The Lincoln … Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is a 7.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Washington, District of Columbia that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail shares the road for a bit, but it has very little traffic. Several train stops are relatively close to the trail, including: the Navy Yard-Ballpark (200 M St. So go slow. Once fully completed, the trail will also connect to the Tidal Basin (famous for its cherry blossoms in the spring), the National Arboretum, and the National Mall (gateway to the US Capitol, Smithsonian museums, the Washington Monument and other iconic landmarks). We then rode up just past the DC United stadium. Parking and Trail Access I biked from Cherry Hill Park to the West Hyattsville Station, then took the Metro back up to the Greenbelt Station, where some on-road (sidewalks) … The parks are just over two miles from each other on the Anacostia River Trail, a nice, easy distance for small pedalers to ride each way. 10. A new four-mile trail just opened along the east bank of the Anacostia River. In fact you can continue on beautiful bike paths all the way to Wheaton or almost to Greenbelt. Moreover, while part of the barrier is marked, another branch is not. Sligo Creek Trail, Silver Spring, MD. It’s the much-anticipated completion of the Anacostia River Tributary System of trails. You can visit one park first, ride to the other, visit the second one, then ride back. Heading south on the west side, we had to ride on the street, because the trail is narrow and over grown. It's easy to find the trail from there, but it's kind of weird riding on the sidewalks initially. There are kayak and canoe rentals (weekends through Nov. 1), a riverside playground, a pedestrian bridge, gazebos to relax in, plus a train caboose and pontoon boat tours (though both are inaccessible during Covid). Stop for some info and history on the area. }(document, 'script')); Want to be notified of new KFDC posts? Along the river, on the eastern edge, the trail has nice views of the river, the marina, and the path is smooth and of decent width. If the path were consistently maintained, and if there was another place on the western side with bathrooms, this could be a 5-star trail. All three trails—along with several others—are part of the larger Anacostia Tributary Trail System. Length 1.2 mi Elevation gain 52 ft Route type Point to Point But for now, it's a tease for what will come--and a construction site. If 2 people, walking their bikes encountered each other, they might not be able to pass. The riverwalk in front of the naval yard is absolutely beautiful, although no wheeled transportation may be used/ridden in that section. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is a multi-use trail system in Washington, DC, which, when complete, will be ~25 miles long, spanning both sides of the Anacostia River, the Washington Channel waterfront, and projecting into neighborhoods away from the Anacostia. Anacostia River Trail and Anacostia Park have seen both the freedom and oppression of people, to just and unjust decisions by those in power. The southernmost point of the trail is located at Bladensburg Waterfront Park and spurs extend northeast and northwest along beautiful stream valley parkland. Please update. It’s especially lovely right now brightened by brilliant fall colors. — 12 Pad 13 — 15, Street - Point 17 18 — 19, point . The trail continues into DC and becomes more urban including a section (very comfortable) that runs through a residential area. That provides options to cross the river to downtown Washington via the 11th Street, Pennsylvania Ave, or Douglass bridges,” Adams said. After that the original trail is closed so you have to go left at ML King Ave, up to Water Street and the right to follow Water. The trail is wide and well maintained. The South Capitol Street Trail Project will extend the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail into the southernmost areas of the District of Columbia, filling a bicycle and pedestrian travel void for local communities, employment centers, and connecting users to the regional trail network. And the bridge over the railroad tracks near East Capitol is both beautiful and interesting. Mostly on paved trails. SE) and Nationals Park (1500 South Capitol St. This has some nice shady areas and places to pull off. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Anacostia Park is one of Washington, DC's largest recreation areas with more than 1200 acres stretching along the Anacostia River from the Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge to the DC/Maryland border. It’s the locations themselves that help make this bike ride so great; both make for fantastic visits on their own, so even better when you can incorporate them into one outing. Technically, the "Riverwalk" trail ends at Bladensburg, but then the "River" trails take over. This was good, because after that we encountered no restroom facilities (except a set of port-a-potties that were locked). Along this trail, the character of the river varies remarkably. Enter your email address and name below to stay in the know. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and road biking. We used public parking near the stadium, went to the water and headed North. Tackling the whole trail at once would be a bit much for little riders, so biking shorter portions is the way to go with them. var vglnk = {key: '967ec8597f3490ae2e1e59966b19d02d'}; As was the case for the Paint Branch and Northeast Branch Trails, the Anacostia River Trail was paved (mostly asphalt) all the way and relatively smooth. Only 4.2 miles of 24 have yet to be completed. Admission is free to both. Near the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the D.C./Maryland border, the Minnesota Avenue (4000 Minnesota Ave. NE) and Deanwood (4720 Minnesota Ave. NE) stations on the Orange Line are the closet Metro stops to the northern end of the trail. The path leading into Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. But beware of the construction!!! The network of Anacostia Tributary Trails (maintained by Prince George's Parks and Recreation) bring you up close to history, art, and nature. Check out all of the sights from our Tales and Trails ride series below: May – A Monument to Civil Rights My wife and I wanted to find a fairly easy, scenic ride and that's what this was. The Anacostia Tributary Trail System, operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, forms a backbone for the Heritage Area. And as noted above, there are free parking lots at both. Spanning about 10 miles, this well-paved trail … Bike, Play, & Explore Within this Beautiful Stretch of the Anacostia River Trail, Fun Things to do with Kids in the Washington DC Area, Enjoy the Great Outdoors at Patapsco Valley State Park, Ideas for At-Home Celebrations of Light in Dark Times, from the Washington Waldorf School, Giveaway! “Suitland Parkway Trail provides a traffic-free route to several important points in Ward 8, including Anacostia Metro Station, Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, and most importantly, Anacostia Drive itself. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens — boasting lily pad filled ponds, gorgeous lotus flowers and water lilies (in summer), and acres of wetlands — is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in the area. Spanning the river from Southeast DC to College Park, MD, it’s one of our favorite trails to ride, plus the paved path with just a few gentle hills is a great one for families and kids of all ages to cruise together. The planned 28-mile trail, spanning both sides of the Anacostia River, connects DC and Maryland residents in 16 waterfront neighborhoods to their workplaces, schools, shopping, recreational amenities and the outdoors. Public parking is also available in Anacostia Park (1900 Anacostia Dr. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). SE). MD. Parts of this trail are lovely... others, not so much. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A network of sidewalks and paths will connect the bridge and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to new sidewalks along Suitland Parkway and Firth Sterling; and existing sidewalks along Howard and S. Capitol Street will be replaced and improved. 11. A new bike path in North College Park is adding a key connection to the Anacostia Tributaries Trail System. Goldfish Swim School Opening in Gaithersburg, January 2021, Start a New Family Holiday Tradition with Santa’s Scout. Other good things to know: Bike racks are located next to the entrance at Kenilworth and on the sidewalk by the river at Bladensburg. On the east side of the Anacostia, follow the Anacostia Park Bike Path past Kingman Island, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and up to … And as far as I can tell, once you go over the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge going west, there's no way to get back on the west side path until 11th Street. Although the trails are a bit too narrow and windy for effective commuting, they do provide some nice recreational rides. Riding through the neighborhood is fine--you just need to be prepared to do it. SE) and Stadium-Armory (192 19th St. It joins two trails that were already there to create one big, continuous path that runs from where the Anacostia meets the Potomac to a number of places well into Maryland. SE) and Anacostia (1101 Howard Road SE) stations on the Green Line, and the Potomac Avenue (700 14th St. A lot of people think this trail ends at Bladensburg. var r = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0]; There are picnic areas at both parks, but concessions are not available. Spanning the river from Southeast DC to College Park, MD, it’s one of our favorite trails to ride, plus the paved path with just a few gentle hills is a great one for families and kids of all ages to cruise together. (function(d, t) { There are restrooms available in the Anacostia Fields section of the park. Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (Washington, D.C.) This planned 28-mile rail-trail, which currently spans 19 … https://www.traillink.com/trail/anacostia-tributary-trail-system/. And in 2020. On the northern end of the trail in Maryland, parking can be found at Colmar Manor Community Park (3510 37th Ave., Colmar Manor) and Bladensburg Waterfront Park (4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg). s.type = 'text/javascript'; Hours are 8am – 4pm daily. We’ll get you back with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the festival. There are portable restrooms at both. The Anacostia Tributary Trail System (ATTS) is a unified and signed system of stream valley trails joining trails along the Anacostia tributaries of Northwest Branch, Northeast Branch, Indian Creek and Paint Branch with a trail along the Anacostia River, set aside and maintained by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.. ATTS is a … Picked up the trail just south of Benning road and crossed the river at the Frederick Douglass bridge. Route for 2008 Anacostia Trails Fall Foliage Bike Ride on October 25. The trail include: the Anacostia River Trail, the Northwest Branch Trail, the Northeast Branch Trail, the Indian Creek Trail, the Paint Branch Trail, the Lake Artemesia Trail, and the Sligo Creek Trail. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. SE) and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (1550 Anacostia Ave. NE). It creates a network of over 40 miles of trail. The Anacostia Tributary Trail System includes a number of trails linked together and managed by the National Park Service. r.parentNode.insertBefore(s, r); You could also just visit one park, or even just do the bike ride. The trail ends in bladensberg now. Anacostia 15 14 12 11 LEGEND RIVERWALK TRAIL SEGMENTS 2. There are a couple of hills and then a climb to a bridge over the railroad yard that descends into Anacostia River Park. Fall colors popping at the Aquatic Gardens. Anacostia River Trail. The bike/ped bridges are really nice with great views. Anacostia River Trail | Photo by Sam Kittner, courtesy Capitol Riverfront BID Not only does the Anacostia River Trail connect people to the river and its surrounding greenspace, it also transports them into our collective past. The region’s Metro rail service provides convenient access the trail; if taking your bike aboard a train, please observe the transit system’s rules. Except for some rush hour time restrictions, you can take your bike on the Metro to access these trails. The trail is primarily used for walking, running, and road biking and is accessible year-round. The Anacostia Tributary Trail System, a link in the national shore-to-shore American Discovery Trail, provides miles of uninterrupted trails along the tributaries of the Anacostia River. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is great for a casual stroll, a jog, a bike ride, or a dog walk. parked at Anacostia River Park, rode to Bladensburg Md. Although it’s only a half mile long, the $1.3 million trail will … The College Park Woods Connector Trail, which opened this month, links the neighborhood just north of busy Metzerott Road with the Paint Branch Trail, which runs south through the University of Maryland to Lake Artemesia.. To date, 12 of the ultimate 20 miles of the Riverwalk Trail are open and heavily used. Lots of water views, not too many hills... lots little bridges. For all those first timers and trail lovers, we are leading group trail rides on the beautiful Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which runs both banks of the river in DC. You will have to put your bikes on a rack and drive to whichever park you make your starting point (or you can bike, of course, but then it’s not a short ride anymore) — there are free parking lots at both places. Hours are sunrise to sunset daily. This part of the ride is very sunny. Detour through Macgruder Park because of WSSC work across trail. With preliminary design complete, the project is envisioned to consist of a 10-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian trail stretching … One cautionary note: For the time being, the portion of the trail that goes from the Navy Yard to 11th Street SE will only be open during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Bladensburg Waterfront Park is located at 4601 Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, MD. ... It’s not too far from where we live, about a five-mile ride from our house on Capitol Hill, and the Anacostia River Trail leads right to it. You’ll ride mostly along a paved path, but occasionally over boardwalks that wind through wooded areas and also right along the river. Rode about 7 miles of this trail with my son along the Anacostia River at sunset. TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Baltimore Ave./US 1 and Charles Armentrout Dr. (Bladensburg, Maryland) and S. Capitol St. You can go up farther and cross the river, but we turned back and crossed at the Sousa bridge and went South on the other side. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. SE at Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.), Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Crushed Stone. They would have had to take them off and walk barefoot, or turned around and not completed the loop.) Clark also encourages an overall philosophy for the cyclists called H.E.A.R.T., which stands for humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork. The Anacostia River Trail, sometimes referred to as the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, is an important component of the Capital Trails Coalition's plan to create an 800-mile network of multiuse trails that are equitably distributed throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. These relaxed pace rides will depart at 12:15 and 2:30 pm and last about half an hour. On the other hand, previous bike bans at the Navy Yard and Yards Park have apparently been lifted. The route is scenic, flanked by expanses of wetlands, leafy trees and flowering plants, and lovely river views. Currently, 20 miles of the trail have been completed, providing access to Diamond Teague Park, the historic Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, and Anacostia Park. Near the northeast side, the trail gets rough, with broken patches and grass growing in the cracks and in large patches in the center of the path as it passes through a park. In January 2015, the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 5C passed a resolution in support of a new “Gateway” Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that would provide a bike and pedestrian trail connection from Fort Lincoln and surrounding neighborhoods across the Anacostia River to join the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. There are restrooms and water there. Turn right to pick up the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail on the east bank of the river; Head south through the park and take in the Washington, DC skyline from across the river; At the end of Anacostia Park, ride up the ramp and take Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge to cross back over to the west bank of the river ; Take a right onto Potomac Ave SE and follow it as it turns into First St SE; Dock your bike at the 1st & … Every week Clark creates a new route for the high schoolers to bike, and recently they biked their longest trail from Dunbar to Anacostia Park and back. Do be aware at Yards Park, however, that some of the paths lead to stairs (down), and there's no warning. That segment continues north to Bladensburg, Maryland, at the split of the Anacostia River into its northeast and northwest branches. The best way to see the Heritage Area is by bike or foot. Want to support but payment of fee demands currency on your end. The trail network links Prince George's and Montgomery Counties to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, National Stadium and eventually to the National Mall. We walked 3/4 of the trail with our dog and got a good workout. You can hike around, explore the different areas, and look for creatures like frogs, fish, turtles, and all kinds of birds. I rode a loop from first and Q southeast, over the South Capitol Street Bridge, past the East Capitol Street Bridge on the east side, then back over the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge to the west side. It was a great ride and we are looking forward to coming back to ride the full length of the trail. The 10-12 foot wide trail is designed for a wide range of users-from cyclists to runner and skaters to walkers-and also provides seating, system maps, bike racks, and interactive maps. Goes across University of Maryland campus. Admission is free to both. Biking with kids along the Anacostia River Trail is not a new recommendation from me.