A Moderate Hike in Prince William Forest Park - Beaver Loop!
- January 12 · 11:00 AM
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This location is shown only to members
Hike in Prince William Forest Park: A Moderate 6.8 Miles: The Beaver Loop!
Approximate driving times for this hike: From Washington, D.C. - 45 minutes; from Fredericksburg, VA - 20 minutes; from Manassas, VA - 20 minutes
PLEASE NOTE WE MEET AT TURKEY RUN CENTER, NOT VISITOR CENTER. TURKEY RUN IS 15 MINUTES INTO PARK FROM ENTRY STATION.
"This may have just become my favorite local hike. It's a very pretty hike, following a creek for a good bit of the way. The path is narrow and rustic, but level enough that you can look around as you walk. No long uphills." - Tom- A Member of The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group!
Roughly 100 miles inland from Virginia’s coast, a geologic boundary called the fall line marks a change in the landscape. Here, the sandy soil of Virginia’s coastal plain segues into the bedrock underlying the Piedmont. The effect is pronounced on rivers, where waterfalls and rapids form. Historically, these acted as barriers to ocean-faring vessels. Towns formed up and down the fall line to handle commerce between inland farmers and traders. Prince William Forest Park, a small national park straddling the fall line in Prince William County, is tied to this history through the tobacco farmers and miners who used the nearby port town of Dumfries to ship their goods. Today, the park still receives heavy use, but now hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers are drawn by the cascades, wildlife, rare plants, and historic ruins.
A dense and heavy canopy keeps the sun and rain out! An amazinging beautiful creek runs along entire length of South Valley Trail and hiker feedback says this makes this hike worth a drive from anywhere!
Transition Hike
This is a fantastic transition hike for anyone looking to progress from easy level hiking to a more moderate level as there is just the right amount of elevation gain/change, but with no long hills.
Hike Pace
This hike will be led at the pace of an average hikers, between 2.5 - 3.0mph.
Trail Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Triangle, VA
Length: 6.8 total miles
Elevation Gain: 611 feet (Some hills, but none too steep or long)
Trail Type: Loop
Skill Level: Moderate 2.5mph pace
Duration: 3-4 hours
Trail Surface: A combination of dirt forest paths, dirt roads, and paved roads lead through hardwood forests and along streams to small cascades, rock outcrops, and waterfalls
Season: Year round; limited winter camping
Trailhead Elevation: 100 feet
Top Elevation: 300 feet
Local Maps: USGS Quantico, Joplin
Topo Map: Prince William Forest Park Topographic Map
Guide Book: Hiking Virginia (Burnham) Guide Book
Special Winter Gear Note: (Only When Conditions Are Icy/Snow)
Traction gear is a must in icy or snowy weather to hike in the winter with our group for safety and so we can hike all four seasons! The most dependable/reliable gear in our opinion is either Kahtoola Microspikes or STABILicers Originals( Stabilicer "Originals" and not the "lites" as too many "lites" have snapped while out on the trail) and YakTrax are highly discouraged. Traction gear/ice cleats come in handy for getting the mail or walking the dog, in addition to any other outdoor activity where there is ice involved! You can run on the ice with them on and many runners do just that!
Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine! Click here for up to the minute weather information for the trailhead.
Gear Information
Here are some suggestions for what to wear and what not to wear for our hikes.
Carpool Information
Baltimore Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan, people can arrange to meet a Savage Station. you should post that in the Comments section. Click here for directions to Savage Station.
If you can drive or want to carpool from another location, please post the location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Trailhead
Click here for directions to the trailhead.
Hike is at 11:00 a.m.
Carpool from Baltimore area is 9:30 a.m.
Park Entrance Fee
The fee is $5 per vehicle and is valid for seven consecutive days. You must drive to the Visitor Center to pay, just follow the signs.
Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette. We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which means that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then please find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing leaving no trace.
A Leashed Fido is Welcome on This Hike
Please take the hike leaders number with you and enjoy the hike!
Harrison: [masked]
Robert: [masked]
Ken: [masked]
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Martha Grover
Great hike! Thanks for being the perfect leader Ken. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the interesting and friendly fellow hikers. Wonderful meetup group!
1 · January 13
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T.J. Burnside Clapp
Very nice hike! Thanks Robert, for finding a nice loop route for us. Too bad about the overcast sky, but at least it wasn't too cold. :)
1 · January 13
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Lindsay Orlin
Ken - thanks so much for leading the group yesterday; a fun hike and enjoyed meeting you and everyone else in our friendly group!
1 · January 13
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Ken
This is a great hike that gives us a good experience in all types of terrain. And what a great turnout. Thanks to my group for bearing with me when I kept saying this was the last incline we had to do and then there was another. I need to count better. Hope to see everyone again on a future hike.
3 · January 13
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Cindy G
Fun, despite being late and hiking with Doreen on our own! We made the best of it!
January 12
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T.J. Burnside Clapp
Anyone interested in carpooling from Arlington, let me know. I live close to East Falls Church Metro.
January 6
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Cindy G
I'm in Western Loudoun and would be happy to carpool if anyone is coming from this area. Email me directly, thanks!
January 9
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shaema talib
Cindy, I didn't get your email. I have work come up and had to cancel. You should see if you can carpool from East Falls Church or Burke/Springfield. Sorry.
January 11
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Lenah
Any way I can bring my husband? I tried adding a guest but since it was full I just got pushed to the waitlist when I did that.
January 9
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Kellie Carlisle
If you are already signed up and then later wish to add a guest, there must be an available "slot" for you to be able to do so. The close to the hike date, the more things change since the refund deadline is 48 hours prior to hike time and things can come up for members. As a result, there is typically a surge in updated RSVP's just before the refund deadline. Even though our group is 10,400 members, we will not hike in large groups. We divide up into smaller groups of 15-20 hikers per leader (depends on hike) which is not only the recommended ratio by Leave No Trace and the outdoor leadership certification courses, but provides a much more enjoyable hiking environment for eveyone. Please give me a call if you have any additional questions as that is what I am here for. Hope he gets in. TIP: It is probably much easier if you each create your separate account so you won't be "pushed" out when you later went to add him as your +1.
January 10
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Kellie Carlisle
If you are on the wait list, you will get an e-mail as slots become available. It is a “first come first serve” system for available slots. Slots are open to everyone, whether on the wait list or not. However, being on the wait list will make certain that you are notified when open slots become available as well as letting me know to look for another leader if the trails (and parking) can accommodate it and still comply with our Leave No Trace pledge. Click the following link for how to get off the wait list and RSVP “yes”, http://www.midatlantichiking.co...
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance as that is what I am here for.January 4
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Lisa
Is the any way to end the barrage of "if you are on the wait list" emails? I am not on the wait list.thanks
January 4
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Kellie Carlisle
Lisa, only you can turn off the comments by using the mute button. You can even turn off all comments from any Meetup, and is done within your personal account. Please remember while ours is far from a perfect system, it is improving all the time and is a labor of love. Hopefully any issues you have with our group are minor, and a small inconvenience considering all the great hikes and camaraderie the group has to offer thanks to our outstanding, professional, and most qualified leadership team as well as your fantastic fellow members. The software has its limitations just like any other; hence it will never be perfect for all 10,500 members. But as far as any e-mails, I point out that the good news is that all e-mails are controlled by you so you can indeed end the "barrage" of e-mails you are unhappy about. Hope you have a great hike and I look forward to meeting you out on the trail for some enjoyable and relaxing time with nature.
3 · January 10
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harrison
Hikers may not bring guests on hikes without adding them to the RSVP. There are many reasons for this, specifically safety. We limit the number of hikers per leader for the safety of the hikers, the leaders, and the trails. If you want more information on this and/or info on RSVP and the Wait list please reference the Pages tab or you can email the Organizer directly.
2 · January 9
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Lenah
How about the Whole Foods parking lot at Old Keene Mill and Rolling Rd? I could meet you there at 10?
January 7
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38 attended
Your organizer's refund policy for A Moderate Hike in Prince William Forest Park - Beaver Loop!
Refunds offered if:
- the Meetup is cancelled
- the Meetup is rescheduled
- you can cancel at least 2 day(s) before the Meetup
Additional notes: Refund only if you cancel 48 hours PRIOR to the start time of the hike..
Payments you make go to the organizer, not to Meetup. You must make refund requests to the organizer.
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