Boating In DC at Fletcher's Cove

We haven’t rented here but see tons of happy renters. The river is lovely and scenic here. Little Falls, which is the end of the tidal Potomac, is a good place to watch white water boaters play. You should go! To launch your own craft, drive to the end of the parking lot, park, and carry down to the water past the rock. Easy. Nice bathrooms in upper parking lot.

Little difficult to navigate ourselves to the parking location, but we did it! You go through a tunnel that seems very small, but don't worry, you will fit. Or you can park by the gray building and walk down to the kayak area. If you are going before 10:15 on a week day..coming from reservoir road is the easiest way to make ti to the parking lot (in our opinion). The actual kayaking experience was great. Check on was quick and easy and we were on our way. It was a beautiful spot on the River.

Such a great location. Not at all accessable if you have your own kayak. Rented a SUP for $50 or maybe $55 for 2 hrs. Thought that would be more than enough ... I could been out there for 4hrs.

Stop by to check on Kayak classes for beginners.. 🏄 As a kid we would fish at this spot on the Potomac ..

A great place to paddle. You would never know you are technically in Washington DC. Today was excellent for seeing turtles, an osprey, and a great blue heron. We even watched him catch a midday meal.

Very friendly staff, easy parking and checkin. Though you might hear nearby traffic noise, the beautiful and peaceful scenery really makes you relax. Water is calm too, even with some breeze you should be doing fine ( we are a mom and a six year girl so ). We even landed on a small “island “ to take a break and observed the wild life ( deers and ducks) . Really great place to unwind.

This place is great. It was a very fun activity and it wasn't too expensive to boot. If you're a beginner I would recommend the kayak. The staff are very friendly and give you a lot of tips. A very nice area to be in; the scenery is beautiful and the waters are very calm. The scenery itself sold me amongst the other 'Boating In DC' areas.

This is one of the best locations in DC to kayak from. You can go upstream Potomac river until you reach the bridge. Just beyond the bridge there is rapids that one cannot cross. Then come back downstream relaxing.. There is a small waterfall in Virginia side. It is a fun place to do a short pitstop, grab a snack. Tip: kayaking a close to the bank is a bit easier. Kayak close to right bank upstream. Season pass can work if you have a family that plans to kayak a lot. Season pass allows you to pickup kayak from any location.

A truly hidden gem for kayaking or paddle-boarding in the area. Fletcher's Cove is a beautiful outdoor space that's tucked away (and a little difficult to access) along the river, with scenic views that would have you believing you're a lot further outside of a city than you really are. The 1-lane road down to the boat house is far from intuitive for a first visit, but once you're there it's so worth the drive.

Fletcher's Cove is just a few miles from downtown, yet it feels miles further away with its peaceful water and forested banks. Even with my paddleboard exploding when inflating, it was a wonderful trip. The park entrance is fee-free, and there is plenty of parking just a few feet away from kayak launches, a small dock with rental kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. Cramming myself and my friend into our single remaining inflatable kayak worked out great. The Potomac has a lazy flow at the fastest, and there is a large area with little movement that makes lazy drifting easy and perfect for kids and those looking for more relaxation than paddling. Absolutely great spot to go after work or with the family on weekends!

Such a hidden gem in DC - I wish I discovered this sooner! There weren't many people for a Saturday afternoon which is surprising. There is a cute little shop to get more information and snacks. The kayaks were comfy and the water was calm! It was sort of difficult to get to, so make sure you're using google maps (not Waze) and really paying attention when you get close.

If you enjoy fishing, this is a popular spot for the annual shad run which can start in March and last through April. Shad are relatively small, silver coated fish which come in huge numbers from West Virginia. I took my son to Fletcher's Boat House in mid-March and April 2022. It's a convenient location as they sell bait and licenses if you need them. On a Sunday afternoon it was crowded with lots of people fishing, kayaking or paddle boarding. On the plus side, I like the easy flat access to the Potomac River (in most locations, river access involves a tedious walk down a steep incline). Also, there is quite a bit of parking as well on the river side of the C&O canal. On the minus side, it can be difficult to drive into the Fletcher's Boat House area from Canal Road, because you have to take a one-lane road down. if you are driving from the Chain Bridge (points north), it's not possible to make a super-sharp right. Instead, it's easier to make a slight left at the traffic light (go up the hill on Reservoir Road), do a U-turn, and then come back down Reservoir Road to access the one-lane road. In summary, it's worth visiting to enjoy the scenery and easy access to the river!

Great place with lots of parking available. Weekends get busy so if it's beautiful out it's best to make a reservation online. We got lucky and they had a two person kayak available for us. One hour was $30 . Best part is- dog friendly! They provided us with all the equipment and life vests even a cute pink life vest for my dog. I can't wait to go again!

It's very beautiful here. Has such a camp feel. There's picnic tables and benches to have a picnic and eat lunch. Great for pictures and a relaxing afternoon. There are bike paths that take you to Georgetown and up to cabin John. You are also able to rent the lock houses for a night or two! The parking lot can be a struggle to get in. I suggest going left up the road next to the entrance to turn around and go back down the hill to the entrance. Be very careful it's hard!

We booked reservations for Fletcher's a few hours in advance for a Saturday afternoon kayaking trip. Staff members were friendly and helpful, and prices were affordable (hourly rates are $18 for a single kayak/$22 for a double). The process was smooth and easy, from checking in to getting our boats. Some general tips (that mainly apply to boating): - Water shoes are not necessary - most people were wearing regular shoes and your feet stay mostly dry - Phones/cameras are safe to bring - I left my phone to avoid getting water into it, but it would definitely be fine in a shirt/pant pocket Overall, this was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend checking Fletcher's out!

THIS PLACE WAS AWESOME!! Fletcher is fab (I actually don't know who he is lol). But do yourself a favor and come here. We went paddle boarding and I think the pics speak for themselves, we could not stop smiling! The staff was super friendly. We booked online (don't forget to sign your waivers online to speed up the process, you can do it in person too). We did a 1-hour slot and we could've maybe done a bit more, but for us that day it was perfect. Can't recommend it enough. You get a view of the Washington Monument too (just head left out of the docks)!! This may be a boat house, but with its fit for anyone from the White House.

I love this place I've been fishing over there for many many years. I love the people working there so friendly and convenience.

Idyllic setting, plenty of picnic table/benches. Affordable kayaks or rowboats for rentals. Public Restrooms Highly recommend!

Easy reservations, excellent service as well as bathrooms. Don't recall if there were snacks but definitely water and sodas for sale. The canoes and kayaks were fine, and life jackets are color-coded so you get one that fits. Love this place!

Starting a morning with a two hour kayak ride is invigorating and therapeutic. Fletcher's Boat House is the place to do it early in the morning because they open 7AM. The guardian of the place (Dan) is as kind as possible a human can be. Every morning he will welcome you with a smile. People like Dan make companies look really good. What is amazing to me is that the stretch of river between Key bridge and Chain bridge is DC proper, but when you see the pictures you cannot tell where it is. The abundant wilderness and fish jumping out of water everywhere around you make you believe that you are in a jungle somewhere far away. The connection with the nature is a big plus for this boathouse, owned (as all others are) by the Guest Services as a part of boatingindc.com You can feel good, make a difference, and pick up few floating plastic bottles from a river and stick it in the rental kayak and the host will gladly dispose it for you - as we all need to protect our natural resources. Fletcher's Boat House is not for the folks who have never kayaked because the river current is noticeable.

I took my brand new bicycle on its inaugural ride along the Capital Crescent Trail and stopped at the Boat House for an ice cream sandwich. It was $1, which seemed fair. There are picnic tables here should you need to take a load off. Fletcher's Boat House is open from early March through the Fall, and offers rental boats, canoes and bicycles, and sale of bait, tackle and refreshments like hot dogs, Gatorade, and ice cream novelties. I should warn you, though, the bathrooms here are nasty.

So I've come to appreciate the joy of kayaking relatively late in life - one of my favorite excursions is going to Thompson Boat Center and renting a kayak and paddle around the Kennedy Center etc. imagine my joy to find Fletcher's, where you can also rent a kayak but have a more secluded and nature-infused experience! Great place for a date or more active outing with friends.

It's the simple things in life! For $22, the hubby and I got a kayak and we kayaked away. We had a peaceful time rowing our boat and enjoying the ride. We saw ducks in all sizes, fishes jumping up and down, turtles, and all those things that nature offers but we take for granted. It was a bit tricky to get in. The address is on canal road but the entrance is kind of hidden. You can also get in through biking the C&O Canal. The place has so much nature that you almost feel like you're away from DC. The staff was friendly, though adamant about the current being strong and serious about not getting in a situation where they would have to come rescue us. We didn't encounter any of that. Our Sunday was fun-filled and peaceful. We took about two hours and got to enjoy some of that DC view (Washington monument and Georgetown). I wish they were open later so we could have seen the sunset. But hey, you can't have it all! I cannot wait to go back to row, row, row my [kayak].

Super friendly staff here! From renting the boat to getting life jackets to getting the boat of your choice... Everything here is well organized and well run. There's plenty of parking although the turn in can be a little nerve racking if you're never done it before... either crossing traffic or a hairpin turn... just be careful! There are restroom facilities here with running eater near the tow path. Great place to spend the afternoon! Or morning Or all day...

Canoe and kayak rentals. I'm not sure if they had anything else for rent. Snacks and beverages, and some misc items available for purchase. We kayaked the river in DC for some nature and wildlife for a little over an hour. It was a pretty easy kayak trip, and got to see the bridge and the Washington Monument. Employee assisted us in getting into the kayaks, but were not available upon our return. Thankfully we knew what we were doing, but they should probably keep a better eye on the customers returning to avoid any safety issues. The location is difficult to get to, especially during rush hour. It is a very small 2-way street to get down into the boathouse, but the main street it is off from is only one -way during certain hours of the day. We missed it and had to go up and around again to return. Nonetheless, great little, quaint area once you're there. At the parking area, you have to go past the bathrooms, onto the wooden bridge, and then down over the little hill and then you will see the rental station. It is not visible at all from the parking area. We saw birds, deer, and turtles throughout. And plenty of amazing trees and airplanes straight through that portion of the river about every four minutes. It was a great 1.5 hours spent kayaking. I would go again.

A great alternative to Georgetown Boats and the Harbor location which is entirely too busy for kayaking.

Every summer I come to Fletcher's boat house to kayak. This side of the Potomac is less crowded than the Key Bridge side, and you will experience more nature. This time, we brought our dog, who enjoyed seeing other kayakers or just taking a nap under the shade.

I came here for a colleagues birthday kayaking day out and it was such a wonderful experience. She had explained that this location is better than going out in Georgetown because it tends to get a little busy which makes sense (so many boat shoe wearing patrons, so little water, I get it). We came here and it was first off, beautiful and clearly in a historic area, second off, there was ample parking and not many people on this gorgeous Sunday morning. We were assisted in getting life jackets and kayaking equipment and were out on the water in no time. The paddling varied from pretty difficult, to just easy, even ending on some really cool white water areas which I couldn't do but looked cool. I will definitely be back as we had such a nice relaxing time.

Decided last minute to go to Fletchers Labor Day morning. I called at 1030 and was told the kayaks were first come first serve and it costs around $14 for an hour. Driving there is interesting- we crossed over and took a left on m st. Then there is a tiny one way road you go down, easy to pass, we did and u turning is not easy on this road. Once we were there we got two kayaks, life vests and oars. It was a beautiful day and the two guys running the dock told us the best ways to go and how long it traditionally takes. Perfect way to spend the weekend- 100% recommend it.

If you are looking for a spot to gather with friends and grill under the shade of big trees right by the river then this is the spot for you. The boathouse has affordable kayak, canoe, rowboat and bike rental which just ads to the outdoor fun. Bear in mind though that if you are going by car, you will need to do your homework on directions and expect some very hidden and counter intuitive turns off canal road to get there.

Great little get away from the city! The season rental pass is also a great deal for someone like myself who can't fit a few kayaks in my tiny apartment.

Very beautiful and suggest you get there early. A little tricky to get into the parking area. The 2 suggestions I have for this company is 1) get walkie-talkies to communicate from the check-in hut to the docks and 2) have a separate line for the check-out. We were done and ready to leave but had to get into a long line of people filling out release forms and what not which added to our time. Fourthly they didn't charge us for the line time but seems like things could be a little smother if it was separated. Had a great time though!

Everyone goes to the boat house in Key Bridge, but silly, avoid that mess, come here and get a kayak a lot faster. Also, you can go upriver and explore stuff like the waterfall that's just right off the river before Chain Bridge. At least I think it's before Chain Bridge. I guess you just have to go explore and find it on your own, the good ol fashioned way. You can take the capital crescent trail from Georgetown if you're on your bike, otherwise they have a huge parking lot you can hit up. I work in McPherson Square, so sometimes for a workout/ride I go there to the boathouse, grab a gatorade, turn around and come back to DC. It's beyond great to have this place so close to DC, yet when you go there, you feel you're away from it. Go here to getaway, especially when you need to be able to quickly get back, nawmean?

staff are very friendly. they made it easy and it was not crowded at all. they also have a lot of options on what u can use(kayaks, canoes, etc.)

If you're looking for someone to help you sort out your fishing gear, ask for Campo Ca

This is a lovely place to paddle-board/canoe/kayak. All those options are available for rent. It is kind of tricky to get to if you're driving. If you are really adventurous, you can get here by jogging or biking on the Capital Crescent Trail. This place is less crowded than nearby Key Bridge Boathouse that is in Georgetown. Lovely outdoor activity for all ages in the warmer DC days. I have heard that prices have dramatically increased this year.

Fletcher's Cove Boathouse staff are unsafe and unprepared for emergencies. There should be a protocol in place for kayakers/paddlers in distress. When I called--lost and in distress on the water--their number goes to a call center as the company Boating in DC has multiple locations. I was transferred to Fletcher's Boathouse. The line rang and rang then I got the error message "the person you are trying to reach has a voicemail box that is not set up yet." This happened twice. When I finally got someone on the phone, I was told they would send someone out and they would also call me back. Meanwhile I am still lost and in distress. I managed to find the dock on my own after 30 minutes--no call back and no one came to help. Please update your protocol for faster response. The number on the sticker on the kayak needs to be a direct line to a person at the dock where the kayak was rented. And emergency response needs to be faster. When customers bring issues to your attention, we are not looking for excuses. Corrective and immediate action needs to be taken. Train your staff and update your protocols.

I absolutely love this place. It is a place, if I may, of quiet contradiction. You head into the city, you turn right, park get out and wow, countryside, river, canal, bbq pits, boats, canoes, kayaks. You could be in the middle of nowhere and you 're less than a mile from Georgetown. A wonderfully harmonious discordance. We came here yesterday to ealk the dog and mooch around, The canal is pretty dry now, in parts you can walk across it, the last time we were here in late summer and rented boats. I completed an ambition I have had for over 15 years now and which until yesterday went unfulfilled. I found a smokin piece of driftwood, about 8 feet long with one end that looks almost like a set of antlers. Well, if you are drunk or on drugs it looks like a set of antlers. Got Thing 1 and Thing 2 to lug it to the car, which was a comedy of errors in itself, and now it sits on the front porch, where for the rest of the year I will drink and smoke and admire my hunting trophy.

Fletcher's Boat House is like a life long friend. When I was young a great date was renting a canoe and paddling down the canal to Georgetown or on the Potomac to go swimming off the the Three Sister Islands. More recently I enjoyed renting kayaks to paddle up the Potomac to Chain Bridge. With guidance from the knowledgeable staff, I learned enough to buy fishing rods and took my son fishing from the banks of the Potomac. So many wonderful memories.

Listen up guys: This is a great date idea!!! It's cheap, its fun, its interactive and it gets you plenty of creative points. There is nothing like spending the day with your honey rowing along the Potomac shores or even renting a bike and peddling your way along the C&O Towpath into the sunset. Either way, you are going to have great scenery and a blast. One cautionary tale if you do choose to make Fletchers a date spot- make sure to alert your date that you will be going on an active date... you don't want them to show up in inappropriate clothing. Happy rowing!!

Coming here with the boy has proven one thing...I'm not a very good team player and I have no sense of direction. Instead of grabbing two kayaks I thought it would be "fun" to get a double. The boy in the front and me in the back. I tried to paddle the same time as the boy and steer but I think my right side got more push than my left. We ended up going in circles for about half an hour :p in the end I was banned from rowing and just to steer. Minus the shenanigans this place is great fun for couples or just a mini adventure away from the jungle city but I recommend getting two separate kayaks to prevent drama. Unlike Thompson's boat house this part of the river is more secluded and doesn't really show signs of a city too near by. The staff here are really friendly but be sure to keep track of time they will charge you for overtime (although both times I came they gave us an extra 15 or so minutes for us to get ready to set sail).

I've been here twice before, both times to rent a bike to bike on their trail. The first time I went was probably a 2-3 years ago and they actually rented out mountain bikes. It was a fun ride with my buds. Seeing as how I had a great time, I decided to go back there with my girlfriend this time, only to find out they no longer have mountain bikes for rent. They only have these one speed retro-looking bikes. I guess that was fine until the chain on my bike decided to bust out when I was going uphill on a ramp. After finagling with it for awhile, I managed to get it back on and was able to go on for a little bit more. Then there's another uphill ramp, and low and behold, it comes undone yet again. At this point, I was like dude.. WTF? The problem with one speed bikes is that once the chain becomes undone, you can't pedal but the worst thing is, that you can't BRAKE! It's quite dangerous because there are no brake handles as it relies on the biker to actually step on the pedals backwards to apply the brake. The chains became undone several more times after that on flat ground and I basically had it. I ended up walking the bike back to the shop and asked for my money back which they were nice enough to credit back both rentals. I still like this place because I think the trail is nice and if the chain didn't break on me, it would've been a great bike ride. The people over there were also helpful and understanding. They also have kayaks for rent so it's not just bike renting. You should check it out, but just be careful with the bikes.

I think it's pretty incredible that one can kayak on the Potomac River. So naturally, I had to try it before the kayaking ends this month and doesn't resume until next April. Fletcher's is kind of hidden. As you're driving down Canal Road, you want to veer towards your left at a fork and drive down the ramp towards a small dock. The boat house is over a bridge and across a creek. We got there at about 4:45pm, which left us with not much time to kayak. Kayaks must be in by 6pm. Luckily, the guy helping us didn't charge us for the extra 15 minutes-- that was very generous of him. Took us about 5 minutes to get us situated into the kayak and off we went. Unlike Thompson's or Jack's, this location is further upstream so it's a bit more country. No views of Georgetown or the Capitol. Just nature: mallards, a stork, and deer. Beautiful weather. Slight breeze. No glaring sun. Perfect kayaking weather. And, the lady and I both had an amazing time. All in all, this is a great activity to do. Can't wait to do this next Spring!

I have been coming here to go kayaking for several years now. We have always had good service and been pleased. I like the location and the fact that you can rent a kayak, canoe, row boat (the cheapest) or a bicycle. I have not had any problems or seen anyone be rude. We went yesterday and everything was kosher!

As noted, Fletcher's is not easy to find. But, once you can locate it, everything is easy and fun! Here, you can rent kayaks and canoes. We rented a double kayak for a very reasonable rate of $17/hour. The weather was absolutely fantastic for this experience, so I was very thankful. They close at 6 P.M., so from experience, I'd suggest getting there by 3 P.M. at the latest if you want to take your time. There isn't too much to see and that's why I would recommend Thompson's, which I believe would give you a Georgetown view. Regardless, I had a fantastic time. I would recommend bringing a change of clothes. I did not and regretted it, but luckily, I did dry off in time for dinner in the city. I can't wait to do this again.

You can rent different types of boats (kayaks, canoes, row boats) and bikes, by the hour or for the day. All in pretty good condition though the life vests haven't been washed in a while. People are friendly and laid back. Please be aware that no one will show you how to paddle. I went with someone who never canoed before and no one would even check which paddle she should choose. You're pretty much on your own. Bring some cash to tip the guys who help you onto the boat. There's a picnic area and some grills. Free parking is awesome!

Great activity spot in Washington DC. The staff is very competent, laid back, and attentive. The price is reasonable, and the equipment provided is great. The only issue is the entrance driveway, which is in an akward spot of the main road, and makes it a pain to drive there (while avoiding speeding cars).

Renting the row boat fishing was a lot of fun but rowing it was not easy if you haven't done it before :) we caught a lot of blue catfish and small bass on this trip. The bass were all too small but the catfish offered a lot of fighting fun on light tackle with 8-10 pounds line. The driveway from Canal Rd is very narrow, be careful, only one car at a time.

Super nice, laid back staff. The price is right-- unlike Jack's Boat House in Georgetown that charges hourly, Fletcher's charges for the first hour, and then if you want 2+ hours, it's $24, regardless of how long you are out on the water. It's pretty awesome. I think the Potomac water is disgusting but that's not Fletcher's fault. The views are great-- I canoed to the Chain Bridge and back, and I saw several bird and fish species. I had a wonderful time, and I'm definitely going back!

This place was awesome. I would have never known it existed if my coworker didn't tell me. It seems like a place that's not very well-known, and that makes it better I think. I, of course, got lost going here and ended up in Arlington. The place is very discreet, the only direction I would say is look for the busted sign hanging from a house/building. I was scared outta my mind trying to get to the picnic tables going through that crazy tunnel. But the area is pretty cool. My coworkers and I had a fourth of July bbq here. I think there are few grills, we brought our own. There weren't many other groups here and it didn't get crowded or loud at all. You definitely have space for blankets and chairs and games without bothering any other group that may be there. Lots of trees and the bugs were killing, so make sure you bring your repellent! I'll definitely be back to the cove!

It is a beautiful spot, and very relaxing! However, there is one particular staff that spoke of his customers very very poorly. I was actually astonished to overhear him call them "stupid pieces of shit." So, if you are inexperienced or can't battle the strong currents, do not come here or they will call you these awful names.

2016 has seen an almost 300% increase in the rental prices due to new management! Last year it was approximately $30 for the day, now it's $80! This was the last place in the DC area that I could afford to rent a canoe and take my kids out for a day on the river. I stopped going to the Key Bridge Boathouse years ago when the same thing happened there. Very disappointed :-(

The insane one way enter/exit has to be fixed. There were lines of cars in each direction with nowhere to go. No one directing. No thought put into how they're going to get cars in and out so if you go at a busy time, expect to be in a non-moving line of cars all beeping and yelling at each other. Other than that, the kayaking was fine. Overall experience = maddening. Fix the entrance and I'd recommend it highly.

This is a load of fun and something different to do on the weekend. There is nothing like the solitude of kayaking alone or the fun of kayaking with another. I highly recommend it for some zen time. The cost is minimal for the hourly rental of your kayak, life vest and oar. Remember: J stroke!

Here's something different that's worth checking out: Go here, rent a boat and paddle around the river for a while. There's canoes, kayaks and rowboats for rental and it looks like you may also be able to rent bikes and fishing poles. The river around here is flanked on both sides by forest and it's a nice peaceful area to be in. Reminders of the city will come from occasional overflights of commercial aircraft which appear to use the river as a guide and from the trash strewn along both sides of the river, as people apparently come here to fish and feel no need to do anything about their garbage. There are areas where it's literally a big pile. I assume the only force in charge of cleanup is mother nature, who probably sweeps all debris down the river periodically. If I'm allowed to link YouTube, I think this commercial tells you all you need to know about the river: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzlplIeXn2g Still, I'm reviewing the Boathouse moreso than the river and this is a pretty good idea for an outing that's not too far away. The word of caution is that it's tricky to find. The entrance is a narrow driveway that's only really accessible if you're heading northwest down the road. Look for a stone house and low stone wall and it's back in there.

Hard to imagine a better, easier way to get out on the water in DC. In a few minutes, and for just a few bucks, you can be paddling in a canoe, kayak, or rowboat. I went with my sister, and rented a canoe for $24 for the whole day. We paddled the 2 miles down past Key bridge, floating very close to Great Blue Herons, and with a Bald Eagle circling overhead at one point. We had a leisurely picnic on a beach on Roosevelt Island and made our way back up to Fletcher's Cove. I was amazed that their boats weren't all rented out on a holiday weekend, but then, they've got a LOT of boats...

Hard to believe you are in the city. Great deal, $6 an hour for the bikes, you can cruise into Georgetown or head up towards Great Falls all within an hour. Bikes were a little squeaky but that's expected. Tricky entrance, you have to come from Reservoir Road or the south, you can't come from Canal Road to the north.