Kayaking in Washington, DC

Kayaking is a popular activity in the Washington, DC area. The C & O Canal offers calm waters and an ideal location to enjoy easy paddling amidst beautiful scenery between Georgetown and Violettes Lock (mile 22). The Potomac River offers more challenging kayaking, though there are some dangerous white-water areas between Great Falls and Chain Bridge. Local sports outfitters and paddling organizations lead day trips and overnight excursions to a variety of kayaking destinations in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Kayak Rentals, Sales, Lessons and Guided Tours

Potomac Paddlesports
The kayak school offers lessons, trips, and skill clinics along the 10 mile stretch of the Potomac River and C&O Canal on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Access points are at the Angler's lot and Great Falls Park on Macarthur Blvd and Pennyfield Lock and Riley's Lock off of River Rd. They also offer sea kayaking lessons at Truxtun Park in Annapolis, MD. The Potomac Paddlesports retail store is located at 11917 Maple Avenue in Rockville, MD.

Atlantic Kayak
Atlantic Kayak offers kayak rentals and guided tours of Georgetown and Piscataway Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, situated across the river from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate just 15 miles from Washington, DC. Short tours, all day tours and overnight trips are offered to a variety of kayaking destinations around the region. The Atlantic Kayak retail store is located in Fort Washington, MD.

Jacks Boathouse
Jacks rents kayaks and rowboats right in Georgetown where you can paddle along the Potomac River. Basic instruction is available. The facility is located under the Key Bridge at 3500 K. St, NW Washington, DC.

Thompson Boat Center
Located in Georgetown at the intersection of Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Avenue, this boat center offers canoe and kayak rentals as well as bicycle rentals and rowing lessons. Thompson Boat Center serves as a hub for regattas and racing for Georgetown University and George Washington University crew teams, as well as many local high schools.

Fletcher’s Boathouse
This is a bike and boat rental facility located on the Potomac River and the C & O Canal National Historical Park, between Chain and Key Bridges just minutes from downtown Washington, DC. The area is ideal for bicycling, boating, fishing, and picnicking. The concessionaire rents kayaks, canoes, rowboats and bicycles.

Liquid Adventures
The kayak school offers customized private and group lessons for every skill level and for all ages. The company is based in Cabin John, MD and offers day and weekend trips around the DC area and week long adventures beyond the Potomac. Summer programs are available for ages 12 and up.

River and Trail Outfitters
This sports outfitter rents and sells kayaks and offers guided trips and clinics along the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers as well as Antietam Creek. Whitewater trips are available near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. River and Trail Outfitter also runs rafting, tubing, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing tours and operates a retail sports store in Knoxville, Maryland.

Kayak Clubs and Associations

The Blue Ridge Voyageurs
A group for experienced whitewater paddlers offers trips around the Washington, DC region at various skill levels. Most trips are geared to intermediate to advanced levels. The organization does not offer rentals or lessons.

Chesapeake Paddlers Association
CPA offers kayaking classes, trips and special events within the Chesapeake Bay region. During the winter months the group practices and learns new skills at Fairland Aquatics Center in Laurel, Maryland.

To learn more about kayaking, see About.com's Paddling site