#FlyWashington Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 50

Great Falls Park HIKING GREAT FALLS By Jayne Clark EVERY RIVER TELLS A STORY. BUT THE POTOMAC, THE WATERWAY WHOSE MEANDERINGS DEFINE THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL, IS PARTICULARLY RICH IN TALES. NICKNAMED THE NATION’S RIVER, ITS SHORELINE IS THE HOME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ESTATE AT MOUNT VERNON. IT PROVIDED THE (FAILED) ESCAPE ROUTE FOR ASSASSIN JOHN WILKES BOOTH. ITS WESTERN BLUFFS WERE THE SITE OF CIVIL WAR CARNAGE AT THE BATTLE OF BALL’S BLUFF AND IT HAS LONG BEEN THE SOURCE OF BOUNDLESS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR ENJOYING THE RIVER LIKE A LOCAL. FLYWASHINGTON.COM 48 SUMMER 2017