GPS took us to a development instead of the exact location. Busy place with limited parking. Arrived around 10:30am on a Sunday. There was no bathrooms available. Only 1 Big map of the area in a plastic window box near parking. No paper maps to take with you as you hike. Lots of people walking around. Had to cross 2 places with stepping stones to get across the creek. Waterfall was flowing nicely middle of November. Had to walk up and down a steep hill to see the Waterfall.

Lovely hiking area though some of the trails are hard to identify as you're walking through the area. There's also a terrible smell at the beginning of the forest access trail by the creek near the big parking lot. Luckily it's only for a short distance. Lots of elevation changes, so a real aerobic challenge. Parking is very difficult in the good weather but great in cold weather on the weekdays.

Hiked to Scott's Run Waterfall. Some parts of the trail have a slight sewage smell. Some elevation changes are noticeable. We came in the late afternoon/early evening when snow was on the ground. We were the only people there.

This is a nice park that is great for those looking for a gentle hike near the city. I recommend starting at the west parking lot and taking the purple trail, turning north onto the yellow trail all the way to the river, then follow the blue trail back to the parking lot.

Scott’s Run is a great place to hike. There are numerous trails, but the most popular goes in a circle around the area. There are two parking areas, one smaller one that is only marked by a very small sign that is closest to the Highway (495 the beltway). The other lot is larger and more clearly marked. During Spring and Summer get there before 9AM or you won’t have a place to park. On nice days the trail is very popular. There is one spot off the trail that leads down to the Potomac River and a small waterfall and the view is very nice.
Be forewarned there are no public bathrooms; only a couple of port-a-potties near each parking lot.
One short section of the trail involves crossing the stream on short concrete pillars. When it’s been rainy these can be close to covered with water, so wear appropriate footwear and if you bring children keep in mind they may have to be carried or walk through a shallow stream. There is also a short stretch of trail where a sewer line runs underneath. Some people complain about the smell, but it’s only a short stretch of the entire trail.
Walking around the circle, including the short side trip to the Potomac, is about 3 miles and is an easy, doable hike.