Updated on October 30, 2024 by Julie McCool
The Difficult Run trail is one of our favorite short hikes close to Washington DC. The hike follows a beautiful, shady stream and passes through the eastern side of Great Falls Park. This is a pretty trail year-round, but makes our list of the best Fall Hikes in Northern VA when Autumn foliage borders the stream.
This easy, stream-side hike to the Potomac River follows Difficult Run and is the northernmost portion of the Fairfax Cross County Trail. Segment 10 of the Cross County Trail is the northern end of the CCT, extending 2.5 miles from Leigh Mill Road to the Potomac River. You can begin the Difficult Run hike from two starting locations, depending on how long you want to hike:
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- Begin at the Difficult Run parking lot on Georgetown Pike for a 2-mile out-and-back hike to the Potomac River.
- Begin at Leigh Mill Road for a 5-mile out-and-back hike.
Option 1, beginning at Georgetown Pike, is more scenic, but the small parking area is sometimes full. Option 2 is less crowded but longer, and the trail can be muddy after heavy rain. Here is what to expect on each segment of the Difficult Run hike.
1. Difficult Run Hike from Georgetown Pike to the Potomac River
The Difficult Run Trail is mostly wide and level, but there are steep sections once you enter Great Falls Park. There are also eroded sections near the river that may be challenging, so be prepared to turn back early.
Park Difficult Run parking lot, on historic Georgetown Pike, east of Great Falls Park. Enter the trail at the far end of the lot (on your left when you face the water).
The first section of the dirt trail navigates away from the river through trees. You'll see and hear traffic passing on the pike as the trail parallels the road. Don't worry, the trail soon returns to the stream, passing under Georgetown Pike and leaving the road noise behind.
Soon the trail widens and parallels the stream. Rocks at the rivers edge offer lovely places to take photos and relax. On a hot day you can cool your toes in the stream. But use caution—the current is fast and the rocks are slippery.
The trail enters Great Falls Park land, passing through the southern end of the park. You'll pass signs for the Ridge Trail, which heads west into the park on a steep trail. Be aware that it's a couple of miles to the Visitor Center so this isn't a quick side trip. But if you want to extend your trip, we suggest a beautiful hike on the Difficult Run, Ridge, and River Trails.
As you follow Difficult Run toward the Potomac, the trail rises and falls. Sometimes you're right next to the water, and sometimes you're on a ridge high above. The views are great throughout.
The trail officially ends at an open area marked by park signage. We hiked here once when the end of the trail was blocked by flooding from the Potomac. It's hard to imagine the water reaching back this far.
Walk to the edge of the stream for a nice view of Difficult Run entering the Potomac River. While this is the official end of the trail, you can continue to the Potomac. However, this unofficial part of the trail, is steep, rocky, and eroded. This is a good spot to turn back, or use caution if you proceed.
Once you reach the Potomac, stay out of the water! You don't want to add to the count of people who drown in the Potomac River every year.
Difficult Run Hike: Leigh Mill Road to Georgetown Pike and the Potomac River
The trail between Leigh Mill Road and Georgetown Pike follows a pretty dirt path through the woods before joining the segment described above. along Difficult Run. Park on Leigh Mill Road and enter the trail on the wooded side of the road (there are horses and a field on the other side). The dirt trail follows the stream through the woods, heading north.
There are pretty views of horse fields across the stream. Kids will like navigating the large stone crossing and looking up at the road as you cross under Old Dominion Drive.
A little further on, the trail passes through a short segment of bamboo. On one trip, we saw the remains of a deer just before reaching the parking area on Georgetown Pike. This section is an easy, level hike, though it gets muddy after a big rain.
If you begin at Leigh Mill Road, you'll hike a mostly shady, mostly level, 5-mile roundtrip. Note that there are some steep sections once you enter Great Falls Park property, as described above.
This pretty hike is one of the beautiful hidden gems in Northern VA that we return to often.
More About the Fairfax Cross County Trail
The Fairfax Cross County Trail, aka the CCT, connects over 40 miles of county parks and trails in Northern Virginia. It begins at Occoquan Regional Park in the south, and ends at the Potomac River in the north.
Nearly every section of the Fairfax CCT is worth a hike. We have written trail guides like this one for several segments of the CCT. Find links to those hikes plus general tips and links in our article: 5 Tips for Hiking the Fairfax Cross County Trail.
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