One of the most popular hikes near Washington, DC, is the Billy Goat Trail, section A by Great Falls. And it’s no wonder! This trail offers beautiful views of the Potomac River, rock scrambling, and its infamous 50-foot ascent.
It’s great for experienced hikers and older kids, and at 1.75 miles, it’s a perfect morning or afternoon hike, especially if you’re visiting DC for the weekend or longer.
Although the Billy Goat Trail Section A isn’t appropriate for little kids, if your children are experienced hikers, you might be able to complete the trail with them if they are elementary-aged or older. Our kids were 9 and 12 when we hiked this trail. However, we saw some younger kids on the trail.
If you’re thinking about hiking Billy Goat Trail Section A, the guide below has everything you need to know, including parking, fees, and how to prepare for the hike itself.
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Where is the Billy Goat Trail?
The Billy Goat Trail has three sections, all located in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Potomac, Maryland, about 30 minutes from Washington, DC.
The park is known for its access to the Great Falls (Maryland side), the Bill Goat Trail, and the C&O Canal Towpath, which starts in Cumberland, Maryland, and terminates in Washington, DC.
What to Know Before You Hike Section A of the Billy Goat Trail
Come Prepared
- Proper footwear: This trail involves climbing on many rocks. Boots or hiking sneakers are highly recommended. Avoid foam-soled sneakers with less grip.
- Lots of water: This is a strenuous hike, and a large section is exposed to the sun, so bring plenty of water. Large water bottles or backpacks with bladders will be your friend.
- Bug spray: The last thing you want to deal with is bug bites and ticks. A good insect repellant always makes a hike more comfortable.
- Backpack: It’s always a good idea to have something to carry around a first-aid kit, lunch, snacks, and water
- Sunscreen: A large chunk of the trail is not shaded, so you’ll want sun protection. Wearing a hat will also help.
Rules of the Trail
- Section A of the Billy Goat Trail is one way. Hikers must enter the trail at milepost 13.8 on the canal towpath.
- Pets are not allowed on section A of the Billy Goat Trail, but they are permitted in the park and on the other trails.
- The trail can close due to flooding. Visit the NPS website for current conditions.
Be a Responsible Visitor
Places like the Billy Goat Trail are popular with visitors, but they can bring trash and other issues. We all need to do our part to keep our parks clean and enjoyable for all. Remember to pack out all trash (including those fruit peels) and leave behind what you found. Leave no trace so we all can enjoy these parks for years to come.
Parking for the Billy Goat Trail
Main Entrance
The main parking lot for the Billy Goat Trail is at the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls, Maryland, parking lot.
From here, you can easily access the Billy Goat Trail Section A and other park features, like the beautiful Olmstead Island trail to Great Falls on the Maryland side.
There is a fee to enter the park, but it is FREE with any National Park pass or Every Kid Outdoors pass. The parking lot is about .7 miles from the trailhead.
Alternate Parking
A second parking option is at the Old Anglers Inn on Mac Arthur Blvd. These lots are smaller than the main lot at Great Falls, but you can park for FREE for the Billy Goat Trail. It’s a further walk to access the trailhead for section A, but you’ll be close to the parking lot when you finish the hike.
Good to know: This is a very popular trail and park, so arrive early during the summer months and weekends to secure a parking spot.
Amenities Near the Billy Goat Trail
The restrooms are located right next to the parking lot at the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
The Visitor Center is also open on select days and times of the week. During the summer months, they offer canal boat rides.
What to Expect on Billy Goat Trail Section A
- Trail Location: Milepost 13.8 on the Chesapeake-Ohio Canal Towpath
- Trail Length: Billy Goat Trail Section A is about 1.75 miles long (one-way). However, the trailhead is .7 miles from the Great Falls parking lot or 1.4 miles from the Angler’s Inn parking lot, making the full length close to 4 miles.
- Trail Difficulty: Moderate-Hard, depending on hiking experience
- Elevation Gain: 60 feet
- Dog Friendly: Dogs are not allowed on Billy Goat Trail Section A
Getting to the Trailhead
As noted above, the Billy Goat Trail Section A trailhead is about .7 miles from the main Great Falls parking lot. To access the trailhead, head towards the visitor’s center and follow the signs to the towpath.
To access the trailhead from the Angler’s Inn parking lot, cross the bridge over the canal and turn right onto the towpath. The entry to the trail is about a 1.4-mile walk along the towpath. You’ll pass the end of the trail and the “exit trail” terminus along the way.
The trailhead is located at mile 13.8 on the C&O Canal towpath. A large sign indicates the entry, so you can’t miss it!
Don’t forget: The Bill Goat Trail Section A is a one-way trail, so you must enter at the marked trailhead.
How Long is Billy Goat Trail Section A?
Section A of the Billy Goat Trail is about 1.75 miles long.
However, to loop back to the trailhead, you’ll have to walk on the canal towpath for approximately 1 mile. If you include the walk to and from either parking lot, your total hike will be around 4 miles long.
You can shorten the trail by taking the two-way exit trail offered about 2/3 through the route. You can also enter the trail at that point off of the canal towpath to avoid the 50-foot traverse.
How Difficult is the Billy Goat Trail Section A?
The National Park Service rates section A of the Billy Goat Trail as strenuous. They even have warning signs by the Visitor Center, the trailhead, and right before the most challenging part of the trail.
Avid hikers and even weekend explorers should have no problems on this trail. However, it may not be appropriate for little kids or visitors with little hiking experience.
The trail is very rocky, with “ankle breakers” along the first part and some small rock scrambles.
After the warning sign, the trail gets even rockier. To continue on the trail, hikers must balance on rocks and jump over large gaps.
The most challenging part of the trail is the 50-foot ascent climbing the face of a cliff.
There were plenty of hand grips and places to put your feet, and the climb is at an angle, but some small children or adults not used to strenuous activity might have difficulty.
Because of the rock jumping and climbing, I would not bring a baby or toddler along this trail unless you are used to carrying them on other crazy hikes.
Views From the Billy Goat Trail Section A
Although the trail elevation doesn’t change much, hikers still have beautiful views of the Potomac River and Mather Gorge. We could also see rock climbers across the river on the Virginia side.
The walk back to the parking lot is equally beautiful along the canal, with the natural rocks forming one border of the channel.
How Long Does It Take to Hike the Billy Goat Trail Section A?
Section A of the Billy Goat Trail is about 1.75 miles long and shouldn’t take more than 1-1.5 hours to complete, depending on how many times you stop to rest and take in the view.
The walk to and from the car may take an additional 20-30 minutes, so the hike will take about 2 hours or less.
Other Hikes in the Area
There are several other hikes at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Most of them are short spurs less than .5 miles each that connect to the Gold Mine Loop. However, there are some other longer trails at the park as well.
These hikes at Great Falls are also great for kids.
- River Trail: This is an easy one-mile trail along the Potomac River. You can make it a loop by returning via the towpath to the trailhead.
- Berman Road: This one-way, 1.5-mile trail is rated easy. You can backtrack along the trail or connect to one of the many spur trails and the Gold Mine Loop to return to your starting place. This trail is easily accessed from the main parking lot and the Anglers Inn lot.
- Ford Mine Trail: A 2.1-mile loop trail starting at the back of the main parking lot rated moderate. You’ll pass by remnants of an old gold mine.
- Gold Mine Loop Trail: This trail is a 1.6-mile loop rated easy. To access the trail, you’ll have to use one of the several spur trails. The Gold Mine Spur is the closest spur to the main parking lot.
- Olmsted Island Bridges: Easy and accessible to most, this boardwalk and concrete trail brings visitors to the Great Falls overlook. The path is .25 miles, one-way, and accessed by the canal towpath.
- Billy Goat Trail Section B: A 1.4-mile trail that is rated moderate. The trailhead is south of Section A along the canal towpath. The best place to park to access the trail is the Anglers Inn parking lot. This trail is temporarily closed as of publication. Visit the NPS website for updates.
- Billy Goat Trail Section C: The easiest of the three Billy Goat Trails, section C is about 1.6 miles, one way. Unlike section A, you can backtrack on this trail. Or you can take the towpath back to the parking lot. The best parking place for section C is the Carderock lot off Clara Barton Parkway.
Wrapping Up Hiking the Billy Goat Trail
As one of the best hikes near Washington, DC, Section A of the Billy Goat Trail is fun and challenging but totally worth it! It’s not for everyone, especially with the climb up the 50-foot rock face. But if you’re ready for the challenge, you’ll have a great time!
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