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Maryland | Prince George’s County Maryland / Washington, D.C.

Anacostia River Water TrailBladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp

The named Anacostia Water Trail is an approximately nine-mile tidal route from Maryland’s Bladensburg Waterfront Park to the Anacostia Park public ramp near the Potomac confluence.

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 9 miles one way from Bladensburg to Anacostia Park
DifficultyModerate
Typical time4–8 hours depending on tide
ShuttleCar shuttle
Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Route photoMonocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 9 miles one way from Bladensburg to Anacostia ParkBladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at the free NPS Anacostia Park ramp near the Roller Skating Pavilion, then confirm parking and current District rules before shuttling to Bladensburg. Do not rely on Kenilworth, Arboretum, marina, or private shoreline destinations as unreserved take-outs.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and NPS launch hours, parking, fees, boating/PFD rules, District harbor rules, tide and marine-weather forecasts, water-quality advisories, and posted closures. No route camping is claimed.
CampingOptions nearbyBladensburg and Anacostia Park are day-use launch facilities. Arrange separate lodging or a confirmed campground; no riverbank, island, park-ramp, or urban shoreline camping is claimed.
SeasonMar-NovSpring through fall is the practical planning season, but Maryland water levels, recent rain, temperature, debris, and daylight control every launch decision.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

The named Anacostia Water Trail is an approximately nine-mile tidal route from Maryland’s Bladensburg Waterfront Park to the Anacostia Park public ramp near the Potomac confluence.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Bladensburg Waterfront Park soft access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Bladensburg has a dedicated non-motorized soft launch, limited parking, and a separate motorized ramp; use the correct facility and verify current park hours, rental/fee posture, and parking.

Finish

Take-out

Anacostia Park public boat ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

Anacostia Park’s public ramp is in the District near 1500 Anacostia Drive SE; verify the current ramp, adjacent parking, harbor regulations, and any event or park closure before launch.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Bladensburg has a dedicated non-motorized soft launch, limited parking, and a separate motorized ramp; use the correct facility and verify current park hours, rental/fee posture, and parking.
  • Anacostia Park’s public ramp is in the District near 1500 Anacostia Drive SE; verify the current ramp, adjacent parking, harbor regulations, and any event or park closure before launch.
  • The named nine-mile trail includes Maryland and District waters. Preserve the public endpoint chain and do not convert docks, marinas, fishing piers, private banks, or protected shoreline into emergency access without authorization.

Watch for

  • USGS 01651007 Bladensburg telemetry and trend
  • tide, wind, falling water, mud, shallow creeks, wakes, bridges, rowing/motor traffic, debris, thunderstorms, and water-quality advisories
  • Bladensburg soft-launch parking, Anacostia Park ramp, District boating rules, daylight, and hard downstream take-out

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Monocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service
National Park Service public-agency image

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorAnacostia Water Trail, approximately 9 miles Bladensburg to Anacostia Park

    The Anacostia Watershed Society and Maryland DNR describe the identified nine-mile trail from Bladensburg through Washington, D.C. to the Potomac junction.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessBladensburg Waterfront Park soft access to NPS Anacostia Park public ramp

    Maryland DNR’s public-access layer identifies the Bladensburg soft launch, while NPS identifies the free Anacostia Park ramp and adjacent parking. Coordinates are near-water access anchors and current operations must be verified.

    Source

  • Direct flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01651007 Anacostia River at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, direct tidal-river context

    Use current telemetry with NPS tide guidance, marine weather, observed depth, wind, and water-quality checks; no numeric safe-depth cutoff is inferred.

    Source

  • Camping postureDay-use endpoints; separate nearby basecamp only

    Neither public launch grants riverbank or urban waterfront camping.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01651007, Anacostia River at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, MD

    This is a direct same-river station. Readings are provisional and must be combined with trend and visual conditions.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryRights-cleared public-agency or public-domain corridor image

    Rights-cleared Maryland public-river image used as Anacostia context; it does not certify current tide, water quality, wind, access, or route hazards.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

Anacostia River Water Trail paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Bladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp route on the Anacostia River Water Trail?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Bladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp route on the Anacostia River Water Trail start and end?

This route starts at Bladensburg Waterfront Park soft access and ends at Anacostia Park public boat ramp, Approximately 9 miles one way from Bladensburg to Anacostia Park on the water.

Is the Bladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp route on the Anacostia River Water Trail suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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