Our River, The Anacostia

Image via HillRag.

From HillRag:

There are many places along the Anacostia that are easy to overlook but are very special if you decide to explore them. Here I suggest five places with a wide range of experiences among them.  Let’s start downriver and work our way to the top through visits to these very special places.

Pope Branch
Our first stop is along Pope Branch in southeast Anacostia.   This is a stream in a deep valley that requires us to climb to the top to cross streets where the stream tunnels underneath, but that adds to the adventure of finding your way, and emphasizes that when walking along the stream it is so deep and remote that it seems impossible to be in the midst of a large city.  I have never seen another walker along Pope Branch, and I have been welcomed a number of times by deer and owls who like being there and are happy to see you.

A good place to start finding your way is to park your car on M Place, SE, which is on the north side of the park, not to be confused with M Street, SE on the south side.  The easiest place to find your way down to the stream is half a block upstream from Branch Avenue, which is the first intersection on M Place upstream of Minnesota Ave.  The walk is short but filled with a sense of wilderness and surprises.