Windsurfing near Collingwood
- Kims Beach (3 km)
- Belle Haven (5 km)
- Marshall Hall (7 km)
- Washington Sailing Marina (12 km)
- Mason Neck (17 km)
This spot looks tempting when you can see the treetops swaying from your car window on GW Parkway. And it can be worth the effort, but only under ideal conditions.
The water here stays fairly flat as there is a moderate current through this narrow point in the Potomac. This makes it possible to rip some fast reaches from one side of the river to the other.
But this can ONLY happen when the wind is due north or due south. High bluffs on both shores prevent anything with a west or east in it from working.
The launch is a little tricky as you must carry your gear down a muddy bank into the water and there are some weeds. So a weed fin is a must.
The park itself is quiet, pretty and little-used -- a nice spot for hanging out. But don't be fooled by those treetops. On most days, the wind you see on the parkway is making no impression at all on the water in the river valley.