Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)

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.

Join me for a scenic 8 miles along Quantico Creek and the adjoining forest. There are several rolling hills, but they are short and spread out. You may want your poles, especially with the leaves. Please make sure you are comfortable with the pace, distance, hills and natural surface trails.

HIKE: ~8 miles, 600 ft. of elevation gain

PACE: 2.5-3 mph while moving

FEES: $20 fee unless you have a National Park Pass.

RESTROOMS: There are restrooms at the Visitor Center area where we start as well as Turkey Run Education Center where we will stop for lunch.

DOGS: Dogs are welcome per the NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

MEET: Meet 15 minutes early at 8:45am to allow everyone time to check in and use the restroom. We are meeting at the Visitor Center Parking Lot. There are two parking areas in an L shape, one nearest the Visitor Center and the other adjacent to the Pine Grove Picnic Area; you can park in either area.

LEADERS: Kris N. (618) 623-2484 and Dane. If you text, please include your name.

If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide your full name, cell phone number and emergency contact number. You can text me the info or message me privately on Meetup Message; don't post it in the comments.

HIKE MAP: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-11-2024-d6baf65

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.

Join us for a scenic 8 mile hike with 900 feet of elevation gain along Bull Run and in the adjoining forest. This hike is a high C rating. (Each 400 ft. of elevation equals a mile)

We will hike on the Bull Run Occoquan Trail from Fountainhead Regional Park to Wolf Run Shoals and back. There are rolling hills but they are short and spread out. This will be a fun workout!

There are porta-johns at the trailhead at Fountainhead Park parking lot.

Hiking PACE: 2.5-2.7/mph while moving

BRING:
Water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots. For the hills, hiking poles if you use them. Most of the hike is under the forest canopy.

WHERE TO MEET:
After pulling into Fountainhead Park (10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax, VA), continue driving in on Fountainhead Access Rd, past the maintenance building on the right. The large parking lot is the next turn on the right.

Meet 15 minutes early to ensure that all get signed in so that we start on time at 9 am. I will have the trunk of my metallic gray Honda fit up and be standing near the car

GPS 38.72483, -77.33010

Leader: Dawn 703-533-9231

Fee: There is no park entry fee.

Dogs are welcome.
NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

Bull Run Occoquan Trail:
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/bull-run-occoquan-trail

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 about a 10 mile out and back route on the Appalachian Trail with about a 2,000 foot elevation gain. We'll start at the Blackburn Trail Center, hike up to the AT, go south to Raven Rocks, have lunch there and then return. We'll hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph.

The group is limited to 10 hikers at the request of the trail mangers.

Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359

Park Entry Fee: $0

NOTE: PARKING SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. THE ROAD UP TO BLACKBURN TRAIL CENTER IS STEEP AND RUTTED. CARPOOLING IS ENCOURAGED.

Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:00 am. The suggested carpool fee is $5. The leader WILL NOT be at the carpool location.

Rating: A

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

The map coordinates for the parking area: 39.18762,-77.79774

We’ll start hiking at 8:30.

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.

Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/raven-rocks-via-blackburn-trail-center-3df07fd

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 8.5 mile hike with a 2,000' elevation gain in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Because the town of Harpers Ferry itself is likely to be crowded due to Christmas festivities, and parking there will be chaotic, we will begin and end at the parking lot under Route 340 (at the beginning of Shenandoah St (use the coordinates: 39.32165,-77.74318)). If you drive direct, please be there by 8:45, so we can be hiking by 9am.

We will take the “high path” about 2 miles into Harpers Ferry proper, and cross the foot bridge across the Potomac to start our ascent and descent to the Maryland Heights. On the way up, as we are all avid mountain goats looking for more altitude, we will ascend all the way up to the actual heights of Maryland Heights to a few Civil War forts along the South Mountain ridgeline. From there we will descend thru the forts and a couple of gun emplacements, until we get back down to the "normal" trail to the more famous Heights. From there we will zig-zag down to the Overlook where there is sufficient space to spread out and eat with a view. From there we will have to ascend again, but will be shortly back in Harpers Ferry where we will stop to refuel for our trip back to the cars (there should be hot chocolate & hot apple cider (and other warm beverages) for sale in the village).

In years past there was a lot of Christmas stuff set up in town. They got out of the habit during covid, so hopefully it is making a comeback. Santa hats are optional, and if anyone wants to start singing Carols while we hike, I am liable to join in.

I hike at a moderate pace of 2-2.5 mph when moving, with stops at all photo points, and trail intersections.

For those new to NVHC hikes, please note that the “A” rating is a difficulty rating, not a scenery rating, or user feedback rating. These aint Yelp Stars. 8.5 miles (8.5 pts) + 2,000ft (5 pts) makes this a 13.5 point hike, so be sure you know what you are undertaking. If you have not hiked with NVHC before, you may want to start with a “B” or “C” hike, and work your way up.

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

Leader: Dale Johnson (540-454-5592)

Carpool Location: Carpoolers will meet at the Dulles Town Center Park & Ride Lot (21021 Atlantic Blvd, in Sterling, VA, across from Dulles Towne Center Mall). Please arrive by 7:45 so you can get people matched with cars, and out of the lot by 8am (Hike Leader will NOT be at the Carpool location).

Park Entry Fee: The Parking Fee for Harpers Ferry NHP is $20, and I think they are once again collecting it, so if you do not have a pass, carpooling may be the way to go.

Trailhead: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Lot under Route 340 (at the beginning of Shenandoah St (use the coordinates: 39.32165,-77.74318))

Rating: A

RSVPs will close at 9pm the night before, so if you need to make a last minute change text me at 540-454-5592 so we are not waiting for you.

AFTER PARTY: For those interested, on the way back we may stop at Harpers Ferry Brewing (not the Maryland Heights view, but pretty good) to replenish fluid levels, but it will be a brief stop so as not to impair our drivers.