Akua A.

Let me start off by saying, mentally and physically I was not prepared for this..lol. My family and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We went early Sunday morning. We were told to go early to find good parking. It was foggy and cold and at 0730 there were already people there starting. Many were in groups. I went with 3 athletic people, my parents and brother. I am not very athletic and I have only hiked like 5 times in my life but I was determined. This place is beautiful and breathtaking. Amazing views that's overlook the Potomac river. We did section A. It is important to dress appropriately. Something comfortable, good hiking shoes because you will be rock hopping and climbing, using you hands and everything, really intense but a great experience. I have fear of height but did pretty well. We took breaks and brought a lot of water. I don't think section A is a spot for kids but I did see families with their little ones. They had to be extra extra careful. I hear trail B/C is more of a relaxing and less strenuous hike. I want to experience that too another time. But some tips for section A is go early for good Ans close parking; comfortable clothes and good hiking shoes; bring water and maybe snacks, take breaks if you need it and just enjoy the nature.

Courtney K.

Bottom Line: Fun, scenic and a bit challenging at times. My husband and I hiked Section A of the Billy Goat Trail on a weekend morning in late summer. We arrived at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor's Center (part of the C&O Canal Historical Park) parking lot at 7am so we could be sure to get a spot and beat the summer heat. As others have mentioned, there isn't much shade on Section A of the trail so we came prepared with hats, water and sunscreen. Section A of the trail is around 3 miles but it seemed like the majority of it was a rock scramble. We didn't find climbing the near vertical traverse any more challenging than climbing a ladder. Some reports say it is 35' high and some say it I 50' high. I tend to lean towards it being on the shorter size as we were able to climb up it fairly quickly. I found the constant scrambling to be much more challenging especially all of the steps down since my right knee just doesn't like that sort of thing. We enjoyed the nature and particularly the views and wild flowers, we had a starring contest with a detail, admired a blue heron, and soaked in the history of the "Patowmack" and the C&O canal. Along the way we were passed by a few Ninja Warriors and some trail runners but we were content to take our time. Once we walked to and from the parking lot, did some side hikes and completed Section A, we clocked about five miles. By the time we left the parking lot mid-morning it was packed and there were many cars parked along the surrounding streets. Overall, this was a nice experience and probably the most legitimate "hike" near my Annapolis home.

Spencer H.

Beauty and the Beast, LITERALLY! Billygoat Trail A is the most challenging and most popular trail that Great Falls has to offer. Simply stated, it's an adrenaline junkies paradise. Bring your camera phone for the scenic views however also bring your backpack loaded with bottled water and quick snacks because this trial will make you take a couple of recuperation breaks..trust me! When you're walking to the actual trial, those who have been warned will be misled to believe this will be a piece of cake, they SOON realize all that was said about this beast is true! Boulders, climbs and declines that will make you come up with strategies to get down, will all come into play. Then comes the big one...the 50ft climb! Will make you laugh and and cry at the exact same time! Now the ONLY reason I'm deducting a star is for some safety concerns that I believe the park service needs to address. This is an advanced hike that kids under 12 should not be allowed to participate. Well, there is noone to monitor WHO does this trail so yes, we saw several under aged kids with their parents and trust me there were a few heart stopping moments that made us shake our heads! Also, hikers should be required to wear a certain level of foot gear. I twisted my ankle last time out and I had on heavy duty hiking boots. A Yelp friend of mine had the audacity to say she completed this hike in a pair of flip flops. Unless her flip flops had truck tires attached to them, I'm calling BS on that one..lol! Besides those two suggestions, this is nature at it's best and if you love the great outdoors and have about 3.5hrs to spare, Billygoat Trail A is the place to be!!!!

Betty D.

This trail is beautiful beyond word! Nature is stunning and I'm glad that I am able to admire such beauty at the Billy goat trail. The rocks are enormous, so be prepared for some exercise. Make sure you stretch before climbing these large rocks because they are massiveee, long, and one wrong foot turn and you can hurt yourself. West proper shoes that are slip resistant and comfortable cause it's a lot of climbing and walking. This trail will test your fitness for sure. I literally could hardly talk because I was exhausted!! However you will capture nice pictures of yourself and nature. There are lots and lots of people who walk these trails along with you. I even saw children as young as 4!! It is worth it for the experience !

Igor B.

Billy Goat Trail - section A is very adventurous hike. Not for the ones with fear of heights. Pick a dry day - with no rain for some time and you get to see green Waters of Potomac. You will have to earn the view by scrambling rocks. You will have to use your arms to do it unless you Are a Billi Goat. It is a very slow hike - you can not be fast if you have to carefully step on the rocks during the hike. At the end - Everybody is happy for meeting the challenge and winning it.

TaNeisha J.

Surprised that I had not written a review on Billy Goat Trail! This trail is really one-of-a-kind. If I am not mistaken, there are three trails here, but you'll want to hike Trail A! Apparently, it's the most intense with lots of rock hopping and climbing. I didn't find it too difficult, but you may want to stretch before starting and take your time with all of the rock hopping. The views are absolutely amazing overlooking the Potomac River. Once you get to the summit, it feels good to sit, take in the atmosphere and power up with a packed snack. On warm days, you'll see other visitors canoeing. Sometimes, Trail A closes because of water levels - depends on how much rain has accumulated. You can always check the official Billy Goat site for trail closures.

Rachel B.

Billy Goat Trail Section A is great for adventure seekers! There are rocks to climb and boulders to scramble. You will need to watch your footing carefully. This is a fun trail for most people who are comfortable with doing some climbing and balancing. There is one very steep part but it's short. I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds. If you are tired on the trail, you can usually find a spot to pull off to the side and look out over the beautiful jagged rocks of the gorge. No dogs are allowed on Part A of the trail.

Sylvie C.

One of the greatest things about living in the Potomac / Bethesda area is the ease of access and proximity to many different park systems. As someone who doesn't really get to do too many forms of exercise beyond walking, having a great variety of parks is crucial to my quality of life. It's an extra bonus if it's pretty rubbish free and quiet. This park not far from my home is one of my top 3 favorites. In my opinion, it's actually lovely strolling through them especially during the colder winter months because of the greater water view. I also love how the community functions well within the park systems even during the busy weekends. The bikers and walkers all know how to coexist without problems. It isn't quite like Lake Needwood where you're afraid you may get run over by the bikers going at high speed. Last but not least, I love how the car park is free, and it's easy to access for even those with mobility problems and one of the rarest of all----THE AVAILABILITY OF A CLEAN WELL LIT BATHROOM. And ya know what? Don't forget to grab a burger at Old Angler's afterwards. Anyhow, my crummy review of the park do no justice to convey its beauty. I can't express well enough that you should just go take a stroll. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Stephanie T.

As someone born and raised in Maryland, I am still so enthralled with the sights and sounds I see when I go hiking and exploring the many trails we've got at our state's doorstep. Billy Goat Trail Section C is a relatively easy and short trail that takes you up right by the river. It is 1.6 miles long, but you can loop back or take the towpath to make it a full day's adventure. Hiking this section, you'll see dogs, hikers, rockclimbers alike. I like how you can choose to self-pace to make it a leisurely exercise or go faster to get your heart rate pumping. Parking is available at Carderock, although at my latest visit, the lot was closed off due to covid. People do park along the road out front, however.

Jamar S.

They call this the most difficult hike on the East Coast, and after just finishing it, I can't imagine hiking being more challenging. Today, a hiking group that my GF and I joined took on the task of hiking 5 miles all through a heavily wooded, beautifully scenic park and we are exhausted! This hike was challenging, but what kept us going was all of the beautiful scenery. Whether it was trees, rocks, or the breathtaking streams, I suggest this park for any and all hard core hikers. There's three versions of the Billy Goat Trail, trail A, B, or C with C being the toughest. If you're into jumping, climbing, and challenging yourself mentally and physically, Great Falls is where it's at. ...and if you just want beautiful backdrops to compliment your photos? There's room for you too.

Tracey T.

***PSA - This trail is NO JOKE*** I'm writing this review as a non-athletic person that never works out; an occasional 1-2 mile walk is the extent. So my new friend suggested this trail for our 4th date and seeing that I'm always open to try new things, I agreed without fully knowing what I was getting into. When I tell you this is NOT a hike for a beginner, I was so thankful I finished it and not on a stretcher lol. I forged through it because I saw little kids out there and I couldn't let the kids show me up!!! I don't think it's very safe for kids to do this hike because there were several scary cringe worthy moments seeing kids that young on those mountains. To get to the entrance of the trail was about a mile and a half walk. I was thinking "oh, this is going to be a piece of cake!!" Oh don't you dare let that walk fool you. Once we entered Billy Goat Trail A, this was 4 1/2 miles of nonstop mountain climbing is the best way I can describe it. An absolute BEAST of a hike but the scenery was gorgeous and the weather was amazing the day we went. There were sooo many moments I wanted to cry, moments I wanted to kill him for suggesting this, moments that I wanted to kill myself for agreeing and moments of sheer exhaustion but when we got to that 50 ft uphill climb, I felt absolutely defeated and could have fainted on the spot lol. We finally made it to the end only to find that we had to walk another mile and a half to get to the car!!! OMG I will offer some tips to hopefully make this experience better: --Please invest in good hiking boots. I saw so many people out there with the wrong shoes on for an intense hike like that. --Bring lots of water, like more than 3 bottles for one person. Pack a few snacks for energy. I personally was so exhausted I couldn't eat anything. --Wear comfortable clothing. I wore jean shorts and could have benefited from some yoga or workout pants. --Don't bring your young kids!!! It's a very intense hike for a kid. And if you don't typically work out, you better do something to get yourself ready for this; It's no joke. Update on that new friend of mine that talked me into this ... I didn't get rid of him but he was immediately informed that we are NEVER doing this again!!! If hiking is your thing, you will LOVE this trail. One thing I forgot to mention... all that water I suggested you bring, you'll need it but there are no bathrooms on this trail ladies! The men can go behind a tree but it might be tricky for us so you may want to bring tissue and wet wipes too.

Georgia B.

review of Part A only. We hiked a sunny weekday in August and the water level was low. Given the proximity, this is very popular but awesome scrambling on the trail and also at the beginning (off trail - Bear island?). If you like bouldering /scrambling, this is an awesome trail. The round trip is ~3.5 miles so carry water, snack and sun screen depending on the weather. Ankle supported shoes with decent treads are recommended. =. Ambiance is crowded, noisy (under an airplane route) and nature. Popular with teenagers and 20 somethings but plenty of 30s and 40s too. ++. Trail is rocky, roots and clay and sands. Big boulders are awesome to scramble and explorer especially off trail to watch the white water kayakers and get views of the River. I spent 1/2 hour exploring Bear Island(?) / a huge pile of rocks just begging to be climbed. It was awesome - see my pics of kayakers. At the end of part A /B is the steep rock scramble /wall that is fun to hike down / up. We did both down and up. It looked steep but was pretty easy. If you have fear of heights, this is not for you. I was a little disappointed that it was shorter and easier than I expected. I used to rock climb and this wall was mostly walkable without using my arms. Having said that I saw plenty of people putting themselves in precarious positions and looked pretty scared. +. Most people were respectful and the trail was well kept. Only negative was that it was crowded and people were noisy...heard all sorts of conversations and cheers (from day rafters)...that I didn't want to hear. The only time I got nature without human voices and airplanes was when I went off trail scrambling near the river where almost no one was. It was beautiful and only heard the River and birds. +. Parking is free across from Anglers restaurant.

Alexis B.

I arrived early to beat the crowds and capitalize on the gorgeous weather. I've done a few moderate to strenuous hikes so I was mentally prepared & properly outfitted for Section A. As previously stated, there were areas where I had to jump from boulder to boulder then others areas where I climbed narrow rock formations. We're talking rock scrambling using your hands, feet, and sometimes glutes to traverse angled rocks... Good hiking shoes and gloves helped a lot. If you're in the mood for a more relaxing hike, stick with Sections B/C or access on the Virginia side instead. I fancy myself as a nature photographer and there are tons of opportunities to grab some stunning shots of the Potomac on both sides. Despite all of the info available online, I saw folks struggling in open toe sandals. Note: Sweat/moisture makes your feet slide which isn't so great for this trail. I also saw several people fall so don't disregard the inherent dangers. FInally, come prepared if you want to complete trail A then continue on trail B. I connected with other hikers which was a lot of fun. We had plenty of water, healthy snacks, toilet paper, and everything else one may need when hiking a few hours. I had over 20,000 Fitbit steps when I left. I absolutely loved this hiking adventure! #HikeMaryland