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
29
Compton Gap to North Mt. Marshall (Rating A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USDetails:
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.The Hike:
Scenic 11.6 mile out & back hike on the AT from Compton Gap to North Marshall Mountain.
Elevation gain around 2,400 feet
We will start at Compton Gap and ascend to Compton Peak, taking a side trail to see the view; then continue on the AT with some ups and downs to a scenic spot on the rocks of North Marshall Mountain for lunch. After lunch, we will return by the same route.Pace: 2.5-3.0 miles per hour; slightly faster on flat terrain
Dogs: Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy If you plan to bring a dog on this hike, please contact me about the dog’s prior hiking experience with NVHC.
Park Entrance Fee: $30 for the day, $0 with NPS Annual or Lifetime Senior Pass
Carpool: 7:20am meet at the Centreville Park and Ride (14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville) so all cars can depart by 7:30; GPS coordinates: 38.83615, -77.45536
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bok372NsfyPh62j19Trailhead: 8:45am Compton Gap Parking Lot, Milepost 10.4 on Skyline Drive, GPS Coordinates: 38.82504,-78.17025
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yb9C8aN6b3bhERaw8Hike begins at 9am.
Suggested carpool fee is $7 per person. The hike leader will NOT be at the carpool location. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.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.
Hike Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/compton-gap-to-n-mt-marshall-out-and-back-e35fe5aHike Rating: A
You must be experienced in hikes of comparable distance, pace and elevation gain to participate.Leader: Maryellen Trevisan 202-730-5314
19 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/-77.4740/39.085127 attendees
High Peak via Buzzard Rock (Rating: B)
Centerville park and ride, 14700 Lee Highway, Centreville, Centerville, 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 a 7.9 mile out and back hike with about 1,800 foot elevation gain near Front Royal. We should get some great views at Buzzard Rock and along the way. After hiking for about 2.5 hours we'll have lunch and then work our way back down to the trailhead. Sections are pretty rocky so hiking sticks are recommended. We'll hike at a 2.0 to 2.5 mph. We'll start hiking at 900 AM.
The suggested carpool location is at the Centerville P&R. The driving time from there to the trailhead is about 1 hour. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7:30 AM to form carpool so all cars can leave by 7:30AM. Suggested carpool fee is $5. Hike leader will not be at carpool location.
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.
For those going directly to the Trailhead: 3087 Mountain Road, Front Royal, VA. GPS coordinates: 38.93768,-78.28851
Rating: B
Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/high-peak-via-buzzard-rock-75c58d3?u=i&sh=5vghox
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy They must be kept on a leash at all times.
Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359
Park Entry Fee: $0
20 attendees
Burke Lake–Heron Rookery (Rating: D)
Burke Lake Park, Ox Road, Fairfax Station, 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.
A 5 mile hike with no elevation change. We'll stop halfway to view the heron rookery (or herony) on Vesper Island. The herons nest on Vesper Island and have their young every winter about this time. We'll snack there and watch for awhile. Bring binoculars if you have them. (Herons and Eagles) Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time to sign-in. We will leave promptly at 9:00 p.m.
DETAILS: There are restrooms if you continue into the parking lot where we meet, towards the lake, by the marina. Bring water and, if you like, something to eat as we watch the herons at the half way point. Wear sneakers or hiking shoes.
DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the parking lot near the Marina. Enter the park at the Burke Lake Park Entrance on Ox Road (Route 123). If using a GPS to find the park, just key in "Burke Lake Park." More directions are below. After entering the park, go straight following the road as it curves right and goes into the marina parking lot. This will be the first parking lot (not counting some parking along the side of the road) that you come to. Bear right into the lot. We congregate at the area soon after entering the parking lot.
DOGS: No dogs on this hike.
LEADERS: Harvey
FEE: Free
More Directions:
Burke Lake Park is located off Route 123 between I-95 to the south and the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) to the north.
From I-95, follow 123 North (Ox Road) for 7.5 miles to the park entrance on the right. (If you see the golf course, then you have gone too far. The golf course entrance is the next right off Route 123; this is beyond the park entrance. Good place to turn around, if need be.)
From the Fairfax County Parkway, take 123 South (Ox Road) for 2 miles. Turn left into Burke Lake Park. The golf course entrance is the first left off Route 123. The park entrance is the second left off Route 123.
36 attendees
Past events
4709
