What weāre about
THE CLUB www.nvhc.com
The Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) offers a range of hikes of various difficulty levels in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and beyond. The club also offers other outdoor events occasionally. NVHC members reflect the rich diversity of the Washington DC Metro area. Annual membership fee is $5. Guests are welcome and enjoy a monthās free participation in the club events. NVHC is a nonprofit organization and donatesĀ fundsĀ to local parks and trail maintenance organizations from time to time.Ā The selection of the parks and organizations is based on club usage - it is our way of giving back. Monies vary each time -Ā $7,200 were donated in 2023.
Members are required to accept the liability disclaimer by typing āAcceptā in the fields presented when they join the club.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS
NVHC hikes are assigned difficulty ratings. A combination of linear distance and elevation gain is used to determine the rating, with 400 feet of elevation gain considered to be equivalent of 1 mile of linear distance. With the āmilesā derived from elevation gain added to the linear distance, following are the ratings:
A+= Very Difficult (19 miles or more)
A = Difficult (13 miles or more, but less than 19 miles)Ā
B = Moderately Difficult (10 miles or more, but less than 13 miles)Ā
C = Moderate (7 miles or more, but less than 10 miles)Ā
D = Easy (Less than 7 miles)Ā
For example, a nine-mile hike with 1,000 feet of climbing would be rated B (9 + 2.5 = 11.5).
Elevation loss is not measured in this system. Also, the difficulty rating is separate from the pace of the hike, which is determined by the leader, and is usually specified in the individual hike descriptions.
RSVP ETIQUETTE
Often there are limits on the number of participants on NVHC events, set by our leaders. This creates wait lists on Meetup. If you find yourself in this situation, we request that you keep in mind the interest of the leaders and your fellow hikers, and follow the guidelines below:
- If you RSVPād āyesā for a hike, change your RSVP to ānoā as soon as you decide not to go, so that someone else can go.
- If you RSVPād āyesā to overlapping events on the same day, decide on one as soon as possible, and change your RSVP to ānoā for all others.
- If you are on a wait list and decide not to go, remove yourself from the list.
DOGS ON HIKES
Dogs are welcome on NVHC hikes at the discretion of the hike leader. Several restrictions apply including advance notification to the leader, dogs being well behaved, and their being kept on a six foot leash. See dog policy located at [https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy] for details.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- LIttle Devils Stairs - Piney Ridge Loop (Rating: A+)centerville park and ride, Centreville, VA
REQUIRED: You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This will be a 12-mile in Shenandoah National Park with 2900' of elevation gain. It will start with the scenic Little Devils Stairs canyon ascent. After that, we will use Pole Bridge Link and Sugarloaf Trail to head up to the AT and a nice overlook above Skyline Drive. We will then follow the AT to Range View Shelter. From there, we will take Piney Ridge Trail to Piney Branch Trail to Hull School Trail to Keyser Run Fire Road. After an optional stop at Bolen Cemetery (at the Hull School - Keyser Run Road intersection), we will follow Keyser Run Fire Road down to the cars.
This is a very strenuous hike. Previous A+ experience is required. All participants will be initially placed on the waiting list and I will move then to "Going" as I vet them. If you do not have previous experience doing A+ hikes with NVHC, please message me indicating what similar experience you have had with hikes of this distance and elevation gain.
Please bring lunch, water, hiking footwear, snack, sunscreen, hat, and raingear.
Carpooling will be from Centreville Park and Ride. Please be there by 6:45 am for a 7:00 am start. Meet at the Little Devils Stairs trailhead on Keyser Run Road by 8:15 am for an 8:30 am start.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy, but they must also have previous A+ hiking experience.
Basics
- Distance: 12 miles
- Elevation gain: 2900'
- Rating: A+
- Carpool GPS coordinates: 38.835785, -77.455535
- Trailhead GPS coordinates: 38.730758, -78.258332
- AllTrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-august-14-2025-dfd7468?u=i&sh=jdgngk
- Carpool meetup time: 7:00 am
- Trailhead meetup time: 8:15 am
- Hike start time: 8:30 am.
Edward 703-850-3251
- Skyland Lodge to Hawksbill Mountain (Rating: A)Park and Ride Access Road, Gainesville, VA
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
10 miles with 1900 feet of elevation gain.
Join us for a scenic hike to the top of Shenandoah National Park's highest peak, Hawksbill Mountain, offering 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont.
Description:
We'll start from the parking lot in front of Skyland Lodge. The hike will involve several trails to and from Hawksbill to include portions of the Appalachian Trail, White Oak Canyon, Limberlost, Crescent Rocks, Salamander, Skyland Horse trail, and Skyland stables. We'll enjoy the lunch and the views atop Hawksbill summit and then make our way back to the starting point. We'll make a short stop at Crescent Rock Overlook on the way.Hiking Pace:
The pace will be about 2.5 mph, slower on the uphill. Hiking time with lunch, about 5 hours.Bring:
Adequate water/hydration (at least 2-3 liters), snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes for some of the rocky areas, tree roots, and potential wet areas. Hiking poles are helpful if you usually hike with them. Recommend insect repellent and sunscreen.Park Entry Fee:
$30 entrance fee for Shenandoah National Park unless you have a National Park pass or a Shenandoah annual park pass. Military and Veterans are eligible for a military pass, just show your military/retired/veterans ID.Dogs:
Dogs are not permitted on this hike since they are not allowed on Limberlost Trail.CARPOOLING:
For those who are looking to carpool, meet at University Blvd - Gainesville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 7:15am to arrive at the trailhead in time to get signed in and start hiking at 9am. Park & Ride GPS 38.80137, -77.58975
A new Sheetz has opened in the Park & Ride, on New Stable Way, this would be a good meeting point. Park across the street from Sheetz, versus in their parking lot.
Neither the Club nor the hike leader is responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk. Suggested carpool fee: $7.00 per rider. Driving time from Gainesville Park & Ride to Skyland Lodge is about 1 hour 30 minutes.NOTE: The times listed for the hike include starting and finishing at Gainesville Park & Ride. If you are going directly to the trailhead at Skyland Lodge the times will be 9:00am-2:00pm.
Skyland Lodge is between mile markers 41.7 - 42.5
Trailhead GPS coordinates: 38.5920, -78.3809Optional post hike rehydration at Skyland Lodge.š
If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide you full name, cell phone number, and emergency contact number. You can provide the info to me on Meetup message or text me at the number below.
Any questions? Message me on Meetup messenger or text me, 202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name. - Bearfence Rock Scramble- Rapidan Camp/Camp Hoover (Rating: A)Centreville Park n Ride, Centreville, VA
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This hike is about 12 miles with an elevation gain of about 1900 ft.
A very nice hike in Shenandoah National Park, to the iconic Camp Rapidan, or better known as Camp Hoover, President Hoover's summer mountain retreat. To add to the adventure, before we take off for Camp Hoover, we will do the Bearfence Mountain Rock scramble for some great views.
Description: We will hike starting at the Milam Gap parking area and connect on the Appalachian Trail to the summit of Hazeltop Mtn, (600 ft elevation over about 1.8 miles). We will continue on the AT to Bearfence Rock and complete that loop. There will be an option to do the rock scramble or just hike a short distance around to the other end of Bearfence Rock where we will all meet up. We will snack here while we enjoy the view. We will return on the AT to Laurel Prong trail and descend to Camp Rapidan. We will stop for a late lunch at Camp Hoover with some time to look over the Camp. We will then begin our return on Mill Prong trail back to the parking lot.
You should be in good physical condition to deal with the mileage and elevation gain. If you haven't hiked with me before, I may contact you to discuss this hike. Please note: The rock scramble on Bearfence Rock requires the use of both hands. Read the Bearfence Rock description in the link below. If you have any questions about this, please contact me.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph, slower on rock scramble and uphill. Hiking time with lunch, about 5 hours.
Alltrails Map
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/bearfence-rapidan-51f3eb9?u=i&sh=z7o4imBearfence Rock:
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/Bearfence_RoadTrail.pdfBring adequate water/hydration (at least 2 liters), snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes for the rock scramble as well as other rocky areas, tree roots, and potential wet areas. Hiking poles are helpful if you usually hike with them. However, you will need to stow your hiking poles for the Bearfence rock scramble. There are several stream crossings, which are usually easily crossed.
Park Entrance Fee: $30 entrance fee for Shenandoah National Park unless you have a National Park pass or a Shenandoah annual park pass. Military and Veterans are eligible for a military pass, just show your military/retired/veterans ID.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Please note: dogs are not allowed on Bearfence Rock so if you bring a dog, you must take the trail loop on the AT around the rock scramble.
NOTE: Anyone not wishing to do the rock scramble can also take the AT around and meet us at the other end of the Bearfence Rock scramble. We'll stop and discuss when we get to the rock scramble point of the hike.
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride
Suggested carpool fee is $8. The hike leader will be at the carpool location. Driving time to Milam Gap is about 1 hour 50 minutes. Carpoolers should plan to leave the Park & Ride by 7:00am
Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
If you are driving directly to Milam Gap, please be there a by 9am so we can get everyone signed in for a 9:15 am start. Milam Gap is at mile marker 52.6 on Skyline Drive , GPS 38.49985, -78.44556 .
Please note: The hike starts at Milam Gap parking lot at 9:15am.
If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide you full name, cell phone number, and emergency contact number. You can provide the info to me on Meetup message or text me at the number below.
Any questions? Message me on Meetup messenger or text me, 703-489-1315. If you text me, please include your name.
- Capital Crescent/Glover-Archbold Loop (Rating: C)Westmoreland Hills Local Park, Bethesda, MD
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
8.5 Loop Hike with maximum 433 ft of elevation gain
Description: We will begin our hike in Battery Bailey Park and proceed to the Capital Crescent Trail to Fletcher's Boathouse in Georgetown where we will take a short break in the picnic area overlooking the Potomac River. From there we will proceed along the canal tow path to Foxhall Road where we will get on the Glover-Archbold Trail to Massachusetts Avenue and back to our starting point..
Pace: We will hike at 2.5 to 2.7 mph while moving.
Info: There are restrooms at Fletcher's Boathouse where we will stop for a break and along Massachusetts Avenue where we can stop for coffee/lunch in Spring Valley (Compass Coffee/Starbucks/Pizzeria Paradiso/Millie's).
Bring: Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are a few rocky areas and tree roots along the way. Hiking poles if you use them. Insect repellent and sunscreen also recommended. A fair portion of our hike will be shaded.
Fee: N/A
Dogs: No dogs on this hike. NVHC Dog Policy.
Weather: the weather for this location can be found HERE.
Where to Meet:
We will meet at **Battery Bailey Park **parking lot 38Ā° 57.131ā² N, 77Ā° 6.568ā² W. There are 22 parking spaces in the lot as well as parking in the neighborhood on Elliot and Duvall. Take a Left onto Duvall Street behind Westmoreland UCC at 1 Westmoreland circle, Bethesda, MD; then a right onto Elliot. The park is at the end of Elliot. I have a Honda Fit w/ Hatchback up. Please arrive at 8:15 am to get signed in and ready to hike at 8:30 am.
You must be able to hike this distance, any questions regarding that please contact me.
