Recreation in our watershed

Explore the Anacostia River

Your Map and Guide to Natural Points of Interest

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Content Category: Events and Recreation

Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest. Paddle to the Nationals stadium and catch a baseball game or tie-up at Yards Park and explore new restaurants. The Anacostia River corridor has lots of options for outdoor fun and the Anacostia Water Trail can help you find them.

The trail covers a nine-mile stretch of the Anacostia River, running from Bladensburg, Maryland, through Washington, DC, to its juncture with the Potomac River about two miles south of Capitol Hill. Along this trail, the character of the river varies remarkably. Upstream you’ll find forests, wetlands, and wildlife that seem amazingly removed from the city. Downstream are hubs of riverfront recreation, with community parks, restaurants, and sporting events.

The Anacostia has changed dramatically over the last 400 years – from a place of quiet natural abundance and American Indian settlements to a colonial seaport and bustling corridor in the nation’s capital. Water quality has suffered, but strong partnerships and community support are helping the river rebound. As development thrives along the southeast waterfront, interest in the river’s recreational potential has been renewed.

The Anacostia Water Trail offers a way to explore the river and its resources.  Its public access sites, programming, and orientation information is helping both residents and visitors find new adventures on the Anacostia and discover other treasures that have been there all along.

Explore the calm, clear waters and the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. The Anacostia River corridor has lots of options for outdoor fun and the Anacostia Water Trail can help you find them.

Paddling the Anacostia River by canoe covers a nine-mile stretch running from Bladensburg, Maryland, through Washington, D.C., to its juncture with the Potomac River about two miles south of Capitol Hill. Paddlers experience how the character of the river varies remarkably. Upstream you’ll find forests, wetlands, and wildlife that seem amazingly removed from the city. Downstream are hubs of riverfront recreation, with community parks, restaurants, and sporting events.

The Anacostia watershed has changed dramatically over the last 400 years – from a place of quiet natural abundance and Indigenous settlements to a colonial seaport and bustling corridor in the nation’s capital. Water quality has suffered, but strong partnerships and community support are helping the river rebound. As development thrives along the southeast waterfront, interest in the river’s recreational potential has been renewed.

Exploring the Anacostia River by canoe offers a way to get to know the river and its resources.  There are several launch points that are optimal for both residents and visitors to find new adventures and discover other treasures that have been there all along.

Stay tuned to our Events Calendar for upcoming canoe events. Here are some additional resources for you to find engaging paddle experiences throughout the watershed. 

Return to the River: An Evening of Discovery

Thursday, October 1st, 2026

Join the Anacostia Watershed Society for an inspiring evening celebrating our River Heroes and the growing community dedicated to restoring and protecting the Anacostia River. 

This fall, we’ll gather to honor progress, strengthen connections, and raise vital support for a cleaner, healthier watershed.
This exclusive event brings together friends, partners, and supporters who share a passion and commitment to our mission. As we mark another year of progress, we’ll honor the River Heroes – individuals making a real impact in our watershed – and highlight the collective power of our community. 

Honoring River Heroes

Our signature event honors local River Heroes who work every day in their communities toward our shared goal of a swimmable and fishable Anacostia River for all to enjoy. These inspiring individuals were nominated by their friends, colleagues, and neighbors for putting forth extraordinary effort to protect and restore the Anacostia River.

The River Hero categories are:

  • Anacostia River Next Generation Hero: Awarded to a high school or college student who promotes awareness of river restoration and inspires action to protect the Anacostia River.
  • Anacostia River Civic Spirit Hero: Awarded to a community member who volunteers their time to improve the health of their local community and streams.
  • Anacostia River Educator of the Year: Awarded to an educator working in DC or Maryland who is committed to engaging their students in meaningful outdoor learning and creating future environmental stewards. 

We are thrilled to launch the 2026 season of the Anacostia River Discovery Series with many opportunities to get outside and explore with the Anacostia Watershed Society!

Whether you’re a lifetime resident or brand new to the region, there’s always something to discover on the Anacostia River! The Anacostia Watershed Society hosts recreation activities on Thursday evenings and some Saturdays of every month from April – September. As part of the Anacostia River Discovery Series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the history of the Anacostia River, observe wildlife in their natural habitats, and get out on the water.

Would you like to receive a special email on the day registration opens for events? Join our email list and get a special notification when these events go live.

Discovery Series

Motorized Boat Tours

Explore the river while riding in one of our open-air motorized boats as part of the Anacostia River Explorers program. Anacostia Watershed Society staff will take participants on a one or two hour tour of the river while discussing natural and cultural history along with restoration efforts. You will experience the joy of being out on the water while observing this beautiful local area. Registration is required and limited for these events.

Discovery Series

Canoe Tours

Learn about the natural and cultural history of the Anacostia River on a guided canoe tour as part of the Anacostia River Explorers program. Your guide will lead these one or two hour trips and participants will paddle with the group in Anacostia Watershed Society supplied canoes. You will see area wildlife and stunning views of Washington, DC. Registration is required and limited for these events.

Upcoming
Anacostia River Discovery Series Tours

2026 Anacostia River Discovery Series Boat Tour
May 14 @ 6:00 pm
Diamond Teague Park
Type:Anacostia River Discovery Series

2026 Anacostia River Discovery Series Canoe Tours – Anacostia River Festival
May 16 @ 2:00 pm
Anacostia Park Recreation Center
Type:Anacostia River Discovery Series

2026 Anacostia River Discovery Series Boat Tour
May 21 @ 6:00 pm
Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Type:Anacostia River Discovery Series

2026 Anacostia River Discovery Series Boat Tour
May 28 @ 6:00 pm
Diamond Teague Park
Type:Anacostia River Discovery Series
Anacostia River Discovery Series

Boat Launch Locations

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Located near the confluence of the Northeast and Northwest branches, this is the northern most navigable portion of the river.  Once nearly 40 feet deep, this dock requires frequent dredging to remain accessible to motor boats. Tours that start here see incredible wildlife, with eagles, osprey, and kingfishers routinely in that part of the river.

Accessibility: Via Anacostia River Trail by bike or walking. Metrobus F1 and F8. Parking can get crowded if coming by car. Wheelchair accessible; some parking is very short walk to pier.

Map Link

Kenilworth Park

Just south of its frequently-confused cousin, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, this site makes you feel like you’re in another world, not Washington, DC. From here the Kenilworth Ponds are easily accessible via canoe at high tide, and the barn swallows gathering overhead in the evening are a site to behold.

Accessibility: Via Anacostia River Trail by bike or walking. Metrobus U7 (0.7 mile walk from stop). Parking on grass field available. Short walk down a hill to the launch site.

Map Link

Kingman Island

Created out of dredge material from federal government projects starting back in 1903, Kingman Island now hosts acres of the Anacostia River’s restored wetlands. Tours from this location see many of the infrastructure projects put in through the yeras juxtaposed with flourishin wetlands and wildlife.

Accessibility: Via Anacostia River Trail by bike or walking. Metrobus X2 (0.3 mile walk from stop). Parking at RFK available but not guaranteed during their events; driving not recommended. Follow walking directions for path to dock from RFK Lot 7 linked above.

Map Link

Anacostia Park

Anacostia Park, part of the National Park Service, hugs a huge portion of the river. From here the river’s relationship to our urban community is most evident, and offers city views through the deeper waters. Depending on the tide, tours may take you through the “Gateway to Narnia” – the train bridge at the curve of the river where it turns from urban amenity to natural wonderland.

Accessibility: Via Anacostia Riverwalk Trail by bike or walking.  Metrobus B2, 32, 36 (0.8mi walk). Plenty of parking, and very short  and wheelchair-accessible walk to pier from there.

Map Link

Diamond Teague Park Public Dock

You’ll launch under the shadow of Nationals Park at our southernmost tour location on the Anacostia River. See the river at its widest and deepest with the cityscape behind you.

Accessibility: We are not launching from the Earth Conservation Corps Dock!  Please follow signs to the public dock. Via Anacostia Riverwalk Trail by bike or walking. Metro Green Line Navy Yard (0.5 mile walk from station). Driving not recommended.

street view link

Map Link

2026 Bioblitz – September 12, 2026

The Anacostia River watershed is home to an incredible number of species, and it takes a village to get out there and document them. A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as many species as possible within a designated location and time period. Our bioblitz uses the free iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org) application to record the data. However, the goal of our bioblitz is to educate the public about the watershed’s natural heritage and the use of the application is optional during our public events. The very first bioblitz ever was held right here in the Anacostia River watershed at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in 1996! Our own Anacostia River Bioblitz has been held annually since 2017. 

2025-bioblitz-results-infographicDownload

Bioblitz events are opportunities to explore the natural treasures of your Anacostia River, but more importantly, it will be your opportunity to engage in community science to help us document the biodiversity of the Anacostia River watershed. The Bioblitz and the City Nature Challenge are weekend-long events where you can make your own observations using the iNaturalist app, at your own pace, from anywhere within the watershed. This is a great opportunity to learn about the identification and ecology of some of the river’s fascinating species.

Stay tuned to our social media channels and this page for further updates and details.

Watch the video at the bottom of this page to learn more about how to use iNaturalist. We will track observations on our iNaturalist collection project page.

There are areas in the Anacostia River watershed that are in need of more observations. See the map below and consider visiting these areas when you’re ready to make observations.

When you’re out there exploring, here are some things to remember to bring:

  • Smartphone with iNaturalist app downloaded. Create an iNaturalist account before you get there.
  • Dry bag or any other waterproofing device to protect your phone in case of rain.
  • Sealable bag or dry bag for your other personal items
  • Reusable water bottle filled with water
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Insect repellent
  • Closed-toed shoes that can get damp
  • A notebook and pencil to record any other interesting information from the experts.
  • Camera if you are into photography and would like to take higher quality pictures to download later on iNaturalist from your laptop computer.
You Can

Make a Difference

Your donation will help us restore and protect the Anacostia Watershed.

Donate Now

You can also follow our main project, Biodiversity of the Anacostia River, on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-the-anacostia-river

powered by Advanced iFrame

If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact Jorge Bogantes Montero at [email protected] or 301-699-6204 ext. 118.

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Bioblitz

FAQs

  • What is a bioblitz?

    The goals of a bioblitz are to observe, document, and identify as many species of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible in a specific area over a specific period of time. The Anacostia bioblitz focuses on the Anacostia River watershed, an area of 176 square miles in DC and Maryland. This information is useful for scientists, educators, conservationists, land managers and other people. It helps inform conservation and restoration actions to protect species. Our bioblitz uses the free iNaturalist application, a social network for mapping and sharing biodiversity information around the globe. Our bioblitz happens annually in the late summer-fall from Thursday to Sunday, it is watershed-wide, however, we do offer at least one public educational event that is organized in collaboration with professional naturalists, educators and scientists and where people can learn from these experts.

  • Is the Anacostia River Bioblitz family-friendly?

    Yes, traditionally bioblitzes were conducted by biologists and expert naturalists. Over the years and especially with the advent of iNaturalist they have become a powerful educational tool to engage the general public in community science. Our Anacostia bioblitz is geared towards families and people new to biodiversity and willing to learn about our wild urban/suburban neighbors.

  • How is the Bioblitz different from a scientific inventory?

    In a bioblitz anyone can participate in making observations/records of species using the app, regardless of whether you are a professional in the field (biologist, environmental scientist, etc.) or not. Some people will focus on making observations, other people will focus on making identifications of those observations. And other people with expertise may do both.

  • How long will the Bioblitz last?

    From Thursday September 10th to Sunday, September 13th.

  • Where can I make my observations?

    Anywhere within the boundaries of the Anacostia River watershed in parts of DC, Prince Geroge’s County and Montgomery County. View Map

  • How do I record my observations?

    By downloading the free iNaturalist application. You can make observations on the spot, or you can take pictures and upload the observations at the end of the day, or anytime before September 18th when we will launch the bioblitz results on social media. You may also use other cameras, including professional cameras and then upload your observations from your laptop.

  • Are there specific areas of the watershed that I should focus on?

    This map shows the 4 gaps in the Anacostia watershed that could use more observations.

  • I have expertise in identifying organisms. How can I help?

    Making identifications is a crucial part of our bioblitz and any expertise in making identifications is greatly appreciated before September 18th when we will launch the bioblitz results on social media. Use this guide from iNaturalist.

  • How do I refine observations stuck at a high taxonomic level?

    Use this resource from iNaturalist.

  • What are licenses? How can I update the licenses on my content?

    This is an important issue that even experienced iNatters don’t know about. If you want your observations to be more useful to science and be part of larger scientific data repositories read this carefully. Basically the “No license (all rights reserved)” is the least useful option for sharing your data with the scientific community. Which is OK if you just want to keep your observations to yourself.  

More Information

You can also follow our main project, Biodiversity of the Anacostia River on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-the-anacostia-river

If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact Jorge Bogantes Montero at [email protected] or 301-699-6204 ext. 118. 

Signature Events

The Anacostia Watershed Society provides ample opportunity for watershed residents to understand, protect, and enjoy the Anacostia River.

Each season, we offer a variety of programs:

Learn more about our events by visiting our Events Calendar.

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