Great Falls Half (Half/10k/5k)

About this event

Great Falls Half, 10K & 5K Saturday, November 21, 2026 · Great Falls Tavern, Potomac, MD

Run the C&O Canal towpath along the Potomac, starting and finishing beside Lock 20 at Great Falls Tavern. All three distances head south along the canal past Widewater, Old Angler's Inn and Carderock, then turn for home. The towpath is flat, shaded crushed stone that was built for mules and is perfect for a fast fall race. Late November is the towpath's best season: the crowds are gone, the air is cool, and with the leaves down you get long views of the river.

Every runner is tracked live on Geo.Racing, so your people can follow you down the towpath and be at the line when you finish. Collect your medal, then walk the boardwalk to the Great Falls Overlook and watch the Potomac pour into Mather Gorge.

Start times: Half marathon at 12:00 PM, 10K at 12:30 PM, 5K at 1:00 PM. Finish line closes at 3:00 PM.

Every entry includes: a race shirt, a finisher medal, chip timing and results, aid stations on the towpath, and live GPS tracking. Awards go to the top three men and women at each distance.

Good to know: the field is capped under our National Park Service permit, so register early. The park charges $20 per vehicle (card only) at the Great Falls Tavern gate, and parking is limited, so carpool if you can. The towpath stays open to other walkers and cyclists: keep right and pass on the left.

Presented by Old Dominion Racing.