Anacostia River Explorers Boat Tours educate the public about the Anacostia River watershed, including its human and natural history, the threats it faces, and what solutions are being undertaken to help the river realize its full potential as an invaluable asset for the communities along its banks.
Anacostia River Explorers Tours discuss all things Anacostia River. Our experienced captains will discuss topics like: the history of the Anacostia and its surrounding communities, environmental threats, river wildlife, infrastructure along the river, and anything else you’d want to know!
If you are booking a private tour and would like our captains to focus on a specific subject, please let us know in your booking form.
We offer both private and public boat tours from April through October. Private tours can be booked Monday through Saturday and public tours are available every Tuesday evening June through September.
Tours are offered from sunrise to sunset.
Pretty much anyone! Anyone under 18 can attend with a parent or guardian.
All tour launch locations are ADA accessible, as is our boat.
Tours are totally free! All Anacostia River Explorers Boat Tours are offered free and paid for by the District Department of Energy and Environment through funds from the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Fund. A portion of these funds come from the Districts five cent disposable bag fee.
Tours launch from select locations along the mainstem Anacostia in DC. Anacostia Riverkeeper primarily launches tours from the Yards Park Marina, Anacostia Park, or Kingman Island.
For private group tours, launch locations can be tailored to fit the group’s need. Public tours launch from either Anacostia Park or Yards Marina.
Tours can also depart from Bladensburg Waterfront Park if necessary.
Our 27′ Carolina Skiff can accommodate 20 passengers.
For private tours we ask that you have a minimum group size of 15 participants.
We currently offer both one-hour and two-hour boat tours.
Private tours can request their specified tour length while all public tours are one-hour in length.
No problem! We’ve also made our Anacostia River Explorers Tours virtual. Check the section below for more information regarding our virtual boat tours.
Tours are broken up into 8 videos, one introducing watchers to the Anacostia and then seven video segments corresponding to different stretches of the river. Access them all through the Anacostia Riverkeeper YouTube channel.
In the summer of 2020 we recorded three distinct versions of our tours: a general river tour, a K-12 kids tour, and one focusing more on policy and science topics on the river. Our “K-12 Tour” and “Science and Policy Tour” will be available to watch summer 2022.
Currently, our “General Tour” is also available as an interactive Genia.ly app, in segments or in its entirety. Enjoy!
