Day 6 : Great Falls and
Detour (bicycle) at Widewater*
I don't know
how a person can walk or ride a bike by Great Falls without taking the
walkway across from the Maryland side to Olmstead Island and then view
the Virginia side of the falls. The walkway has been reconstructed
since the flood and now can be partially dismantled when the river rises
to a flood water stage. The view, simply put, is spectacular,
and Olmstead Island itself is a wonder, in that it supports life that is
normally in a desert climate! This is because most water drains off
the island after it rains and before it can be absorbed.
(View Map).
* Just beyond Great Falls, there is a foot
bridge that begins the Widewater detour onto Berma Road.
Just before mile 12 you can cross back over the canal and rejoin towpath.
If you are traveling very light you might not want to take the detour but
there are places where you must carry your bike.
A good photo can only try to capture the view .
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