accurate. I compiled my resources to the best of my ability. The links provided below is what was used. I only included information in regards to the section of Great Falls seen from the observation decks. The map I have included shows ALL the points that I could figure out.

I plan to revisit this location in the future. It will take more than a day to hike the Great Falls area from both sides of the state line.

Great Falls (Center Lines) (Streamers)

Great Falls (Virginia Lines) (The Spout)

Great Falls (Maryland Lines)

Great Falls Mather Gorge to Lock 10

Guide to Mystery Move Spots of the Potomac River, Mather Gorge By Stephen Strothers, Greg Steiger, Mr E, & now with updates and comments from Steve Graybill

Overlook 1	Virginia	Fairfax County	N38.99651 W77.25367	Trail
Overlook 2	Virginia	Fairfax County	N38.99591 W77.25343	Trail
Overlook 3	Virginia	Fairfax County	N38.99512 W77.25291	Trail

Great Falls (Virginia Lines)

U-Hole (Class 5.0, Mile 0.4)

N38.99728 W77.25380

Norman’s Leap (Right)

Small Ledges, Slide

S-Turn (Class II-IV) 0.3

N38.99677 W77.25353

A short pool separates S-Turn from the Spout

Angled Ledge

The Spout (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5)

N38.99648 W77.25339

The Curtain (Big Toe) ????

18-22 ft, 4 ft

Drop, Slope

The Crack (Class 5.2)

Alternate line to the Spout

Great Falls (Center Lines)

Grace Under Pressure (Class 5.1, Mile 0.4)

N38.99740 W77.25334

12 ft

The Sliding Board (Class 5.2)

N38.99722 W77.25321

Bottom of Grace

The Ledges (Class IV+, Mile 0.5)

N38.99700 W77.25304

3-5 ft

Ledges

The Pool above the Fingers. To the right Angel Slot, Left, Next to Charlie’s Hole (MD side) is Hollywood Boulevard that goes toward the Twist n’ Shout, and the Subway

Hollywood Boulevard

Funnels toward Twist n’ Shout, and the Subway

The Fingers (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5) aka The Streamers

N38.99653 W77.25274

Twist and Shout (Class 5.2) aka The Thumb

A Narrow Twisty Flume

Subway (Class 5.3)

Cave at the bottom

Double Drop

The Middle Finger (Class 5.0)

20 ft, 4 ft, 8 ft, 12 ft

Drop, Slot. Slide, Boof

The Ring Finger (Class 5.1) aka Flatliner

The Pinky Finger (Class 5.1) aka Angel Hair

Entrance Angel Slot

Great Falls (Maryland Lines)

Pummel (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5) aka Sunburst

N38.99742 W77.25260

Small Chutes

To the left of the Notch, Below Pummel (from left to right): Pencil Sharpener, Z-Turn, and Charlie’s Hole

Pencil Sharpener (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5)

N38.99726 W77.25245

Slide

Charlie’s Hole (Class 5.2, Mile 0.5)

N38.99697 W77.25260

10 ft, 3-5 ft

Sluice, Ledges

Z-Turn (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5)

N38.99716 W77.25246

Twisting Drop

SOS Wave

Just above the Horseshoe

Horseshoe (Class 5.1, Mile 0.6)

N38.99681 W77.25245

Horseshoe Wave aka Snodgrass ???

Portion of Mather Gorge

FishBowl aka The Shoe

N38.99634 W77.25257

Formed by the Horseshoe slab and Streamers slab, Located below the Streamers, Fishladder waves in Portage “The Shoe”

Fisherman’s Eddy

N38.99549 W77.25226

Directly below the Observation Deck 2 & 3

O-Deck Wave (Class III)

Adjacent to Fisherman’s Eddy

Dunkin’ Stronut’s aka Running Errands

N38.99524 W77.25163

Above Portage/Fishladder, Below the wall at O-Deck

Portage Hole aka Simon Says (Portage Rapids, Portage Waves aka Fishladder Rapid Waves ???)

N38.99488 W77.25081

Upstream of the Fishladder

S-Turn (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5)

N38.99429 W77.24983

Above Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures

Downstream corner on the Maryland side of S-Turn

Watkin’s Wedge

Above Sandy Beach put in on Maryland side, Just below the Fishladder

Fifth Slide (Class 5.0, Mile 0.5)

N38.99511 W77.24934

Overlooking S-Turn, Skirtless Boof on the left

Slide

Bermuda Triangle

N38.99528 W77.24825

Formed by the Fishladder slab and Potomac’s main slab, at the mouth of the Fishladder.

Triple Pleasures

Above Bermuda Triangle and Simple Pleasures