Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club

This close-by natural area has been an Adventuring favorite in years past and the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve has undergone some changes in the last few years. On this Daylight Saving Time Adjustment Day, we'll visit and explore to allow nature to help us adjust our body clocks and recover from yesterday's pancake-palooza.

Our moderate hike is approximately 5.3 miles in length with 700 feet of elevation gain in several steep sections. A moderate hike is generally suitable for novice hikers who want a bit of a challenge. The terrain will involve a moderate incline and may have some steeper sections.

Bring beverages, lunch, snacks, sturdy footwear, and about $10 for transportation and trip fees. There will *NOT* be a pitstop on this trip enroute to the trailhead. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot to form carpools. RSVPs will open 2 weeks before the event and close at 7pm the day before the hike.

Join us on this Fall hike northeast of DC to Patapsco Valley State Park near Ellicott City, MD. We'll hike through the park by making a loop out of three connecting trails: the Morning Choice Tail, Cascade Falls Trail, and Ridge Trail. This hike is 5-6 miles.

Along the way, we will have three stream crossings so you may want to pack an extra pair of socks just in case. While we won't have steep elevations, there are plenty of places that will require sure footing on this easy to moderate trail.

About halfway through, we'll stop by Cascade Falls to see the park's popular waterfall. Then, we'll veer off of our loop to have lunch at picnic tables next to the Patapsco River; and, we'll have time to cross and pose for pictures at The Patapsco Swinging Bridge - a pedestrian suspension bridge.

Our trip fee is $5, plus a $4 mileage reimbursement to drivers (if you participate in a carpool). Due to limited parking at the trailhead, carpooling is encouraged. We will depart from the Greenbelt Metro Station parking lot at 9:00 a.m. There will be a pit stop at the Sheetz in Linthicum Heights on the trip out. For those meeting us at the Morning Choice parking lot trailhead, we will be there by 10:00.

Ever wonder what's beyond the infamous and dreaded Old Misery Trail? For this hike, we'll start on the opposite side of Old Misery at the Cunningham Falls State Park's Manor Area and and hike southward on the Catoctin National Recreation Trail into the Frederick Municipal Watershed before we retrace our steps back to our cars.

This moderately strenuous 7-mile hike features approximately 1600-feet of elevation gain and is rated moderately strenuous. A moderately strenuous hike will generally be challenging for an unconditioned person. The terrain will involve a steady and often steep incline.

Meet at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station at 9:00 AM to form carpools. Note: the Red Line is single tracking this weekend. Bring water, snacks, lunch, sturdy footwear. Total cost of this trip will be approximately $17. ($7 for gas, $3/$5(cash) park admission, $5 Adventuring fee). We'll make the usual Sheetz pitstop enroute to the trailhead for our last-minute snacking desires. RSVPs will open 2 weeks before the event and close at 7pm the day before the event.