Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail stretches roughly 20 miles along both banks of the Anacostia River, threading through wetland boardwalks, urban meadows and restored shoreline that teem with herons, osprey and painted turtles. It is one of DC's great outdoor secrets.
The Riverwalk Experience
The trail is paved and flat for most of its length, making it equally welcoming to cyclists, joggers and leisurely walkers. The stretch between the 11th Street Bridge and Poplar Point is particularly scenic, with unobstructed water views and restored native plantings buzzing with pollinators.
Keep your eyes on the river: great blue herons fish the shallows year-round, and osprey are a common sight from spring through autumn, hovering dramatically before plunging for fish.
Connecting the Neighbourhood
The trail links Anacostia Park, the National Arboretum (via the Bladensburg spur), Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the vibrant 11th Street Bridge Park — you can spend an entire day moving between green spaces without repeating a step.
The 11th Street Bridge Park itself, a community-built destination above the river, hosts outdoor fitness classes, food trucks and art installations on weekends, making it a natural mid-trail pitstop.
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail on video
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