Hiking The Billy Goat Trail 

We are going to the Grand Canyon later this summer, so we have planned some local hikes to break in our hiking gear and make sure our hiking muscles are in shape. Our favorite local hiking trail is the Billy Goat Trail, at Great Falls Maryland National Park.

Billy Goat Trail
The gear I tested out on our hike included my new top and shorts from Athleta, my hiking shoes from REI, and my Nathan hydration pack.

Athleta Hiking Gear

No getting lost in this bright top!

As you can see from the map, the Billy Goat Trail is accessed from the C&O Canal towpath, and takes you through Bear Island. What you can’t see from the map is that you really have to scramble over, up and down boulders–like a billy goat I guess.

The trail is marked by blue blazes, which usually show the easiest way. 

Billy Goat Trail

The terrain is no joke, but the views are worth it!

 

Billy Goat Trail

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Billy Goat Trail
Unfortunately, I got tripped up by a protruding tree root on an easy part of the trail. 

I was relieved to realize that I didn’t sprain my ankle until I found out that I chipped a bone on top of my foot. 🙁

If you plan to go hiking on the Billy Goat Trail, go early. The parking lot at Great Falls can fill up, and because may parts of the trail require single-file navigation with tricky climbs and scary leaps, the trail can get congested.

 

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19 Responses to Hiking The Billy Goat Trail 

  1. ooh I need to get over there for a hike sometime. Looks really nice. Sorry about your foot 🙂 See you for coffee tomorrow

  2. Ouch!!! I hope your foot heals up soon! It still sounds like a great place for a hike!

  3. Chaitali says:

    Yikes! Sorry to hear about the foot. But those views are spectacular. I’ve been running by there on the C&O Tow Path but still haven’t hiked the Billy Goat Trail. I need to get to that this year 🙂

  4. No fun about your foot! I love the billy goat trail, but I am always upset I can’t take my dog with me.

  5. Marcia says:

    Yowza! Sorry about your foot! I love that you’re going to the GC this summer. That’s definitely on our bucket list.

  6. misszippy says:

    I really, really want to hike this one! We went down last year to do it and everything was flooded, so we couldn’t access it. So disappointing.

    How fun that you are hiking the Grand Canyon–can’t wait to hear about it!

  7. SO fun! I have got to go check that out.

  8. You are going to have a blast on your trip! So sorry about your foot 🙁

  9. Other than the chpiped bone, sounds like a great time. The views are gorgeous. Hope you recover fast.

  10. So sorry about your foot ! Looking forward to coffee tomorrow.

  11. jill conyers says:

    Looks like a great place to hike! We’re hoping to do a lot of hiking while we’re off for summer break. Sorry about your foot. Hope it’s better soon!

    Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for linking up with Fitness Friday!

  12. HoHo Runs says:

    It looks like a gorgeous place to hike. I’m so sorry to hear about your foot! Are you supposed to stay off of it? Or just limited use?

    • Coco says:

      I can do anything that doesn’t hurt, which mostly means cycling and walking in the right shoes–which I’m still trying to figure out.

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  14. This makes me really miss hiking – it was something I did all the time when I was younger and I never go now!

  15. Jennifer says:

    Ouch! Hope your foot is feeling better. I hope to make it to the Billy Goat Trail this summer, haven’t gone in 4 years.

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