Join Jon Wolz at 10:30 a.m. December 6th at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center for a Great Falls Popup Walk. The hike will begin by walking up a hill behind lock 19 where participants will be treated to scenic views of the canal and Potomac River. We will walk along the ridge line and then back down the hill where we will cross over the canal at the stop gate just above lock 16. We will walk down to lock 16 to view the lock and the etchings on a coping stone that read, “J.W. Fisher, Jr.” and “W. Spong”. We will walk back up the towpath to the trail that leads to the Great Falls overlook. Then we will walk back to the Great Falls Tavern. There will be a few spots where a walking stick will be useful. Along the walk we will pass locks 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. The total length of the hike is 3 ½ miles. The Overlook Trail is medium difficulty, and the towpath has no difficulty.
A National Park Pass is required -Bring your senior or annual park pass to enter the Park. Otherwise, entrance to Great Falls Park is $20 per vehicle (credit, debit or contactless payment ONLY no cash). Dogs are not allowed on the Olmstead Island Trail. The first part is an intermediate level hike on the Overlook Trail and then walking on the towpath is an easy hike. We should be back at the parking lot at Great Falls by 1:30 pm.
Carpooling and Park Pass sharing – Meet at 9:30 am at the far end of the Our Lady of the Presentation parking lot and bring your Park pass if you have one to share among vehicles.
Park Passes can be purchased online at www.recreation.gov
Jon Wolz, our local expert on the C&O Canal and leader of our “pop-up” walks, has a long history with the canal. As a Montgomery Blair High School sophomore and Eagle Scout, he had already hiked the entire canal. In 1970, Jon was the Boy Scout chosen to testify before a Senate subcommittee on behalf of the bill to protect the C&O Canal as a National Historical Park. Maryland Congressmen Gilbert Gude and J. Glenn Beall sponsored the bill.
Since 2015 Jon has volunteered as a level walker with the C&O Canal Association (COCA). His two levels encompass the area from White’s Ferry to Monocacy Aqueduct.