Wakeboarding in the Potomac dc area

[toddgray519]

Can someone tell me where I can go wakeboarding on the Potomac River I’m going to be docking at the dc James Creek Marina. Thanks

 

[Dfred]

Can someone tell me where I can go wakeboarding on the Potomac River I’m going to be docking at the dc James Creek Marina. Thanks

GREAT question we struggled with for a season. We trailer from Springfield and have tried a few spots up north , and south … but arrived at the “just right” location for us*
- Belmont Bay (Occoquan off Mason Neck State Park).
criteria based on:
1. 20-mins from driveway to ramp - no DC traffic!
2. Clean & healthy (as can be) water we feel comfortable getting our bodies and dogs into.
3. Diversity of boat activity options for the whole crew (beach, chill, raft, SUP, BBQ, board, tube, dock-and-dine/drink upriver towards Occoquan).
- There is a wonderful state park beach area to anchor up on and enjoy at the SE entrance …. It can get crowded though.
4. Protected water from winds and swells of the big main river and …. Mostly shallow (beware and check the charts NW-half is VERY shallow) - shallow makes for more accessible to jet boats and less attractive for props - giving us more room to play and it being less busy overall.

Potomac at DC is “illegal” to swim. There may be areas up north nearer to you…. Sadly, Many inlets in the area (Pohick Bay example) also serve as municipalities wastewater treatment “pump out”…. Oh God - the horror of DC waste water system combined with other pollution issues made much of the Potomac a Warning “contaminated fish and water” zone for years. Check out the “Swim Guide” app and River Keeper reports for water quality status!

Sorry I can’t recommend much closer up towards you .. the times we spent up in DC and by Alexandria- we just didn’t find anything as awesome as Belmont Bay.

PM me if you want to meet up …. Will be there this weekend!