AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Algonkian Regional Park

Beech Island–Potomac River, 8 sights

9.9 mi · ▲ 499 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Beech Island–Potomac River, 8 sights is a 9.9-mile out-and-back in Algonkian Regional Park near Potomac Falls, VA. The route passes Potomac River, Overlook rock, lower, Overlook rock, high and 2 more. It climbs 499 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi180 – 335 ft · steepest grade: 17%11.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.06190, -77.38574
Nearest town Potomac Falls, VA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Beech Island–Potomac River, 8 sights

9.9 mi · ▲ 499 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Elevation 180–335 ft

Out & Back · Algonkian Regional Park

Trailhead: 39.06190, -77.38574

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Potomac River.
  3. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Park Chalet Place, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto White Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.8 miBear right, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading E.
  8. 1.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
  11. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Connect unblazed trail to Green Trail North, heading SE.
  12. 500 ftSharp left onto Unblazed, no color, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading NE.
  14. 350 ftBear left onto Unblazed, connector to Green Trail North, heading E.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading E.
  16. 50 ftPass Overlook rock, lower.
  17. 450 ftPass Overlook rock, high.
  18. 200 ftTurn left onto Unblazed, road to bench by river, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftPass Beech Island.
  20. 50 ftPass Driftwood Island.
  21. 250 ftTurn right onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto DCWA, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  25. 150 ftTurn left onto Yellow Trail to West Gravel Road, heading E.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left onto White Trail to Yellow, heading SE.
  27. 500 ftReach Beech Island, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 450 ftTurn right onto Yellow Trail to West Gravel Road, heading SW.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  30. 150 ftBear right onto DCWA, heading SE.
  31. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Unblazed, road to bench by river, heading SW.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  35. 350 ftContinue straight onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading S.
  36. 300 ftTurn left onto Unblazed, connector to Green Trail North, heading N.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading N.
  38. 350 ftContinue straight onto Unblazed, no color, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miSharp right onto Connect unblazed trail to Green Trail North, heading NW.
  40. 500 ftContinue straight onto Potomac Heritage Trail, heading NE.
  41. 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  42. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  43. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  45. 2.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  46. 0.2 miBear left onto White Trail, heading W.
  47. 0.8 miBear right onto Park Chalet Place, heading W.
  48. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/beech-island-potomac-river-out-back-8-sights-16-km-5fee

Trail surface

60% dirt30% gravel4% paved6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Potomac Falls, Virginia