National Capital Parks-East - Beaches

Sandy beaches can be found along the shores of the Potomac River at Piscataway Park and at Fort Foote. The large sand spit at Mockley Point, in Piscataway Park, was recognized in 1990 as a State Geographic Area of Particular Concern and in 1992 it was included in the Maryland Natural Areas Registry. The shores of Piscataway Creek and many sections of the Potomac River possess a tidal substrate covered by gravel and some cobble-size stones. Large detrital mats often accumulate at the outfall of marshes. The root mats of the eroding southern shores also provide a unique shoreline hummock habitat for many plant species.