Your Guide to the Best Cherry Blossom Paddles in DC
We wrote a version of this guide for our friends at Wetsuit Wearhouse last year. While we had hoped things would look different this spring, many of the normalcies aren’t back just yet. So, while you read this with an eye to the future, we hope it still inspires you to get out on the water in some capacity this spring.
Springtime in DC is a celebration. The gray hues of winter give way to blue skies. Signs of life start to sprout from the city’s abundant green spaces. And more daylight fosters new opportunities outdoors. But the crowning glory of this seasonal metamorphosis are the 3,000 cherry trees that bloom each year in the nation’s capital. For weeks, the National Park Service, along with local media and others, monitor the buds and project when they will reach peak bloom, signaling the best time to make the trip to see the trees in their full glory.
But, in a normal year, to do this you’ve got to be ready to battle the crowds – unless you have access to a SUP of course. We all know paddling gives us a special perspective and unequal access to a lot of beautiful things. And that’s especially true in the case of witnessing DC’s renowned cherry blossoms.
Here’s your not-so-secret guide to the best places in DC to see the cherry blossoms by SUP.
The Tidal Basin
The Tidal Basin is the spot in DC that’s most synonymous with blossoming cherry trees, drawing 1.5 million tourists each year pre-pandemic. The Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument serve as iconic backdrops to the countless photos snapped of the most well-known cherry trees in DC. The basin itself, a partially man-made reservoir, covers about 107 acres and is the focal point of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. While personal water craft aren’t permitted in the basin, you can still get pretty close to the action on just the other side of its gates to the Potomac River.
Paddle up and down the DC shoreline and you’re guaranteed to see the cherry blossoms. The Jefferson Memorial may be a little hidden from this vantage point, but from the right spot, you’ll be able to glimpse the towering Washington Memorial behind those fluffy blooms. Put-ins can be found through apps like Go Paddling, giving you an opportunity to make this as short or as long of a paddle as you’d like.
East Potomac Park
If you’re comfortable with choppier water, paddle the Potomac downstream from the gates of the Tidal Basin to East Potomac Park. This is a man-made island that lies southeast of the basin and is home to over 400 cherry trees, many of which you can see from the river. Follow the island to the tip – called Hains Point – and up the Washington Channel, which separates the island from DC’s southwest waterfront.
Anacostia River Park
For a quieter place to see the colorful flowers in full bloom, head to Anacostia River Park in southeast DC, which gives public access to the river. Thanks to the National Cherry Blossom Festival tree planting program, 50 cherry trees have been planted in the Anacostia area over the years. Now, dozens of cherry trees bloom between the Anacostia River and the river trail at this 1,200-acre park. It’s also the site of the Anacostia River Festival, which closes out the National Cherry Blossom Festival each year.
Paddling here gives you a great view of Nationals Park, the ballpark for the Washington Nationals, and provides access to other activities post-paddle, including walks along the river, picnicking and playgrounds.
If you’re up for a longer paddle, head upstream to Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens to check out more of the urban nature DC has to offer.
We’re sure you’re already doing this, but we have to plug the importance of doing your homework on the local laws and regulations for where you want to paddle and put in. DC has lots of rules (see example above – no paddling in the Tidal Basin) so it’s important to do your due diligence before just going out. SUP is still a new and growing sport in many ways and how we represent it could impact how it’s accepted by states and localities.
And lastly, do some research on local tides before you hit the water. Each of these three locations are on the tidal Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Tides can vary widely along sections of the rivers and low tides can limit the areas accessible to exploration. Here’s one resource to check local tides.
Where else do you paddle to see the cherry blossoms? Comment below with your favorite spot!
