About us
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 month’s free participation in the club events. NVHC is a nonprofit organization and donates funds to local parks and trail maintenance organizations from time to time. The selection of the parks and organizations is based on club usage - it is our way of giving back. Monies vary each time - $7,200 was donated in 2023.
Members are required to accept the liability disclaimer by typing “Accept” 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 “miles” 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)
B = Moderately Difficult (10 miles or more, but less than 13 miles)
C = Moderate (7 miles or more, but less than 10 miles)
D = Easy (Less than 7 miles)
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 RSVP’d “yes” for a hike, change your RSVP to “no” as soon as you decide not to go, so that someone else can go.
- If you RSVP’d “yes” to overlapping events on the same day, decide on one as soon as possible, and change your RSVP to “no” 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
22
Dickey Ridge - Fox Hollow - Snead Farm (Rating : A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USREQUIRED: You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet
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 is a moderate hike of approximately 12 miles, out and back with an elevation gain of ~2200 feet. Much of the uphill is at the beginning of the hike. These are well-maintained trails with minimal small stream crossings. The pace will be 2.5 to 3.0 mph when moving. You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, elevation gain and speed.BATHROOMS: At Dickey Ridge Visitor's Center where we will stop for lunch. There is drinking water from the faucets to replenish our water supplies, but there are no vending machines or water/food for sale at the visitor center.
We hike at a fast pace of 2.5-3.0 mph when moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyLeader: David K. 571-488-4449
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:00 am. The suggested carpool fee is $7. The leader WILL NOT be at the carpool location. I will meet you at the trailhead.
Park Entry FEE: None, because we’ll be parking just outside the park.
IF YOU WILL BE MEETING US AT TRAILHEAD: Please arrive at the trailhead by 8:00 a.m. There is limited parking at the trailhead on the side of the road before the Shenandoah National Park Front Royal Entrance Station. If you have gone to the park entrance, you have gone too far. The map coordinates for the parking are 38.905697,-78.198824.
Driving time to the trailhead from Centreville: 50 minutes.
Map of the hike: Note that the hike starts where the trail first crosses the road on the map (the GPS points are provided), not where it says start.
https://liveandlethike.com/2016/09/01/dickey-ridge-trail-section-1-shenandoah-national-park-va/7 attendees
Potomac Heritage- Goose Creek to Bles Park (Rating: C)
Kephart Bridge Landing, 43942 Riverpoint Drive (Lansdowne area), Leesburg, VA, USYou 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 is an 8.8 mile with 75 ft elevation out and back hike on the Potomac Heritage Trail in Loudoun County. On this hike we'll experience scenic Goose Creek as it flows into the expanse of the Potomac. There is also a lot of history as we hike along the ruins of the Goose Creek Canal ( see the background information below) and Selden Island which is privately owned and is known for it's prehistoric archaeological sites dating back to 1000BC.
We will begin at Riverpoint Drive trailhead (Porta Potty is available) and follow Goose Creek and then the Potomac to our turnaround at Bles Park where there are restrooms.Background History: In 1849, construction began on a system of locks and dams to render the Goose Creek navigable up to three large mills in the Loudoun Valley. By 1845, the Goose Creek and Little River Navigation Company canal system had been completed on Goose Creek to Ball's (Evergreen) Mill, 12 miles (19 km) upstream from the mouth. Though the lower portion of the canal saw significant usage, only one boat was ever known to have traveled the whole stretch, and by 1857 the canal was put out of business by the completion of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad to Leesburg. Most of the locks and dams were destroyed by the Union Army during the Civil War.
We hike at a pace of ~ 2.5 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Meet at the Riverpoint Drive Trailhead at 8:45am for sign-in. Restroom (Porta Potty) is available at the Trailhead
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leaders: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=11.3/-77.4740/39.085124 attendees
Sky Meadows State Park Loop (Rating: B)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USYou 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.
7 miles with 1,400 feet elevation gain.
Sky Meadows State Park is rich in history, the park has rolling pastures and woodlands, scenic vistas and is also a working farm. The park also has access to the Appalachian Trail, which will be part of our hike.
Starting from Sky Meadows State Park visitors center parking area, we will combine several trails including the South Ridge and North Ridge Trails, the Old Trail, a portion of the Appalachian Trail and the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail. There are some nice scenic overlooks including the Paris, VA overlook where we will take a break before returning back down to the visitor center.
Most of the elevation gain is at the beginning when we ascend South Ridge and a portion of North Ridge to the AT.
The pace will be about 2.0 to 2.5 mph.
Bring water/hydration, snacks, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots. There are no stream crossings.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Gail Markulin (703) 402-5902 (C)
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 8:00 am. Suggested carpool fee is $5. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836038, -77.455371, https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Driving time from carpool location is ~ 45 minutes.
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.
Trail Head Meeting Instructions: We are meeting at the parking lot closest to the Visitor Center. GPS coordinates 38.9917, -77.9661
Meet at the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to be signed in and get ready to hike at 9am. Park opens at 8am. Restrooms are available adjacent to the visitors center.
Fee: $10.00 park entrance fee (no fee for Virginia State Park Pass holders) or use your REI purchase receipt parking coupon.
Provide your REI receipt to the contact station ranger or insert it in a self-pay envelope at the contact station. Use the self-pay envelope to pay the entrance fee if no one is at the contact station is not open and hang the tear-off tab on your rear view mirror.
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/virginia/sky-meadows-loop--2?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain.
33 attendees
Restorative Hike Woodmarsh Trail (Rating D)
to Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge, High Point Road, Lorton, VA., High Point Rd, Lorton, VA, USYou 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 walk is intended for slower hikers, especially those who might be recovering from joint issues or recent surgery. We will be doing a slow walk (3 miles, 67 feet of elevation gain, pace approximately 2 MPH). The trail has minor elevation in places and some tree roots. The group will stay together and no one will be dropped. Please be sure you understand and are accepting of the slower pace.
The Refuge limits the size of the group to 10. Please only sign up if you are interested in a slower pace and might be recovering or starting back up with hiking.
We will be doing all the trails in this section of the park. There are several places with nice views of the Marsh and lots of ferns, sawtooth blackberry and flatweed flowers.
Bio on Elizabeth Hartwell and the Refuge:
https://www.fxva.com/blog/post/herstory-masonneck/Hike: 3 miles, 67 ft elevation gain. Gentle terrain with minor uphill and occasional roots.
Pace: 2 mph while moving. Please make sure you are comfortable with this slow pace.
Leader: Teresa B
Restrooms: There are restrooms at the parking lot and one mile into the hike.
Park Fee: No Fee
Dogs; No dogs on this hike please.
Meet: Please plan on arriving by 9:45 so we can get started promptly at 10 AM.
Meeting Place Instructions from Interstate 95 South:
- From I95 S, exit 163 to Lorton.
- Left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp.
- Go under second overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St. (You will see Amazon Fresh and Panera)
- Go about 1.1 mile to traffic light at RT. 1.
- Go straight through light (road name changes to Gunston Rd) and go about 4 miles to Mason Neck park entrance on the right.
- Drive about 0.6 miles to the parking lot on the left for Woodmarsh Trail.
- If you hit the entrance to Mason Neck Park you've gone too far.
12 attendees
Past events
4807
