About this spot
Great Falls National Park straddles the Potomac Gorge between Maryland and Virginia; park at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center (MacArthur Blvd, Potomac MD) or the Virginia side off Route 193. Historically jumped spots include a ~20ft MD-side ledge reached by a climb down, a 40-50ft MD ledge level with the trail, and a 65ft+ VA-side jump reached by swimming across. Cliff jumping and swimming here are illegal park-wide from Sycamore Island to Chain Bridge, actively enforced with citations, because of the inward-sloping rock, strong hydraulics, and fatal current. Water snakes are occasionally reported.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.