Earth Day paddle and river clean up on the Anacostia River - Washington D.C. Metro Area

Spring paddle on the Anacostia River, Metro D.C. Area:

The solitude, wildlife, and fresh air on the Anacostia River seemed surreal considering that we were paddling inside of the beltway of Washington D.C.  Only the New York Avenue bridge and railway bridge, relics of the old port towns, and distant sounds of soccer games being played on the warm spring Saturday afternoon gave away our proximity to the nation’s capital.

We set off from Bladensburg Waterfront Park (http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Bladensburg_Waterfront_Park.htm) with a destination of the U.S. National Arboretum (http://www.usna.usda.gov/) for a picnic with a cool breeze and clear skies. Less than an hour later we reached the Arboretum – where they have provided a nice floating pier for visitors choosing the river as a route – and its waterfront picnic area. It’s really not so much a picnic area as a grassy, gentle slope to the river with a single picnic table, but that makes it all the more attractive as it maintains its solitude.  It’s truly a perfect destination for a quick afternoon paddle close to home for those of you living in the metro D.C. area.  Be sure to tie off your kayak or canoe securely to the pier and leave room for other paddlers before you explore the arboretum!

As a special bonus to our trip we were able to participate in the Anacostia River clean up for Earth Day weekend.  We beached just upstream of the arboretum near a nesting pair of geese (they even let us get close enough to see their eggs!) and easily filled three large bags of recycling and one bag of garbage for a total of four bags of waste pulled out of the river.. We even found a few interesting things while cleaning up all of the recycling: a Lego man, several balls, and antlers from a SEVEN POINT buck!  After tying off the bags behind our kayaks we began our SLOW (ever tried towing with a kayak?!) trip back UPSTREAM to Bladensburg Waterfront Park. What a great workout! We got a special treat on the way back as the local rowing teams were participating in a meet just as we returned. One of the races passed right beside us. The kids all were working very hard and looked great.

So, if you have a few hours to spare and you live in the D.C. area take a scenic paddle  down the surprisingly serene (and now rather clean) Anacostia River!

Earth Day SURPRISE: Guess what the most common item was as we cleaned up the river this weekend (garbage and recycling). STORE PURCHASED WATER BOTTLES. Imagine how much less pollution we would have in our rivers if we all used refillable water bottles!

Note: You will have cellular service the entire trip for emergencies but remember that your phone won’t work when it gets wet. Either get a good waterproof radio, EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), or a waterproof case for your phone. Always WEAR a life preserver and be sure to bring along enough water for the trip.