Washingtonians looking for an easy hike can look no further than the Billy Goat Trail, a popular trail that leads to incredible views of the Potomac River. The Billy Goat Trail is technically a circuit but there are several stops along the way that are absolutely jaw-dropping. There are three different sections of the Billy Goat Trail, A, B, C. The A trail is probably the most popular and is a moderate 4 mile hike that takes you up Mather’s Gorge and offers fun rock scrambles.
The Billy Goat Trail starts off a flat walk on the footbridge and takes you across a towpath.
Most Washingtonians hike Billy Goat to forget that they are even in the city. It’s not hard to do with gorgeous nature views throughout it.
The trail usually takes around an hour, sometimes more depending on how often you stop for photos or snack breaks.
What’s nice about Billy Goat is that you can visit anytime of the year. It’s beautiful in the summer, as well as winter.
In the spring you can see some of the gorgeous flowers on the trail.
The most difficult parts of the trails are rock scrambles where you often have hop from one large rock to the next. However, many hikers see this as more fun than strenuous.
There are views of the Potomac River throughout most of the trail and you can often see kayakers.
The real views are the views of the river and the falls from Mather’s Gorge.
The sheer beauty of the rushing water is enough to take anyone’s breath away.
After you’ve viewed the river and falls, you can turn back to return to your starting point.
The biggest drawback to the Billy Goat Trail is its popularity. You’ll almost come across hikers, runners, and bikers.
Billy Goat is one of the gems of the Washington DC area.
Have you been on this easy hike near Washington DC? Looking for even more amazing hikes? Check out these epic hiking spots!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
