Three overlooks in Great Falls Park offer different views of the waterfall. The park is in Fairfax County and also has more than 15 miles of hiking trails. This brings a striking natural vista together with an extensive trail network—two different ways to explore the landscape.
Wetlands, Riverbanks, and Trails
The wetland at Huntley Meadows Park covers 1,500 acres, and more than 200 bird species have been recorded there. An elevated boardwalk about half a mile long leads to an observation tower. The size describes the habitat, while the boardwalk offers a specific route through this natural area.
Riverbend Park offers a different focus: its at least 12 miles of trails are complemented by 418 acres of woodland and meadows along the Potomac River. Unlike the wetland landscape at Huntley Meadows, the focus here is on woods and meadows beside the river. Canoes, kayaks, and rowboats can also be rented on the Potomac River, subject to applicable conditions.
The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail extends beyond individual parks. The 41.5-mile trail connects communities from Great Falls to Lorton. For non-motorized travel, Fairfax County also has more than 900 miles of trails, bike routes, and sidewalks. The two figures show different scales: a named trail with specific endpoints and a countywide network of different trails and routes.
Shorter trails and other types of routes add to the selection. Burke Lake Park has a 4.7-mile loop around the lake, where boating is also available. Lake Accotink Park has several miles of multi-use trails. Its main trail offers views of the lake, surrounding woods, and wetlands. This makes it possible, for example, to compare a clearly defined loop around a lake with a trail network featuring views of different landscapes.
History, Technology, and Culture
Frying Pan Farm preserves and interprets rural life in the early 20th century. On the north side of Frying Pan Farm Park, wooded hiking trails run near Frying Pan Branch. Here, historical interpretation and trails through the woods come together within the same park.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center displays more than 3,000 aviation and space objects in two large hangars. The center also offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Free overview tours with volunteer docents complement the visit; tour times may vary. Visitors can attend performances at the Filene Center in Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Wolf Trap is the first and only national park of its kind.
Historic buildings and how they are used give other sites their own character. Guided tours at Sully Historic Site also include the 1794 Sully House. The site also offers self-guided walking tours and audio tours. Colvin Run Mill is a working, water-powered 19th-century gristmill—a piece of technology alongside the historic homes and sites.
Green Spring Gardens is a 33-acre park with a visitor center, historic house, display gardens, trails, and ponds. A tea experience is also offered in the Historic House; program availability may vary. Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, is in Fairfax County on the banks of the Potomac River. Together, these places range from gardens and tea culture to a historic site on the river.
The National Museum of the United States Army offers free tours daily at two times of day. Fairfax County also has several Metrorail stations for visiting different attractions. These are served by Metrobus and the Fairfax Connector. The combination of nature trails, historic sites, museums, and performances leaves room to shape a trip around your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Herndon, Reston, Vienna, Chantilly, Annandale, Springfield, Mclean, Burke, Centreville, Lorton.
Go to the main travel overview: Virginia.
