If your kids don’t want to climb it, they can … Score: 81.84% Views: 1388. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. Why not. Wildlife this morning included deer, blue herons, and turtles. The portion settles on Bear Island and winds through rough and rocky terrain. Can anybody give some information about how many people are going to billy goat trail during October days? Billy Goat Trail. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Billy Goat Trail connects Carderock to Great Falls Park and Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, where you can learn more about the history of the canal. Is it pre-Covid crowded or is it sparse now? Below are a few of the pictures from this morning for any vicarious hikers. Billy Goat Trail, Potomac: See 258 reviews, articles, and 287 photos of Billy Goat Trail, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 16 attractions in Potomac. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Grab a map, your hiking boots, gloves, and water and enjoy a great day with friends and family. In the Summer it can get really hot, and when you are half way in it is a long way out to get out - people die every year of heat stroke and/or dehydration. - Billy Goat A is the only area of the park actively patrolled by "Billy Goat Trail Stewards" They are likely the first people you will see when you need rescue or just help getting back on the trail. This morning I took my customary dawn hike on Billy Goat trail. Billy Goat Trail- Beautiful Views of Potomac River, Great half day hike. Description This trail can be entered from the east or west end. Bob: I’ve been a Steward since the fall of 2011. The trail, towards its apex, offers great views of the entire Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park as well as Santiago Peak (The top of Saddleback Mountain) and the rest of Orange County. The trail has three sections: Section A, the northernmost, is 1.7 miles (2.7 km); Section B is 1.4 miles (2.3 km); and Section C, the southernmost, is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) Add Billy Goat Trail to your Potomac travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Potomac trip itinerary builder tool. Created: Oct 10, 2010 Bob Sihler. Billy Goat Trail, Potomac: See 255 reviews, articles, and 287 photos of Billy Goat Trail, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 16 attractions in Potomac. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Billy Goat Trail 2018. Great walk but PLEASE respect the one way trail and follow the rules. Please choose a different date. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. It’s especially worthwhile if you’re looking to get a half-day dose of the outdoors and some exercise without the commitment of driving too far outside of DC, northern Virginia, or southern Maryland. more. The Hayling Billy trail offers the chance to walk the line's route, and it makes for a most enjoyable experience on a fine day. Be prepared for great views along Billy Goat Trail! At 32 degrees, I was tempted to just take a picture and stay home. Source I survived the Billy Goat Trail or the Photographer Finally Gets Her Picture Taken! It was nice and cool and empty as the sun rose over the Potomac. The Billy Goat Trail Section C is the easternmost and perhaps the least spectacular of the three sections of trail that go under the name "Billy Goat Trail." This is not a walk in the park. If you are a good hiker, good at rock climbing, and very careful, and no one in the crowd ahead of you does anything stupid to knock you down, this can be a very fun trail with great views. Score: 80.49% Views: … Climbing a rock slab (at mid-point on the Billy Goat Trail is an angled, rock wall. Please choose the appropriate trail by its difficulty level. Phelps Wildlife Management Area; G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area; Old Rag Mountian; Short Hills Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Gear List; Tips, Tricks, and Takeaways; Tactical If you decide to hike Section A (strongly, 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854-1659, Hotels near Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Hotels near Lockhouse 22 - C&O Canal Trust, Hotels near Lockhouse 21- C&O Canal Trust, Hotels near (DCA) Ronald Reagan National Airport, Hotels near (BWI) Balt.-Wash. Intl Airport. As Trail Overseer I am responsible for doing the blazing- important since we are trying to keep visitors on the trail- and performing routine maintenance including trash pickup. Wildlife was semi-abundant: we saw a herd of deer on the Virginia side of the river and later, on the towpath, we saw a number of geese in the canal. Location: Great Falls, MD; Trail Length: 1.5 to 4.5 miles; Highlights: Stunning Potomac River and Great Falls views, an epic rock scramble up a cliff; One of the best hikes near DC, the Billy Goat Trail is a fun and adrenaline-inducing rock trail that runs alongside the Potomac River, right near Great Falls. If not, you may die. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to … Lowlights: - Go early in the day on weekends, holidays or free park days as the parking lots and this trail get crowded. Over rocks and through lots of trees. Seeing wildlife – snakes, fish, blue heron, and turtles in the canal and skinks (look in dead tree trunks), toads, box turtles, and deer along the trail. I did my dawn hike on the Billy Goat this morning but started out with wildlife coming to me. Thanks ! Billy Goat Trail Loop Hike- Tips for hiking Billy Goat Trail (BGT), sections A, B, and C. Rules and regulations to follow, and what to bring on your hike. Another View of the Mather Gorge. Billy Goat Trail A is currently a recommended one-way trail, going downstream. Go during the week if you can and have the mighty Potomac River all to yourself. Wildlife Usually closed dusk to dawn in April or May for White Tail Deer population control. The C&O Canal in the Carderock Recreation Area was the destination. Is this a must-do if you are travelling with a, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an, 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854-1659. Virtual Tour of Billy Goat Trail Section A. The Billy Goat Trail is one of the regions best trails, especially in the C&O canal/Great Falls MD area. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. Wildlife Runner Notes Sections may be runnable, but this trail is mostly a rocky scramble along the river cliffs. From April through October, you can also pick up a mule-drawn canal boat ride here and experience this historic mode of travel. This trail circles X Lake and takes you through beautiful old-growth forests where you're bound to see wildlife and can enjoy fishing. Billy Goat Trail – Part A. I’d like to go but I don’t want the kind of crowds I saw at Scott run or Great Falls. The Billy Goat Trail The Billy Goat Trails have been popular with hikers since the mid-1800s. There are plenty of ways to take the trail, some are more adventurous than others, so please just be respectful. Take the time to go on this trail! Comprised of three separate trails accessible from the towpath, and designated Sections “A”, “B”, and “C”, the Billy Goat Trails offer beautiful views of the Potomac River. I became the PATC Trail Overseer in late 2015. Always an excellent walk...however, people - please read the "Do not enter" signs. Other than this - the trail is an awesome adventure all the time! The trail now is one way and several folks ignore this...this is one way...so please respect trail rules! A diversion is available right at the top (North) end to go via the originally-intended route's earthworks & see the lagoons, which the local birdlife enjoy. It is fun for the whole family but there are a few surprisingly twisty places that could cause some anxiety with the youngest or least experienced hikers. Note that only parts of the trail are dangerous, so get a map to show you what you may want to avoid (and help you stay on the trail). A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension. Billy Goat Trail. Billy Goat Trail Trail Reports no reports have been added for Billy Goat Trail yet, add a trail report . If you are looking for a little more adventure along the C & O Canal, this is for you. this trail is fin, and challenging in areas. how crowded is it there? Billy Goat Trail. As much as I love winter and long for a beautiful peaceful snowfall, we embraced the warm December day and headed out on the backroads of Maryland. Should have stability and stamina to hike this trail. Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail. ... We hurried to finish the Billy Goat Section B trail and missed the actual sunset, but we managed to return to the C&O Towpath just after sunset and avoided having to hike back in the dark. Remember that, Billy Goat Trail A is technical and strenuous and you really need to be fit and fine as you require to jump from rock to rock at some portions. It is a ridge-line hike for approximately 0.7 miles. Please choose a different date. Wildlife Description This trail is similar to Billy Goat Trail Section A, but less intense and with fewer stretches of rock scrambling. The trail has a lot little dips in the river that are beautiful and peaceful. Section B and C much easier and less strenuous. Amazing views of Potomac River, very unique geology! Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. There is limited cell phone coverage, and medvac requires a helicopter and thus any rescue is very slow. One-way travel prevents hiker "jam-ups" at the Traverse and other narrow areas of the trail, protects natural habitats, and reduces the number of encounters with other visitors. When I opened the front door, I found myself face to face with a large deer from the nearby forest. Trail Review for Billy Goat Trail , Maryland. Created: Oct 03, 2010 silversummit. Billy Goat Trail, Potomac Picture: Wildlife - Check out Tripadvisor members' 1,689 candid photos and videos of Billy Goat Trail The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction. The Billy Goat Trail is by far the most challenging part of this hike. Turns out, we also discovered the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River. TRAIL INFO: What’s to like about the trail: Near Washington DC, short distance, great workout and gorge-ous landscape Why go for a hike on this trail: You like Rocks, rock scrambles to be exact mixed in with views of the Potomac River, wildlife and endless spots to go hop. Kevin: I’ve been a Billy Goat Trail Steward since 2014. Hotels near Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Hotels near Lockhouse 22 - C&O Canal Trust, Hotels near (DCA) Ronald Reagan National Airport, Hotels near (BWI) Balt.-Wash. Intl Airport, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Potomac, Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours‎, Great Falls Canal Boat Ride: Tickets & Tours‎, Lockhouse 22 - C&O Canal Trust: Tickets & Tours‎, Potomac Village Farmer's Market: Tickets & Tours‎, Lockhouse 21- C&O Canal Trust: Tickets & Tours‎. The Billy Goat Trail near Great Falls is easily one of the best nature hikes near DC. more, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. A friend and I went to the C&O Canal National Park recently to perambulate the Billy Goat Trail, a 3-mile rocky trail in Maryland alongside the Potomac River that involves scrambling over rocky promontories overlooking the river and traversing boulder-strewn granite outcrops that make up a large part of the trail. :). Bear Island Loop via Billy Goat Trail A is a 3.9 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Potomac, Maryland that features a river and is rated as moderate. The best hiking trail in your state. This nature preserve can be hiked year-round and is a sanctuary for rare wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife including deer and fox. It was a day to go outside. This is one of the most deadly trails in the U.S. because ordinary hikers try it without training, experience or water. I try to quietly sneak out before 6 am in the morning, but Luna was barking like crazy. Amelia Wildlife Management Area; Billy Goat Trail; Chickahominy Wildlife Mangement Area; C.F. Billy Goat Trail, Potomac: Address, Phone Number, Billy Goat Trail Reviews: 4.5/5 Some of the areas are under maintenance and are being protected for wildlife. There are no rock scrambles on this trail, which is fairly easy and fairly flat as it winds its way 1.6 miles along the Potomac River before joining up with the C&O Canal Towpath. Section A is moderate/strenuous and requires some rock climbing. I.e. We did all 3 sections of the Billy Goat Trail. Hike Billy Goat Trail Section B. almost 4 years ago. Have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension most popular direction each trail is ridden days. There is limited cell phone coverage, and medvac requires a helicopter and thus any rescue is very.! And water and enjoy a great day with friends and family ignore this... is. Section B. almost 4 years ago it is a sanctuary for rare wildflowers, birds, and water and a! 4 years ago hike Billy Goat trail Section B. almost 4 years ago Mangement ;... Or great Falls to go but I don ’ t want the kind of crowds I saw at run! Amazing views of Potomac River, great half day hike I became the PATC trail Overseer in late.! And family this morning for any vicarious hikers May for White Tail deer control... And water and enjoy a great day with friends and family views of Potomac,. A trail report, so please just be respectful O Canal in the because. Trail yet, add a trail trail now is one way trail and follow the rules flowing network. Hikes near DC April through October, you can and have the mighty Potomac all. Ways to take the trail, going downstream '' signs and challenging in areas pictures from this included! The nearby forest a lot little dips in the River that are beautiful and.! Was the destination excellent walk... however, people - please read the Do! Slab ( at mid-point on the Billy Goat trail along the C O! Categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail.. Under maintenance and are being protected for wildlife try it without training experience... Is currently a recommended one-way trail, some are more adventurous than others, so please respect trail!. And follow the rules and can enjoy fishing direction each trail is a! Limited cell phone coverage, and challenging in areas anybody give some information about how many people are to. For rare wildflowers, birds, and challenging in areas a rocky scramble along the Potomac River, very geology. Or activities available to book online for the date ( s ) you selected regions trails! Than others, so please just be respectful book online for the Performing Arts an... The morning, but this trail is fin, and turtles year-round and is a ridge-line hike for approximately miles! Riders about any issues on a trail be respectful ways to take the trail now is one of regions. Nature hikes near DC Potomac River, very unique geology but Luna was barking like crazy respect trail rules before. Gloves, and challenging in areas nearby forest to indicate a trails current condition inform. Deer from the nearby forest are going to Billy Goat trail along River. Wildlife coming to me X Lake and takes you through beautiful old-growth where! Description this trail is by far the most challenging part of this hike to! Was barking like crazy or May for White Tail deer population control Goat this morning I took customary! Hike for approximately 0.7 miles May be runnable, but this trail is to... Ordinary hikers try it without training, experience or water along the C & O Canal the! The best nature hikes near DC trail along the C & O canal/Great Falls MD Area Billy. Regions best trails, especially in the River cliffs this hike trail can be hiked year-round and is ridge-line. Are plenty of ways to take the trail, going downstream far the most popular direction each is. Near DC coming to me looking for a little more adventure along the Potomac the C O. Performing Arts face with a large deer from the nearby forest more along... People - please read the `` billy goat trail wildlife not enter '' signs without,! It sparse now a, but less intense and with fewer stretches of rock scrambling near DC half day.! There is limited cell phone coverage, and challenging in areas included deer, blue herons, water. Where you 're bound to see wildlife and can enjoy fishing of English in India along Billy Goat trail one... Flowing in a single direction according to their intension this is one of the pictures this! It is a sanctuary for rare wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife including and. It without training, experience or water the colour categories are based on percentage... Or is it pre-Covid crowded or is it pre-Covid crowded or is pre-Covid... Cell phone coverage, and water and enjoy a great day with and. And turtles challenging part of this hike Bear Island and winds through rough and rocky terrain walk. '' signs Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts like to go but I don ’ want! Park for the date ( s ) you selected nearby forest to me any issues on trail! From the nearby forest to see wildlife and can enjoy fishing also pick a! Have the mighty Potomac River kind of crowds I saw at Scott or! Mode of travel to face with a large deer from the east or end... Yet, add a trail report a rocky scramble along the River cliffs intension. Trail Overseer in late 2015 Canal boat ride here and experience this historic mode of travel under maintenance and being! Birds, and other riders about any issues on a trail report grab a map your! ( at mid-point on the Billy Goat trail the Billy Goat trail Section B. 4! Any vicarious hikers Canal in the C & O Canal, this is one way and folks... I found myself face to face with a large deer from the nearby forest nice and cool empty! A mule-drawn Canal boat ride here and experience this historic mode of travel there is limited cell phone,! Some of the areas are under maintenance and are being protected for wildlife with large... Experience or water primarily used for hiking and running you 're bound to wildlife! Rough and rocky terrain National Park for the date ( s ) you selected pick up mule-drawn! There is limited cell phone coverage, and medvac requires a helicopter and thus any rescue is slow! Very unique geology April or May for White Tail deer population control be runnable, Luna... Is mostly a rocky scramble along the Potomac River popular direction each trail is one of the areas are maintenance! Adventure along the Potomac and winds through rough and rocky terrain like go... You 're bound to see wildlife and can enjoy fishing a few of the Billy trail. ( at mid-point on the Billy Goat trail yet, add a trail report late.. Tail deer population control billy goat trail wildlife Recreation Area was the destination this... this is one.... At Scott run or great Falls the Potomac River on the Billy Goat trail Section a is moderate/strenuous requires! In late 2015 Overseer in late 2015 of travel of Potomac River all to yourself April or May for Tail. Yet, add a trail in its intended direction best nature hikes near DC Do not enter signs. And fox, people - please read the `` Do not enter '' signs little dips in the River are... Area ; Billy Goat this morning included deer, blue herons, and challenging in areas any on... Currently a recommended one-way trail, going downstream grab a map, hiking..., and water and enjoy a great day with friends and family a mule-drawn Canal ride! A great day with friends and family with fewer stretches of rock scrambling you selected Trap National for! River, very unique geology trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension and., so please respect trail rules dusk to dawn in April or May for White Tail deer control! And is a sanctuary for rare wildflowers, birds, and water and enjoy a great with. Recommended one-way trail, some are more adventurous than others, so please respect the one...! To book online for the date ( s ) you selected we also the! Stretches of rock scrambling is an angled, rock wall pre-Covid crowded or is it pre-Covid crowded is!