Historic places to kayak in the USA..where to park and launch and what to expect from the water and weather.
Listed by state and rated by our favorite from 1 to 5 flags
Washington D.C.
Launch at Gravelly point near Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Use your GPS to find the airport) You can only enter the park going north on George Washington Memorial Parkway. (You can u-turn through the airport access roads but keep your eyes on the signs to get back to George Washington Parkway) Parking is free and there are port-a-potties. Launch from the boat ramp. There are two ramps. It get's busy on summer days so come early. The water can get a little choppy at the convergence of the Anacostia and the Potomac rivers later in the day due to increased wind speed and boat wakes. The river is a no-wake zone north of Arlington Bridge. Head north on the Potomac toward downtown DC, Georgetown and Roosevelt Island. Land on the Island for a picnic and sight seeing. Come early for the best experience. Bring your bikes to ride the miles of bike trails both north into DC and south to Mount Vernon after you take out the kayaks. See some pics of the area here - Washington DC - 4
Travel further north on the river past Georgetown. (becomes shallow white water) Click here for pics of the area - North Potomac DC - 3.5
You can also head south on the river toward Alexandria. Click here to see pics of the area - Alexandria and National Harbor - 3.5
You can also head north on the Anacostia - Click here to see pics of the area - Anacostia River - 3
You can also head south on the river toward Alexandria. Click here to see pics of the area - Alexandria and National Harbor - 3.5
You can also head north on the Anacostia - Click here to see pics of the area - Anacostia River - 3
Mount Vernon, Marshall Hall, Piscataway Park - launch at the boat ramp on the end of 227 where it meets the Potomac, Marshall Hall Boat Ramp, Bryans Road, MD 20616. Plenty of parking, but no facilities. We paddled north to Fort Washington where we beached for a short break. After a few more miles north we headed across the river and back south past Fort Hunt and finally Mount Vernon. There was an abundance of Osprey in the area. The water was good the day we came but beware of large high speed boats with enormous wakes. See more pics at - Mount Vernon. - 3.5.
Maryland
Baltimore Inner Harbor - Launch at the ramp on Boston Street next to Canton Waterfront Park at 3001 Boston St, Baltimore, MD 21224.Parking is free but come early. Don't bring valuables and lock your vehicle well. The ramp is not wonderful but it will get you in and out. There is a short dock also. The bathroom facilities are rarely open, so plan ahead. The water nearing the ramp and crossing in front of the marina can get choppy later in the day from wind and boat traffic. Kayak northwest toward the Inner Harbor to see the city and the Constellation and south across the harbor toward Fort McHenry where you can see the cannons along the edge of the fort. There are several events in the harbor during the summer to supplement your trip. We watched the Blue Angles perform an air show directly over us during the Sailabration in 2012 - click to see the pics. Click here to see more picture around Baltimore Inner Harbor - 4
Chestertown, MD - Home of the Sultana and the fall Downrigging Weekend Tall Ship Festival. We saw several bald eagles playing and catching fish in the Chester River. The water is calm with a slight current. We launched at a boat ramp near the Fish Whistle restaurant (98 Cannon St, Chestertown, MD 21620) See more pics here - Chestertown, MD. - 3
Annapolis, MD - Launch at Truxton Park Road, Annapolis, MD 21403. Launch from the beach for free or pay to launch at the ramp. Plenty of parking and restroom facilities. We paddle into Spa creek and out into Annapolis Harbor and the Severn River. The water along the mand made shore of the Naval Academy can be really choppy. You can take the short channel into Annapolis for a quick review of the resturaunts along the shore. Take out and drive to Annapolis for a nice walk around the historic town and good lunch on the veranda at one the resturaunts. See more pics here - Annapolis, MD. - 3
Fort Frederick, North Potomac - launch at McCoy's Ferry Campground Boat Ramp Clear Spring, MD 21722 off of Big Pool Rd (56). There are restroom facilities if the campground is open. The water can be swift in section and shallow. If you are in a big boat like we were, you may need to wade a little. We reached the river near Fort Frederick and beached. We went to the Fort to take a tour of the living museum and watch various demonstrations of period guns and equipment. There was a fantastic reenactment. Check the web for this event and GO!! It is the best we have seen anywhere. Bring your bike and ride the Rail Trails. See more pics here - Fort Frederick, MD - 5
Jane's Island, MD - We launched at Jane's Island State Park boat ramp, 26280 Alfred J Lawson Dr, Crisfield, MD 21817. We crossed Daugherty Creek Canal into Daugherty creek heading west toward Tangier Sound. Be careful crossing of the canal. The current can be VERY strong. Move quickly across and angle yourself to compensate for the drift of the current to hit the creek ahead. This is a fantastic wildlife trip. As we moved along Daugherty Creek we saw dozens of snake heads peeping out of the water. There were Osprey and Eagles fishing all around us. We landed on Jane's Island and walked out to Tangier Sound for a picnic. We went to Crisfield for a crab festival afterwords. There are restrooms in the park. The water was calm but this is a tidal basin and the current will change. See more pics here - Jane's Island. 4
Jonas Green Park, Annapolis, MD - Annapolis is just across the Naval Academy Bridge from the park. This park is purposely setup for hand carry beach launch. It is located at 199 Governor Ritchie Hwy, Annapolis, MD 21401. The water is usually calm. Under the bridge and near the front of the Naval Academy it gets a little rough, but manageable. There is a porta potty. Parking is limited so come early. See more pics here - Jonas Green Park, MD. - 3
Wye Island, MD - launch at Wye Landing 12498 Wye Landing Ln, Wye Mills, MD 21679. We entered a race around Wye Island. The weather was not the best and the water got a little choppy on the west end of the island, but not too bad. There are a lot of professional fishing boats in the are and they don't want you there so be extra alert. There are some restroom facilities in the area, but when were there port potties were available. If you would like to enter the Wye Island Regatta, check here for more info. See more pics here - Wye Island. - 2.5
Fort Smallwood, MD - we launched from the beach at 9500 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122. There is a ramp for a fee. There are standard park facilities available. This is the mouth of the Patapsco River opening into the Chesapeake Bay. It is was nice weather and the bay was calm the day we went. The water is shallow along the shore. It can get rough in windy weather, but not too bad close to shore. Watch for huge boat wakes from barges and other large cargo ships in the bay. See more pics here - Fort Smallwood - 2.5
Smallwood State Park, MD - we launched at the boat ramp at 2750 Sweden Point Rd, Marbury, MD 20658. There were a LOT of osprey in the area. We watched them fish all around us. There is a plenty of parking and standard state park facilities. A good wildlife kayak trip into calm water. See more pics at - General Smallwood State Park - 3.
St. Clements Island, MD - launch at Colton's Point Marina, 38000 Kopels Rd, Coltons Point, MD 20626. Private ramp with plenty of parking and a small fee. Restrooms and boat shop available. This was a great trip and one of our favorite. Go to St. Clements Island. Turn right off the ramp heading south east in the river toward Dukehart's Channel in the Potomac. Paddle around the island for great wildlife viewing and land on the island near the lighthouse for a picnic. See more pics here - St. Clements Island - 5
Elk Neck, Turkey Point Lighthouse, MD - launch at Rogue's Harbor in Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD 21901. Lots of parking and restroom facilities. Two large ramps. The water can be very rough, so pick a day with mild wind and good weather. We paddled south around Turkey Point and out into the Elk River far enough to peek at the lighthouse on the cliff side. After we finished we went to visit the beautifully restored light house. A great trip. See more pics here - Elk Neck Park. - 4.
Point Lookout, MD - find the boat ramp near10485 Point Lookout Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Plenty of parking and launch for a small fee. Restrooms available. We headed north off of the ramp into Lake Conoy toward Point Lookout Creek. The Potomac has a heavy surf in this are and it could be tricky leaving Lake Conoy. This was a great wildlife trip. See more pics here - Point Lookout - 2.5.
Assateague Island, MD - launch near 13002 Bayside Drive, Berlin, MD 21811 at the end of Bayside Dr. Plenty of parking and standard park facilities. There is a fee to enter the park. We paddled south along the island and through some of the natural canals. Ferrel horses abound. Some would come right up to the edge of the water to greet us. Lots of wildlife, especially pelicans and osprey. After we finished we went to the beach on the other side of the island for a relaxing picnic by the ocean. See more pics here - Assateague Island - 4
Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD - park in the lot next to Blue Heron Center at 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403. You will need to carry or cart your kayaks quite a ways down to the water of South River. There is a dock launch. No restrooms. The water was very calm when went. It is a beautiful wildlife paddle trip. See more pics here - Quiet Waters Park. - 2.5
Youghiogheny Lake, MD - (pronounced yock-o-hay-knee) launch at Mill Run Recreation Area Mill Run Rd, Friendsville, MD 21531. Find your way to Freindsville then Mill Run run through the woods to the lake. There is a small parking lot and basic recreation area facilities. The water is calm in the lake. This is a very nice wildlife area. See more pics here - Youghiogheny Lake. 2.5
Sandy Point, MD - launch at the small boat launch area in the park at 1100 E College Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21409. There is a fee to enter the park. There is plenty of parking and there are restroom facilities. You will launch into the Chesapeake Bay near the bay bridge. The water varies greatly from very rough to calm, so be wary of the weather conditions. There are also many large boats that travel through this area. Hang out at the beach for a picnic after paddling around the bay. See more pics here - Sandy Point - 2.5
Deep Creek Lake, MD - we launched at Deep Creek Lake Boat Ramp Waterfront Way, Swanton, MD 21561. There is plenty of parking and restrooms available. Fee. The water is calm in the morning and gets choppy through the day. There are a lot of pleasure boats on the water on nice days. See more pics here - Deep Creek - 2.5
Savage River Reservoir, MD - launch near the intersection of Dry Run and Savage River Rd. Primitive parking and no restroom. The water is calm and suitable for beginners. This is a really nice little lake. Beautiful are surrounded by ridges. Plenty of wildlife. See more pics here - Savage River Reservoir - 3
Pocomoke River State Park, MD - go to the park at 3461 Worcester Hwy, Snow Hill, MD 21863. Plenty of parking and restroom facilities are available. Camping. A really nice place for an outdoor getaway. The river is calm and suitable for beginners. It is small and tight so smaller boats are better then the 18.5 foot Flagships. See more pics here - Pocomaoke River - 3.5
Chesapeake Maritime Museum - St. Michaels, MD - W Harbor Rd, St Michaels, MD 21663 - Great place to visit with a little bit of kayaking. We launched on W. Harbor Rd at the public ramps. There is parking, but no facilities. (There are public restrooms near the town parking lot - follow the signs.) The ramps are narrow and the 18.5 ft flagships had to launch at a dock. If your boat is 16 ft of less the larger ramp will work fine. There are other launch sites possible with a dock or seawall launch. There are no beach launches. The Miles River is a tidal basin and will fluctuate in depth accordingly so fixed dock heights will change through the day. There is a launch into the San Domingo Creek on the opposite side of the peninsula. It is a wild shore launch with a concrete slab on the shore. Launch at the end of E. Chew St. It is a good nature paddle, while launching on the St. Michaels side will put you in the middle of several boat docks and yacht clubs. This means wakes and rollers. Not a big deal for experienced kayakers with stable boats but potentially a problem for others. The day we were there the water was calm. As we traveled north, the water began to get a little more turbulent, especially around Deep Water Point. The rollers from power boats were large and unpredictable in this area and reflected off of the man made shore in all directions. It's not bad, but maybe a little of a concern for those with small or unstable boats. The town is great and we recommend a day trip to St. Michael's for a little paddling, on either side of the peninsula, a trip to the Chesapeake Maritime Museum, lunch at Awful Arthurs [ask for Jack] - (or one of the many other great restaurants in town) and some very interesting shopping. See more pics here
Virginia
Jamestown Island - launch at Master Marine - 297 Neck O Land Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185. There is a small fee. Great rip around the island. Leave the ramp across the yacht basin and turn right heading south toward Sandy Bay. We detoured briefly into Jamestown Harbor, just north of crossing under the bridge of Sandy Bay to see the ships, Susan B Constant, Godspeed and Discovery. We had a bald eagle follow us around half of the island. We landed on Black Point and toured part of the island nearby. After your paddle around the island visit the settlement and then drive to Colonial Williamsburg and maybe visit Busch Gardens for some roller coaster action. (Expect some large boat wakes and choppy water on the east side of the island) See more pics here - Jamestown Island. - 5.
Onancock Harborfest - launch at 2 Market Street, Onancock, VA 23417. We had a great time at the harborfest and kayak race. Nice wildlife paddle as well. Have lunch at Mallard's after working up a good appetite on the water. Calm water conditions. See more pics here - Onancock, VA. - 3.5
Chincoteague Island, Oyster Bay - launch at 6125 Fir Landing Rd 23336. Check with the town office at 757-336-6519, 6150 Community Dr, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 in case there is a small fee. We have kayaked all around Assateague and Chincoteague for great wildlife viewing and have seen the feral horses along the shore. Go to the Assateague lighthouse after you get finished kayaking. Spend a weekend on Chincoteague and go to the beach for some great kite flying. The water was calm during the excellent weather we had during our trip. It is very shallow in spots and you can get hung in dead ends if you venture into the natural channels in the bay. See more pics here - Chincoteague Island, VA. - 4
Yorktown, VA - launch near Yorktown Pub at 540 Water St, Yorktown, VA 23690. Go south on Water St to the parking area. There are are regular park facilities at Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center if needed. Carrying kayaks to the beach and launch into Cornwallis Cove. The water is calm in the cove but as you head into the York River it can get pretty choppy, especially as you move north toward the bridge where the river narrows. There is a lot of historical places to visit and great places to eat when you complete your kayak adventure. See more pics here - Yorktown, VA. - 3
Gloucester Point, VA - launch at the boat ramp or beach on the north end of the George P. Coleman bridge (17). Greate Rd, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 The water can get really rough under the bridge where the river narrows, but calms down as you move away from it. See more pics at - Gloucester Point, VA. - 2.5
Mason Neck Park, VA - we launched into Belmont Bay from the beach at Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Rd, Lorton, VA 22079. There is a small parking area and restroom facilities at the visitor center. We had a nice paddle out into Occoquan Bay. The water is shallow and calm most of the time. There are eagles galore in the area including bald eagles nesting. A great wildlife trip. See more pics here - Mason Neck Park. - 3
Back Bay, Virginia Beach - launch at Mill Landing Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457. Nice wildlife paddle in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Go the the beach on the other side of the bay. See more pics here - 2.5
Eastern Shire VA Wildlife Refuge - launch n Ramp Rd. at the refuge here 5003 Hallett Cir, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Ramp with restroom facilities. There is also a car top launch nearby. look for signs. Lots of wildlife. The view of the bridge is fantastic. We paddled around Racoon Island. See more pics here - Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge. - 2.5
Smith Mountain Lake, VA - launch at the boat ramp in Smith Mountain State Park 1235 Rd 888, Huddleston, VA 24104. Plenty of parking and restroom facilities. We had a great time in the rural area of Smith Mountain and paddling around the lake was a great experience. The water was calm as glass in most places and the wildlife was plentiful. See more pics here - Smith Mountain Lake - 3
