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
28
Little and Big Schloss (Rating: A+)
Centreville Park and Ride, 14700 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA, USPlease read fully before sign-in.
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 14.5 miles’ loop with an elevation gain of approximately 2600 ft., featuring scenic Little and Big Schloss overlook on Great North Mountain trails. Hike starts from the parking lot across FDR92 near purple blazed Little Sluice Mtn trail. Hike ends near Little Stoney Creek parking area at FDR92 intersection where we will all park. We will do a short shuttle in the morning to avoid walking additional 2.5 miles on the FDR at the end of the hike.
Because this is a relatively hard hard hike in a remote area , if I don't know you, please message me with a recent A or A plus hike that you have done.
Please refer the GPS coordinates for exact trailhead parking location(s). If you plan to meet at Centreville Park and Ride, be there in time to sort out carpools and leave by 7:00 AM.
Need to know details:
Distance: 14.5 miles (approximately)
Elevation gain: 2600 feet (approximately)
Pace: 2.5 Mph
Terrain: Up/Down; Rock Scramble; Few water crossings
Park entry fee: $0
Carpool Fee: $10Trailhead Parking Lot Coordinates: (Please read fully and carefully)
Little Stoney Creek Parking: 38.93795, -78.64623. We will all meet at the Little Stoney Creek Parking area and then shuttle all the hikers back to the Little Sluice Mtn trail parking: 38.90833, -78.64085 where we will begin the hike. Distance between two parking lots is 2.5 miles approx.
CARPOOLING: From Centerville Park and Ride, please proceed to “Little Stoney Creek parking.” Only 2-3 cars will transport all the hikers back to “Little Sluice Mtn Trail parking” where we start the hike. We should not fill the cars up completely at Centerville so we can accommodate the short shuttle.
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: $10.00 per rider. Driving time from the Centreville, VA Park & Ride to the trailhead is about 90 minutes.
Meetup time at Little Stoney Creek parking area is 9:00 a.m.
Directions from Centreville Park and Ride:
https://goo.gl/maps/y81kyHE16H9hmqdQ9 (To Little Stoney Creek parking area). Approximate drive time is 90 minutes one way.Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-little-schloss-and-big-schloss-loop-dfd7468
Dogs permitted in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Bring: Adequate water, food/snacks, hat, layers, basic first aid kit, rain gear (depending on weather), hiking poles, hiking shoe, sunscreen, bug spray, water shoe (for water crossing, if any), additional pair of socks and your big happy smile 😊.
Request you to send your full name, contact number and emergency number for sign in.
Any questions? Message or text me! Looking forward to this awesome hike,
Caroline
703-489-13155 attendees
Lakes, Wildflowers & Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Rating: B)
South Lakes Village Center, 11130 South Lakes Drive, Reston, 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.
Celebrate springtime with a 10 mile hike with 700' of elevation gain showcasing two lakes, wildflowers and a botanical garden. We will begin at the South Lakes Village Shopping Center in Reston, and take Reston paths to the W&OD equestrian trail, which we will follow easterly until the intersection with the Meadowlark Connector Trail. That trail leads to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, operated by NOVA Parks. We’ll walk for about a mile through the gardens to see flowering plants, the Korean Bell Garden and a koi pond. After a lunch break, we’ll backtrack but this time follow the W&OD paved path part of the way. From the W&OD to the South Lakes Village Shopping Center we’ll take a different route, looking for wildflowers as we hike through a stream valley and up and down hills on unpaved trails, including the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail. If we’re lucky, wood poppies and wild azaleas will be in bloom along our route in Reston as they were at approximately the same time last year:
The final segment will be on mostly asphalt paths along Reston’s lakes Audubon and Thoreau. Overall, about 60 percent of the hike will be on paved surfaces.
We hike at a pace of between 2.5-3.0 mph when moving, but the loop through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens will be a stroll with stops.
Restrooms are available at the South Lakes Village Shopping Center and at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, and there’s a porta potty along the W&OD Trail at roughly the halfway point between Reston and the gardens.
No dogs permitted on this hike.
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
NVHC hiker Maurice will assist in guiding us through this route.
Gardens Entry Fee: For groups of 10 or more, money to be collected by leader. Exact change appreciated.
Under 60 - $6.00
60 or older: $3.00
AllTrails Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-april-14-2025-a14185b-3?u=i&sh=7cs7ovMap of Garden:
https://www.novaparks.com/sites/default/files/2025-03/MC-ML-ParkMap_FL_3.24.25.pdf35 attendees
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk to Leesylvania State Park (Rating: B)
Neabsco Regional Park, 15125 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge, 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.
9.5 mile hike with 600 feet of elevation gain.
Join us as we hike from Neabsco Creek Boardwalk to Leesylvania State Park and back. Should be a scenic and enjoyable hike!
Description: We will start off at Neabsco Regional Park and make our way to the boardwalk and across the marsh at Neabsco Creek. This allows for unique access to wetlands where the tall grasses and marsh filter pollution from the river and provide a rich habitat for birds and other wildlife. Once across the boardwalk, we will hike a short distance through the Julie Metz Wetlands area and then enter Leesylvavnia State Park on the Potomac Heritage trail. We will hike several trails within the park which includes views of the Potomac River.
There are several rolling hills but they are short and spread out.You must be capable of hiking this distance and elevation.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
There are porta-johns at the parking area at Neabsco Regional Park as well as restrooms at Leesylvania State Park where we will break for lunch.
Bring: Sufficient water/hydration, insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks/lunch, and good hiking shoes. There are no stream crossings. Hiking poles if you normally use them.
Fee: There is no parking fee at Neabsco Regional Park parking lot.
Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Please ensure your dog is capable of this distance.Meet: At the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to sign in and get ready to hike at 9:30am.
Leesylvania State Park: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/leesylvania
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk: https://www.visitpwc.com/listing/neabsco-creek-boardwalk/1648/
Meeting Place Instructions: We are meeting at Neabsco Regional Park parking lot at 15125 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge, VA. Coordinates 38.61595,-77.27503
Optional rehydration at Stonebridge Town Center
Any questions, please message me on Meetup or text me @ 202-528-0456 If you text, please include your name.
23 attendees
Past events
4778
