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 Competition. Community. History.

Established in 1904, the Washington Canoe Club is a community of volunteers passionately dedicated to preserving, promoting and engaging in paddlesports on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. WCC’s boathouse, over a century old, is an iconic historic landmark serving as a base for its members to train for competition, paddle for recreation, and host community, educational and charitable groups.

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Photo of high river flood waters with lots of large debris (trees and logs)

Photo by Liz Pennisi

Potomac: 11 feet and rising

This was the view from the dock at 10 AM on Thursday, May 15, when, according to NOAA, the gauge at Little Falls was above 11 feet. Just 14 hours earlier, WCC leaders had sent an alert calling for help Thursday morning to ensure boats and gear were moved out of harm's way.
When WCC Commodore Tim Johnson arrived, the men's outrigger team had already pulled the ramps onto the concrete pad and secured the outriggers parallel to the water flow. Plastic kayaks, likely to float when the river peaked, were strung together so they wouldn't drift downstream.
WCC volunteers, gathered paddles, booties, and other assorted gear from the floor and placed them on tables, then moved boats from the lowest racks up onto higher racks inside.
The river deposited a layer of mud inside the boathouse, making Saturday morning another cleanup day.

Thanks to all the WCC volunteers who helped before and after the flood!

Thank You!

Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, and attendees who made the 2024  Sunset Dinner fundraiser a huge success!

Thanks to Dalton Pope of Cinemagine Studios and Owen Palmiotti for their work on this sneak preview. The full video will premier here in the coming days.

WCC 2024 Sunset Dinner video teaser

Take the WCC 2025 Paddle Fit challenge

The goal is to paddle 1,000 miles or more in 2025!
While the challenge was created with non-racing members in mind, it is open to any member who wants to take it on and is willing to log their mileage throughout the year.
To register: Sign up in the book outside the weight room and track your mileage on the pages provided. Any paddle-powered craft of choice is fine (SUP, OC, canoe, kayak, etc. or a combination). Mileage paddled in team boats or off-site can be included.
If you have further questions, please email: PaddleFitWCC@gmail.com
WCC Hosted zoom Presentation

Birds and Wildlife Along the Potomac

Below is the video recording from DC Department of Energy & Environment wildlife biologist Dan Rauch's, engaging presentation from  Feb. 7 on the abundant birds, fish, and wildlife that we are likely to encounter while paddling the Potomac. Thanks to "Dan the Bird Man" and WCC member Tom Reiter for setting up this event.

The WCC History Book is still available!

Images of America: Washington Canoe Club
By Chris Brown

The book is available for purchase (all proceeds from the sale will go to the boathouse restoration fund). Or donate $250 or more to the restoration fund and receive a complimentary signed copy.

Head over to our history page and watch Chris Brown's Virtual Book Talk that was given via Zoom on December 3, 2020.

NEW WCC branded items are now available in our seasonal Squad Locker stores!


Show off your club spirit and look good doing it!
In an effort to increase the variety of WCC branded "merch" for members of all ages (including infants and toddlers), the WCC shopkeepers have added new hats, shirts, leggings, bags, bibs, and more into two seasonal Squad Locker stores. Items will be periodically updated and changed, so keep checking back!

Visit the Fall/Winter Store.
Visit the Spring/Summer Store.