River Access: Popular Potomac Access Points Analyzed
By David (Cotton) Cottingham
After CCA submitted comments on the GFDCP in 2025 (see related article), I met with Shaun Lehrman, the C&O National Historical Park partnership coordinator for the section of the park downstream of Seneca Creek. I commented to Shaun that the scope of the GFCDP was too narrow. Paddlers have concerns about river access all along the canal. Shaun replied that NHP gets comments from a wide variety of interests, and it would be beneficial when NHP allocates its resources to have a broader perspective of boaters' concerns. I volunteered to consult with others in the community and put together information on access points.
Throughout the fall, under the auspices of the CCA River Access Committee, I consulted with leadership at several river and paddling organizations in our area: Chuck Thornton of Great Falls Foundation, Ashley McEwan of Calleva, Lisa Weed of Team River Runner, David Solana, Jim Scott of Potomac Whitewater Racing Committee. Alf Cooley, John Snitzer, and Gordy Lang also participated.
The group identified 14 popular river access points between Fletchers Cove and Seneca Creek/Riley's Lock. For each access point, we identified the section Potomac paddlers use, the status of conditions there, the needs to improve them, and the priority for activities. Those descriptions are provided below.
Of course, the conditions vary considerably. Solutions to improve access at Locks 5 and 6 differ greatly from those at Violettes Lock. We sent the tabulation to Shaun and others at NHP. They have not responded, but several NHP people had the lists with them when they met several of us in early March at Blockhouse Point (see related article). Here's the list:
Access point: Fletchers Cove
To access: Takeout for Little Falls
Status: Low tunnel to lower parking lot precludes tall vehicles with boats on top from accessing. Dangerous entrance from Canal Road down to parking lot.
Needs: Redesign driveway and intersection at Canal Road
Priority: 3
Access point: Chain Bridge Parking lot
To access: Temporary takeout for Little Falls when Lock 5 closed.
Status: Steep eroded embankment from canal to parking area
Needs: Stabilize bank
Priority: 3
Access point: Washington Aqueduct Low Water Intake path
To access: Takeout for Little Falls
Status: Rocky takeout covered by sediment and slime at low water levels. Eroded bank between towpath and canal.
Needs: Rearranging the large stones at the takeout could greatly improve walkability. This may be a DC Water or Army Corps of Engineers topic more than NHP. Stabilize bank between towpath and canal by having wooden ramp or steps into canal.
Priority: 2
Access point: Lock 5
To access: Takeout and put-in for Little Falls. Access to Feeder Canal.
Status: Major construction at Lock 5 prohibits parking and all access. When will the construction finish?
Needs: Adequate parking and takeout from canal. Improve transition from canal to bank. Stabilize bank.
Priority: 1
Access point: Lock 6
To access: Access to Feeder Canal and put-in for Little Falls, important training area for slalom racers, many practice and safety classes taught in Feeder Canal
Status: 1. Eroded banks of Feeder Canal need repair. 2. Limited parking. 3. Crossing by pedestrians over Clara Barton Pkwy is hazardous. 4. Cars have been broken into.
Needs: 1. Major rip-rap project needed to stabilize banks of Feeder Canal without interfering with slalom gates. 2. Install safety light for Clara Barton Pkwy crossing from Brookmont. 3. Additional parking spaces in lot. 4. Install portable potties. 5. Security of parked cars
Priority: 1
Access point: Lock 10
To access: Takeout primarily
Status: Just downstream from Potomac Interceptor break. Elevated E. coli levels in sediment. Steep muddy bank at river's edge. Limited parking leads to people parking on grass illegally during busy periods.
Needs: 1. Water quality testing and remediation. 2. Stone steps at river's edge. 3. Limited parking. 4. Security of parked cars. 5. Porta-potties.
Priority: 2
Access point: Carderock
To access: Takeout primarily. Also put-in to attain upriver.
Status: 1. Steep, muddy bank at river's edge 2. Treacherous paths over roots from river to parking lot.
Needs: Install stone steps over crushed rocks and roots
Priority: 3
Access point: Angler's Inn
To access: single most popular boater access point for this section. Access to Difficult Run rapids, attain through Mather Gorge, and paddle downstream to Lock 10. Takeout for people who have paddled Mather Gorge.
Status: 1. Parking overcrowding. 2. Erosion from parking lot. 3. Security of parked cars. 4. Emergency access vehicles contribute to path/road deterioration.
Needs: Community meeting to discuss problems and potential solutions to parking situation and paths between parking lots and beach. Need input from many people with varying interests. Potential for permit parking stickers in all parking lots.
Priority: 1
Access point: Sandy Beach
To access: Accessed from Great Falls parking lot to paddle through Mather Gorge. Popular takeout for people who have run Great Falls.
Status: 1. Badly eroded path between Sandy Beach and towpath. 2. Path used by many people in addition to paddlers.
Needs: 1. Install steps down path. 2. Appropriate safety signage.
Priority: 2
Access point: Great Falls put-in from River Trail
To access: Access for expert kayakers to run Great Falls
Status: Paddlers park in lot, paddle across the Canal, take out and walk to river's edge to launch. No issues with current level of use.
Needs: 1. Designate official trail and access point from towpath to river. 2. Install appropriate signage
Priority: 2
Access point: Pennyfield
To access: Takeout after paddling downstream from Violette's Lock or Riley's Lock
Status: Boat ramp from parking lot into Muddy Branch. Erosion into Muddy Branch from parking lot.
Needs: No immediate requests of NPS
Priority: 3
Access point: MM 21/Blockhouse Point
To access: Takeout/portage from Potomac to Canal to paddle back to Violettes Lock after paddling GW Canal
Status: 1. Steep bank up to towpath from river. 2. Erosion on canal side of bank.
Needs: 1. Add stone steps between towpath and canal. 2. Maintain canal water levels between March and Thanksgiving.
Priority: 1
Access point: Violettes Lock
To access: Put-in to access GW canal on VA side of Potomac
Status: 1. Parking lot sediment eroding into canal. 2. Path between towpath and river crossed by many roots, making it dangerous.
Needs: 1. Install sediment traps between parking lot and canal. 2. Improve path between towpath and river by covering roots with crushed stone and installing stone steps.
Priority: 2
Access point: Riley's Lock/Seneca Creek
To access: Put-in to access GW canal on VA side of Potomac. Also popular with power boaters and jet skis because of boat ramp. Accessible launch for kayaks.
Status: Heavily used access point by many visitors—Calleva, Team River Runner, individuals. Parking and launch sites primarily managed by MD DNR.
Needs: No immediate requests of NPS
Priority: 3
Members of the CCA Access Committee will communicate with Shaun and others at C&O NHP about steps NPH can take to improve river access for paddlers and others throughout this section of river.