The Secret of Fletchers Cove
By Ranger Betsy
Whenever I need a break from city life I head to Fletchers Cove. Here you can get back to nature and enjoy fishing, boating, bicycling, and hiking, all without leaving the District of Columbia.
It is hard to get to, but well worth the visit. By car, Fletchers Cove is only accessible via a one-lane entrance road off of Canal Road. Past the Abner Cloud House, the road winds through a low, c. 1828 stone tunnel underneath the C&O Canal. A world of recreational possibilities lies on the other side of the tunnel.
Fletchers is a small cove leading out to the Potomac River. With Little Falls upstream, the fishing hole at Fletchers Cove is second to none. For boaters interested in slow waters or bird and turtle watching, Fletchers Cove is one of the best places along the entire canal to canoe or kayak.
Fletchers Cove is also an ideal place to start a hike or bike ride. Here, the Capital Crescent Trail crosses and then parallels the towpath. From Fletchers Cove, I can hike or bike into Georgetown, Bethesda, or go all the way to Cumberland Maryland.
I don't have to worry about buying expensive equipment either. At Fletchers Cove, I can rent rowboats, kayaks, canoes and bikes from the concession stand. I can also either picnic on the wide lawns by the cove or grab a hot dog from the snack bar.
I never know who I'll run into at Fletchers Cove - anyone from my next door neighbor to the President of the United States. Andrew Jackson, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter have all visited Fletchers. You'll see people gathering for fishing, food, and fun. It is a place where families have been coming for generations, much like the Fletchers' themselves - passing down its secrets.
- This calm section of the Potomac is perfect for fishing and canoeing. Credit: Roy Sewall
- Fisherman bait their hooks and cast their hopes during the annual shad run. Credit: Roy Sewall
- Rent bikes from the boathouse for an afternoon ride. Credit: Roy Sewall
- Fletchers Cove is a favorite gathering place for picnics. Credit: Roy Sewall
- A view of the Abner Cloud House after preservation work by the National Park Service. Photo taken in 1979. Credit: National Park Service
- The Abner Cloud House was used as a recreation spot for many years. The residents rented out canoes to the public for day trips up and down the canal. Photo ca. 1939. Credit: National Park Service
![Abner Cloud House](https://www.canaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Fletchers-Abner-Cloud-House.jpg)
Abner Cloud House
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![Incline Plane](https://www.canaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Fletchers-Incline-Plane.jpg)
Incline Plane
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![Capital Crescent Trail](https://www.canaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Fletchers-Capital-Crescent-Trail.jpg)
Capital Crescent Trail
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![Lock 5](https://www.canaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Fletchers-Lock-5.jpg)
Lock 5
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![Georgetown](https://www.canaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Fletchers-Georgetown.jpg)
Georgetown
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