Kingman And Heritage Islands Park — Attraction in Washington

Pretty great nature preserve, right near DC! Situated northeast of RFK stadium, Kingman Island (as most people call it, I have no idea what the difference is between Kingman and Heritage Parks) is special.

Parking is a little weird, at least right now in the summer of 2019. Work on an adjacent park with astroturf playing fields is still underway in its final stages at the time of this review. There is a partially newly paved parking lot, brand new athletic fields, and a really nice bike trail that leads to Kingman Island. The athletic fields are really cool, and they include everything from nice restrooms to water fountains to a really great kids playground. So there are amenities nearby.

To get to the island parks, there's a nice sign and gate that you can walk through, which gives you access to some wood bridges going over the Anacostia River. The first island has a 0.25 mile loop trail which inspired this review.

I took my twin 2-year olds out here and we enjoyed everything from turtles, to sticks, to trees, to various bugs, to turtles. There are clearly some rodents around, probably raccoons, judging by the frequency of mysterious burrows. I bet there are also water snakes, so just be careful.

The island trails feel extremely isolated and other than the odd engine braking on the interstate or a helicopter passing overhead, it's pretty quiet and can just hear some birds chirping. The trail is clear but encroached by plant life. It also obviously gets muddy, as evidenced by the many bike tracks through the woods.

While we were out here, there were several groups who came through on nature hikes. Most of them looked like they had never been in the woods before and certainly didn't dress for the occasion, so they were uncomfortable. It was very hot, so I strongly recommend bringing water with you. However it was also very shaded.

There was a bit of old trash and random stuff left out in the park, as you might expect. An old sock, a random plastic water bottle here and there. It's virtually impossible to keep it trash free considering its size and adjacency to a trashy river. But generally it was pretty nice and I would strongly recommend it as a great way to experience nature right by the city. In terms of its competitors, it was less crowded, more secluded, quieter and more bohemian than Teddy Roosevelt Island, for instance.

I have been to the larger island (over another wooden bridge) as well during the Kingman Island and Heritage Festival, which is a really neat music festival that is probably my top music fest in DC. The larger island has a larger trail. I'm not sure if there are restrooms out there, so this is only speculation on my part but don't count on it. And do count on more mud, although the trail on the larger island is more well paved with a bit of gravel and straw, and there are large rocks in various locations where you can sit and enjoy nature. It's really neat out there.

It's very special to have something so secluded and nice and reasonably safe only minutes from the hustle and bustle (woo, cliche used in numerous reviews!) in downtown DC. I do think this could become unsafe very quickly, however. RFK is not the greatest area, so I'd suggest coming with a friend or keeping your phone handy and having a good sense of your surroundings. Most visitors are just trying to get away and enjoy nature, but being safe is imperative no matter what. Still, total 5-star...

Wonderful serene hiking trails with unique wildlife and nice foot bridges separating the islands tucked away near RFK Stadium. While feeling secluded, the islands are only a stone's throw from the bustling city. The main paved boardwalk trail to both islands is about a 1 mile out and back with 1-2 miles of little trails throughout the islands. While the Kingman Island (after the 2nd footbridge) is larger than the Heritage Island, they are both much smaller than Roosevelt Island with less foot traffic.

It can feel pretty creepy and get sketchy (especially the graffiti rocky area of the underpass on Kingman Island), so definitely bring a friend! Furry friends are welcomed as there are a couple dog waste disposals spots near the beginning of the trail. There's also an enclosed meadow where our dog loved running around!

While there are no views of DC, there's some pretty interesting aquatic and wildlife of sweet jasmine trees, corndog plants, and monarch butterflies fluttering around. Staying on the main paved path is your safest bet as the overgrown trails are brushed with poison ivy and can be muddy.

On Heritage Island, there's a 0.25 mile loop trail that was full of poison ivy and so swampy and muddy, that we turned around mid-way.

On Kingman Island, there's a narrow dirt overgrown nature trail that splits off from the main trail (right after the underpass) that you don't want to explore too deep into the woods. The guy in front of us encountered a couple of raccoons.

The #TRASHFREEDC litter display of all the trash collected from the Anacostia River is quite remarkable - 1.2 Million Pounds every year mostly due to stormwater runoff!

The Islands are a hidden gem and a great city escape! There are some blue grass festivals that I would love to...

Kingman and Heritage Islands Park is a serene natural sanctuary nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C. This unique urban park is the result of over a century of transformation, where dredging the Anacostia River created these islands, now home to diverse ecosystems. The park boasts tidal freshwater wetlands, vernal pools, wildflower meadows, and tidal swamp forests, supporting over 100 species of wildlife. In 2018, portions of the islands were designated as a State Conservation Area and the southern area of Kingman Island as a Critical Wildlife Area, ensuring their preservation for environmental, educational, and recreational purposes. With rustic boardwalks, a floating dock for canoes and kayaks, and stunning views of Kingman Lake, the park offers a tranquil escape from city life and a valuable...