The Occoquan Boat Club, est. 1979

Directions to the Occoquan Reservoir and Sandy Run Regional Park

Getting to OBC: Occoquan Boat Club is located at Sandy Run Regional Park just south of Washington DC in the State of Virginia. To reach Sandy Run, take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Lorton Road, turn right on Lorton, turn right on Furnace Road, right again on Ox Road (Route 123), left on Hampton Road, turn left on Van Thompson and follow it to the park entrance. Please make sure to check your speed while driving through the residential section of this road.

Inside the Park: Sandy Run Regional Park provides rowers and scullers with plentiful parking and space. Park officials ask that you pay particular attention to your speed when entering the park and only park in paved lot above the boathouses. OBC is located in boathouse ONE in the left bay.

Who to see in case of emergency: Our Park Ranger, Brian Hennessey, has his office in the upper boathouse (phone 690-4392). Brian manages the facility and collects rack rental fees. Normally, the park gate is unlocked Monday through Friday 2:00 p.m. until dark. You should have a set of keys if you expect to be using the boathouse on weekends from March to November

One the Water: The Occoquan River not only provides drinking water to the majority of Northern Virginia residents but is home to unnumberable species of wildlife. You can row from the lower Dam to Bull Run Park Marina at Yates Ford Bridge - over 10 miles one way. Our only landmarks are the Race Course, Sandy Run Regional Park, the Prince William Boathouse, Jacob's Rock, Fountainhead Regional Park, Ryan's Dam, and the Red House.

Prince William Boathouse. "Oxford House" is located in a cove one-half mile upstream and across the reservoir from Sandy Run. Dedicated October 31, 1987, it holds shells for Woodbridge, Gar-Field, Hylton, Potomac, and Forest Park High Schools. This is an excellent temporary stopping point for crews or scullers in experiencing problems. Please note these team's shells cross directly in front of your path when they enter the river.

The Course. Starting near the Dam, there are permanent targets on the Fairfax shore mark the 2000 meter, 1500 meter, 1000 meter and 500 meter points on the race course. The finish line target is on the Prince William shore. In the Spring, the six-lane course is buoyed for 2000 meters.

The Dam. It's a 62-foot drop on the downriver side and we strongly recommend that you stay well clear any time water is flowing over the top of the dam. Those air bubbles running some 100 yards upstream from the dam mark the location of "bubblers" which prevent the reservoir from stratifying near the drinking water intakes.

All other landmarks are upriver and smaller landmarks but are good to know so that you are aware of your surroundings!

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