Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Looking upriver of the NW Branch north of Bladensburg

About eight meandering miles upriver of Hains Point - the geographic convergence of the Anacostia River and the Potomac River - sits a small recreational oasis known as Bladensburg Waterfront Park. On Saturday, April 18th, the park will see a flurry of activity as a cleanup and celebration site for the Anacostia River Earth Day Cleanup & Celebration sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society. On an average day, this Prince George's County park serves as host to children enjoying the playground, fishermen casting their lines, and families out for a Sunday stroll. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts, however, flock to the park for a different reason - its strategic location as the gateway to the Anacostia Tributary Trail System (ATTS). From the park, cross the pedestrian bridge to the west side of the river and point your legs (or tires) north for some serious trail mileage. The paved multi-use orange-blazed Anacostia River Trail follows the flow of its namesake river for a little more than a half mile, at which point you reach a fork in the road:

To the left - the Northwest Branch Trail: Stroll through Hyattsville (metro-accessible!) and venture into Montgomery County on the connecting Sligo Creek Trail.
To the right - the (equally creatively named) Northeast Branch Trail: College Park and Lake Artemesia are just a short three miles away.

Wait, did you think this article was over? The tale of Bladensburg Waterfront Park (and in turn, the ATTS), is about to get a bit more interesting. Bladensburg Waterfront Park is destined to be the northern terminus of the planned Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which is a major component of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. This story will continue to unfold so be sure to check back!

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Tags: Metro Maryland Hike Bike

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