30+ Kayaking Tours Within One Hour of Washington, D.C.

by Steve Smolinski

Overview

Paddle the Capital!

30 Kayaking Tours within One Hour of Washington, DC, catalogs the incredible diversity of waterways ideal for short to medium-length paddles just a short distance from the nation’s capital—from the Potomac, Patuxent, and Anacostia rivers to lakes, reservoirs, and small tributaries. Perfect for city dwellers with limited free time, these are all half-day to full-day trips, including the short drives from the city, covering nearby Virginia and Maryland paddles as well as some within the District itself. With special focus on tides, time of day, and season, Smolinski helps enhance the reader’s chances of observing the wildlife that is so unexpectedly plentiful here.

Smolinski is not only an avid kayaker but also a builder of wooden kayaks, and he devotes sections to the immense satisfaction of being on the water in a craft made from scratch—a Zen experience, he says.This guide is your first choice for launching your DC paddling adventures.

Longtime paddler and wooden kayak builder Steve Smolinski has written for Sports Focus Magazine. This is his first book. He and his wife paddle their hand-built kayaks in and near DC, as well as elsewhere, whenever they possibly can. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781581571592
Publisher:	Countryman Press, The
Publication date:	06/03/2013
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,072,129
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Longtime paddler and wooden kayak builder Steve Smolinski has written for Sports Focus Magazine. This is his first book. He and his wife paddle their hand-built kayaks in and near DC, as well as elsewhere, whenever they possibly can.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Beginner Paddling Routes

1 Harness Creek/South River: Quiet Waters Park 16

2 Clopper Lake, Seneca Creek State Park 20

Washington, D.C.

3 Potomac River: Thompson Boat Center 26

4 Potomac River: Fletcher's Boat House 32

5 Anacostia River: Anacostia Park and Community Boat House 37

6 Anacostia River: Bladensburg Waterfront Park 44

Virginia

7 Potomac River: Columbia Island Marina 51

8 Dyke Marsh: Belle Haven Marina 57

9 Little Hunting Creek 62

10 Occoquan River: Occoquan Regional Park 67

11 Occoquan Reservoir 73

Lake Ridge Park and Marina 73

Fountainhead Regional Park 77

12 Occoquan Reservoir: Bull Run Marina 79

13 Aquia Creek: Willow Landing Marina 85

14 Abel Reservoir 90

15 Pohick Bay: Pohick Bay Regional Park 95

16 Belmont Bay/Kanes Creek: Mason Neck State Park 99

17 Leesylvania State Park 104

Neabsco Creek 104

Powells Creek 107

18 Ni Reservoir 110

19 Potomac River: Algonkian Regional Park 114

Maryland

20 Severn River 121

Spa Creek: Truxtun Park 121

College Creek: Jonas Green Park 125

21 Little Seneca Lake: Black Hill Regional Park 127

22 Rocky Gorge Reservoir 132

Scott's Cove 133

Browns Bridge 136

23 Triadelphia Reservoir: Greenbridge Boat Ramp 139

24 Patuxent River 144

Queen Anne Bridge Canoe Launch 144

Patuxent Wetlands Park 148

Mattaponi Creek: Selby's Landing 153

Mattawoman Creek 157

Nanjemoy Creek: Charles County Friendship Farm Park 162

25 Piscataway Creek/Potomac River: Fort Washington Marina 166

26 Mallows Bay: Mallows Bay Park 171

Paddles Farther Afield

27 Estuary Canoe Trail: Anita C. Leight Estuary Center 178

28 Taylor's Creek/Gunpowder Falls River: Mariner Point Park 181

29 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge 185

Green Trail 186

Purple and Orange Trails 189

30 Patuxent River 191

Forest Landing 191

Clarkes Landing 195

Zen and the Art of Building a Wooden Kayak 199

Appendix 204