Mine Run Trail, Great Falls Park, September 2018

The Mine Run Trail is an oft-forgotten path nestled in the northwest section of Great Falls Park, away from the namesake waterfall, Mather Gorge, and Potomac River. Mine Run, nonetheless, is a lovely tributary of the Potomac and is the highlight of this pleasant, 0.7-mile stroll. Small cascades dot the creek, shaded under a thick canopy of deciduous trees.

Map of Mine Run Trail, Great Falls Park; created using National Geographic Maps/AllTrails, alltrails.com (Check out the PDF version, interactive map, and MapMyHike track)

The hike

The Mine Run Trail is technically a one-way track, but a loop can easily be formed. Start the hike at the signed trailhead, situated virtually halfway between the north and south parking areas at Great Falls Park, roughly a ¼-mile walk up the length of the southern parking lot from the Great Falls Visitor Center.

Start of Mine Run Trail

After leaving the road, the wide but root-laden trail bears west into the forest, with Mine Run appearing almost right away on the left. Hikers can also see a boggy depression on the right, filled with water—this is Clay Pond. Within 1/10 mile, the trail runs right up to the banks of Mine Run, which gently cascades through the greywacke.

Mine Run along the trail

Mine Run cascades

More cascades upstream

Upstream from this point, the path suddenly climbs, then approaches some steeper drops on Mine Run on the left. Around 300 yards into the hike, the path bends north, leaving Mine Run behind. However, a well-worn social trail on the left leads to the best scenery of the hike: a beautifully cascading slide of water, blighted only by the sight of a road overpass upstream.

Beautiful slide on Mine Run

Back on the main trail, bear north as the trail continues through wooded uplands. Moss-covered rock outcrops on the right and views of a Mine Run tributary on the left offer some natural interest, but the route is relatively banal from this point. At ½ mile, the Mine Run Trail ends, merging with a gravel road running north-south. Bear right, following the road back to the northern parking lot in 2/10 mile (then walk south to return to the start), or, alternatively,  continue northward to the Riverbend Road Trail or Riverbend Park.

Rock wall along Mine Run Trail

SONY DSC

The Mine Run loop takes around 20-30 minutes, plus additional time to explore the lovely creek.

Extra credit

Try one of the other trail routes in Great Falls Park, including the Great Falls Overlooks, Great Falls Loop, or Patowmack Canal and Matildaville Trails.