Great Falls sits barely five minutes from Potomac Village, and offers a plethora of exciting summer activities.

Writer Isolde Monroe named the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park at Great Falls as one of "10 Maryland Places That Are Surprisingly Easy to Find but Feel Completely Hidden." For neighbors who drive past the entrance at 11710 MacArthur Blvd.

What to do

A short boardwalk leads to the Olmsted Island overlook at mile 14.3 on the C&O Canal Towpath, where the Potomac River drops through Mather Gorge. The Billy Goat Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the Washington, D.C., area, features rock scrambles on Section A; the National Park Service advises against bringing children under 8 on that section. Seasonal mule-drawn canal boat rides have historically launched from the replica Charles F. Mercer, docked in front of the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center; visitors should check nps.gov/choh for current schedules before planning around a ride.

A building with a story

The visitor center itself dates to 1831. Locktender W.W. Fenlon persuaded the Canal Company's Board of Directors in 1830 to let him expand the lockhouse at Lock 20 into an inn. Overnight guests paid 25 cents for a bunk in the men's or women's quarters. The third-floor "honeymoon suite" cost 50 cents and required a marriage certificate, according to the C&O Canal Trust.

By the early 1900s, a trolley operated by the Washington Railway and Electric Company ferried visitors from D.C. directly to the falls. The line shut down in 1921, but traces of the rail bed remain visible in the Gold Mine Tract area of the park.

What to know before you go

The Great Falls Tavern area is the only section of the C&O Canal park that charges admission. Standard passes run $10 to $20; an annual pass costs $35. America the Beautiful and Every Kid Outdoors passes are accepted. The park does not accept cash, but a digital pass is available through recreation.gov.

A recent National Park Service listing shows the visitor center open Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Visitors should confirm hours at nps.gov/choh before heading out.

Budget-minded visitors can park free at Swains Lock and walk or bike about 2.5 miles along the towpath to reach the falls.