Paddle Faster!
Spring 2025 Adventures
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Play Outside!
Strengthening the Indian Head Community
Strengthening the Indian Head Community
through Outdoor Eco-Adventures
through Outdoor Eco-Adventures
hunting | fishing | boating | kayaking | hiking | trail walking | running | cycling
hunting | fishing | boating | kayaking | hiking | trail walking | running | cycling
Sunset over Mattawoman Creek - Indian Head Rail Trail, Indian Head, MD. Photo by: Shawn Winthrop
⚓ Ahoy there, mates!
⚓ Ahoy there, mates!
We’re the Winthrops! We dropped anchor in the charming harbor of… Indian Head, Maryland— and discovered a wild secret: this place is bursting with amazing parks, trails, and outdoor magic, and hardly anyone knows! So we’re on a mission to get folks outside, explore the hidden gems around us, and turn screen time into green time. Come adventure with us!
We are ready to chart new courses, make waves, and sail alongside our new crew—this amazing community!
A Great Place to Relax and Unwind with Nature
A Great Place to Relax and Unwind with Nature
Feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety? Skip the harmful pharmaceuticals and immerse yourself in the healing power of nature. Spending time outdoors is just as effective at boosting your mood and reducing anxiety.
Indian Head, MD, just 30 miles south of Washington, DC, offers a peaceful escape with affordable homes and lower crime rates compared to our larger DC-area communities. It's an ideal spot for both residents and commuters, with easy access to DC via Piscataway Highway or commuter buses from nearby towns like Accokeek, La Plata, and Waldorf.
Home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division and the United States Bomb Disposal Technician Association, the area is experiencing growth, with new jobs and businesses emerging. NSWC’s expansion will bring even more opportunities, with multiple shifts running 24/7 to meet the country’s munitions needs.
Indian Head is also a hub for outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, trail walking, and fishing competitions, with species such as striped bass, channel catfish, and northern snakehead in our local waters.
During July and August, Maryland's lotus blossoms emerge, transforming the tidal waters into a breathtaking display of thousands of blooms. Kayakers can paddle through this stunning natural spectacle, immersing themselves in the vibrant beauty.
As the community area grows, small businesses are returning. NSWC is investing in our community, even moving parts of the base into vacant storefronts.
Now is the perfect time to invest in our growing community before prices soar. With stunning parks along the Potomac River and Mattawoman Creek, you may just find yourself calling Indian Head home.
Parks and Recreation - It feels good to be lost in the right direction
Parks and Recreation - It feels good to be lost in the right direction
Everyone should play outside... Spending time in outdoors in nature has been proven to reduce stress, angst, and anxiety for children and adults alike. Pet's will agree, spending time with their owners on trails or in parks can reduce stress and frustrations in the home, too! You can say that it's "mind-and-body" healthy for the entire family.
Indian Head, MD, and the surrounding communities in Charles County offer a wealth of outdoor opportunities for both residents and visitors alike. From scenic parks and trails to abundant water access, there's no shortage of ways to connect with nature.
Whether you’re hiking through wooded trails, cycling the 13-mile rail trail to White Plains and La Plata, playing fetch with your dog and kids at The Village Green, or enjoying hunting and fishing along the Potomac River or Mattawoman Creek, the beauty of nature is all around us in Indian Head.
The Village Green
Chapman State Park
General Smallwood State Park
Friendship Farm
Indian Head Parks & Pavilions
Indian Head Parks & Pavilions
Riverwatch Upland and Riverwalk is located on 165 Riverwatch Dr, Indian Head, MD 20640
Mattingly Park is located on 105 Mattingly Ave, Indian Head, MD 20640
Slavin's Dock is located on the end of Mattingly Ave on the Mattawoman Creek
Charlie Wright Park is located on 101 Dr. Mitchell Ln, Indian Head, MD 20640
The Village Green Park and Pavilion is located on 100 Walter Thomas Rd, Indian Head, MD 20640
Charles County Parks & Rec
Charles County Parks & Rec
Bensville Park is located on 6980 Bensville Road, White Plains, MD 20695
Friendship Farm Park is located on 4715 Friendship Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD 20662
Indian Head Rail Trail [IHRT] is located between 10390 Theodore Green Blvd, White Plains, MD 20695 and The Village Green Park and Pavilion located at 100 Walter Thomas Road, Indian Head Hwy, Indian Head, MD 20640
Laurel Springs Regional Park is located on 5940 Radio Station Road, La Plata, MD 20646
Maxwell Hall Park is located on 6680 Maxwell Drive, Hughesville, MD
Gilbert Run Park is located on 13140 Charles St, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
Mallows Bay Park is located on 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD 20662
Oak Ridge Park is located on 13675 Oak Ridge Rd, Hughesville, MD 20637
Pisgah Park is located on 6645 Mason Springs Rd, La Plata, MD 20646
Port Tobacco River Park and Tom Roland Natural Resource Area is on 7685 Chapel Point Rd, Port Tobacco, MD 20677
Ruth B. Swann Memorial Park is located 3100 Ruth B. Swann Dr, Bryans Road, MD 20616
Turkey Hill Park is located on 9430 Turkey Hill Rd, La Plata, MD 20646
White Plains Regional Park is located on 1015 St. Charles Prkwy, White Plains, MD 20695
Maryland Park Service
Maryland Park Service
Chapman State Park is located on 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, MD 20640
Smallwood State Park is located on 2750 Sweden Point Rd, Marbury, MD 20658
Chapel Point State Park is located on Chapel Point Road, Bel Alton, MD
National Park Service
National Park Service
Piscataway park is located on 1005 Marshall Hall Rd, Bryans Rd, MD 20616
Indian Head in a Snapshot
Indian Head in a Snapshot
Indian Head, Maryland, has deep roots in Indigenous history, once home to the Mattawoman tribe of the Piscataway people. The name “Indian Head” originates from “Indian Headlands,” reflecting its past as an Indian Reservation, first recorded in the 1800 Census.
During the Civil War, Union forces, including the 5th New Jersey Infantry, gathered near Budd’s Ferry, and the Union Army Balloon Corps conducted reconnaissance there.
Incorporated in 1920, Indian Head grew around the Naval Proving Ground (est. 1890), later evolving into the Naval Support Facility Indian Head. Specializing in gun and rocket propellants, the facility remains a hub for advanced research in energetic systems.
Today, Indian Head is a diverse community of about 3,400 residents, offering everything from affordable housing to luxury waterfront homes. A welcoming town, it prides itself on neighborly connections—where people still wave to each other.
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Disclaimer: Dropping Anchor in Indian Head is a family blog/vlog and website run by Tony and Shawn Winthrop. Our goal of this personal venture is to promote the amazing place where we dropped anchor... the Town of Indian Head, MD - It's Community, It's Neighbor's, It's Businesses, It's Adventures! It's not just a fantastic place to live... it's an Insanely Awesome place to visit for a day, weekend, or weekly trip/s. But don't just take our dog's word for it. You have to come check us out yourselves. We're located roughly 30 miles South of Washington, DC and near the Washington Harbor with MGM Casino and the Gaylord Hotel. All opinions are our own and may not necessarily reflect the same as the town or residents. Tony, Shawn, or Dropping Anchor in Indian Head is not paid or affiliated with any of our recommendations. However, some of the shop owners are friendly town residents and our neighbors.
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