Beautiful and mostly hidden gem. When I go on weekends I don't see too many folks but through the week I only see a few retirees.. if you need a beautiful spot along the Potomac to gather your thoughts, this is it. The Billy Goat Trail has a few nice spots where you can go down to the river and take it in with beautiful views in both directions.

Beautiful area to hike. One of the unnamed trails near the Billy Goat section has great views of the Potomac River and the American Legion Memorial Bridge.

The Billy Goat Trail was a lot harder then I expected it to be, but I loved it. Be careful, there are some precarious points that are near the rock's edges. Also, the terrain is a little rough in spots. You will have to go over some rocks, especially near the East Waterfall. Be wary of climbers, as well, you'll see their ropes tied off. Amazing views of the Potomac River. At one point you can look across the see the rocks from Scott's Run (which I've also hiked). Took me 2 1/2 hours to do the whole trail. The towpath is the best way back and passes by a couple of canal locks. A great day overall. Be advised, there are no garbage cans here. They have trash bags you can carry for your garbage to throw out elsewhere. Keep the place clean, folks. It's a gem of a walk.

Really great walking/hiking area especially for long distance training. The view of great falls is also a good bonus!

Carderock is an awesome picnic and hiking area on the Potomac River located in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. It is also very popular among the rock climbing community. I visit regularly with friends throughout the year to enjoy the different seasonal views of the river just south of Great Falls. There are challenging hiking opportunities on the Billy Goat trail or easy strolls along the C & O canal path.