Discussion: Great Falls access in Bethesda, Md.

My sister's lifeline is running at Great Falls woods on the east side of the canal. Parking seems to be blocked off to provide a makeshift bike lane, but its too far for her to ride there, run and ride back. Anybody have any ideas for a fix/info about what is going on? Thanks.

Last week I saw they had blocked parking along Macarthur Blvd, which has always been signposted as prohibited but seemingly never enforced. If the lots are full or you don't want to pay for the main visitor center lot, there is usually good street parking on Stable Ln.

If there are more recent changes it is likely related to this accident.

That's a sad story. There are always so many cyclists on MacArthur; you just have to be a patient driver.

The main entrance costs money, but there is almost always parking, and some nice trail options from there. Park passes are worthwhile! The Angler's Inn parking area at the south fills up fast. I've never dared park illegally on the road! As Ken says, Stable Ln usually has parking, but the access to the trails is a little harder from there. Another option is Fawsett Rd, the last road before the MacArthur & Falls intersection; there's generally parking there and there's a trailhead right across the street and another at the MacArthur/Falls intersection.

Thanks so much for the helpful info. I had a feeling you'd come through:)

Do you still orienteer there? One of the most memorable events, what with wading out to the island and forgetting to flip to the 1:7500 scale!

We do! We can't use the island though. And they have lots of restrictions (time of year, specific control locations [really!], number of courses, number of participants). But it's worth jumping through their hoops to get to run there.