Widewater State Park is located in Stafford County on a peninsula where the Potomac River and Aquia Creek come together. Fun fact, it was also the site of early flight experiments by aviation pioneer Samuel P. Langley. Yes, it’s the same guy that NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base are named after in honor of his many achievements.

View of the Aquia Creek shoreline from the paddle launch.

Widewater State Park is still very new to the Virginia State Park system since it opened in 2019. There have been amenities written in the park’s master plan and recently these new facilities have come to fruition. The park now has a new motorboat ramp with direct access to the Potomac River and a new paddle craft launch that provides access to Aquia Creek.

New Boat Ramp

Widewater State Park’s new motorboat ramp and launch area officially opened on July 10 and contains 50 boat trailer parking spots, 14 single vehicle parking spaces, restrooms, and a new 4 bay maintenance building. A well, fully automated gate and contact station were also included in the construction.

The boat ramp provides an excellent view of and direct access to the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to more than 100 World War I-era wooden steamships known as the “Ghost Fleet”. There is a temporary interpretive panel on the Ghost Fleet inside the Widewater Visitor Center.  This Sanctuary is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and it is listed as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Overnight and late return boating is permitted but daily parking fees apply.  The ramp opens at 5 a.m. every day and the gate will allow vehicles to leave anytime, but you must enter to launch before the automatic gate closes at dusk each day.  Please note that closing times change with dusk hours throughout the year, so be sure to call the park office at 540-288-1400 for current closing times.

For more information about boating at Virginia State Parks visit DCR’s boating webpage. You can also visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources webpage to learn more about boating.

The Potomac River and Aquia Creek are wonderful locations for boating, but also offer spectacular places to catch some amazing fish. Did you know there was a one-time world record fish caught in Aquia Creek?

In 2013 a Spotsylvania resident caught a Northern Snakehead in Aquia Creek that weighed 17 pounds, 6 ounces and it was a world record catch. This record was broken in 2019 when a person fishing on Potomac Creek caught a 19-pound Northern Snakehead.

You can always report an odd or rare catch to park staff at the location or to Virginia DWR. Visit DCR’s fishing page for more information about fishing at Virginia State Parks.

New Paddle Craft Launch

Widewater State Park dedicated a new paddle craft launch on August 16 and it is now open for public use. You can bring your own paddle craft or rent from the park. There are several places you can enjoy on a paddle to and from the park.

Across the creek and in direct view of the launch is Aquia Landing County Park. This 32-acre park is a popular fishing and swimming spot. The park provides a delightful location to see various birds and waterfowl. It is a 1.3-mile paddle, one way, to Aquia Landing from the launch. 

The launch allows access to the Potomac River section of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. There are exhibit displays inside the Visitor Center that talk about Captain John Smith's exploration of Aquia Creek

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Upstream of the park is Government Island where Aquia sandstone was quarried for construction of the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building. The county has a boardwalk to the island and a set of trails, but landing a paddle craft is just on the shore, and beware, it can be muddy at low tide. It is a one-way 5-mile paddle from the launch. 

There are two Virginia State Parks nearby for those seeking longer time on the water. It is approximately a 16-mile paddle from Leesylvania State Park to the launch at Widewater. It is about 13.5 miles from the launch to the paddle in campground at Caledon State Park.

Plan Your Visit to Widewater

With two new places to access the water, you should start planning your visit to Widewater State Park today. Be sure to log those paddle adventures and earn cool rewards as part of the Virginia State Parks Wandering Waters Paddle Program.

For those looking for a picturesque hike to escape the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia, this park offers two trails that are perfect for a quick and charming hike around the property. View the trail map for more information. And of course, you can log those hikes as part of the Trail Quest Program.

I also want to mention that the park has 4 picnic shelters, and each have access to parking, restrooms, and a playground. Be sure to experience a picnic with a view on your next visit.

There aren’t lodging amenities at the park currently, but the master plan calls for cabins and campgrounds during another phase of construction. Be sure to check out Leesylvania or Caledon State Park for overnight accommodations.

DCR looks forward to adding more amenities and continuing to develop this park into another inclusive Virginia State Park for everyone to enjoy.