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
16
Banshee Reeks - Loudoun County (Rating: D)
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Rd, 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 6 mile hike with 400' elevation gain in the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. https://bansheereeksnp.org/. We follow our AllTrails route as we go through the many trails in this Preserve.
We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Meet: Plan to arrive at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center at 8:45am so we can get everyone checked in and start at 9:00am.
The address in Meetup may not get you to the exact location, use GPS Coordinates.
GPS coordinates: 39.028758, -77.599534 https://goo.gl/maps/AADrS4iNX1kYTUZo7
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Alltrails Maps: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/banshee-reeks-6-miles-7648732?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
37 attendees
Dickey Ridge to Dickey Hill (Rating: A)
Centreville Park and Ride, 14700 Lee Highway, 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.
This is a 10.5 mile out and back hike on Dickey Ridge with about 2,100 feet elevation gain. We'll start at the trailhead just before the entrance to Shenandoah National Park and go up past the visitor's center to Dickey Hill. We'll have lunch and then return the way we came.
Speed: Our pace will vary from 2.0 to 2.5 mph. I expect the trail to be wet so hiking sticks are recommended.
Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/afternoon-hike-af94ed0--429
GPS Coordinates for trailhead: 38.905697,-78.198824
Park entry fee: $0 since we park on the side of the road outside the park entrance.
NOTE: PARKING IS LIMITED SO CARPOOLING IS ENCOURAGED.
Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
For those wishing to carpool, 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 by 7:30 AM to form carpool so all cars can leave by 7:45 AM. Suggested carpool fee is $5.
Hike leader will not be at the carpool location.
Please arrive at the trailhead by 08:45 AM so we can get everyone signed in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00 AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $5.
PLEASE NOTE: 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.
20 attendees
NEW DATE: Fairfax Park and Bike Lane Brewery-Reston (Rating: C)
The Bike Lane, 11150 Sunset Hills Road, 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.
This is an enjoyable hike with the Lake, lots of graceful full growth trees and the fun of winding through multiple trails in this relatively compact Park. The Hike route is about 7 miles with 460 feet of elevation. The Hike route is a loop consisting primarily of dirt trails.
We will start at the Bike Lane Brewing &Café, at 11150 Sunset Hills, Reston VA 20190. The Bike Shop and Brewery is adjacent to Lake Fairfax Park and for those interested, we can enjoy a beer after the hike.You must be experienced with hikes of this length and elevation gain. We hike at a pace of approximately 2.5 -3.0 mph while moving.
Restrooms are available at the start point and at our break point during the hike.
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leader: Willem Janssen
Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-july-23-2025-ad7bdca?u=i&sh=iypgzx hi22 attendees
NEW DATE: Beaverdam Reservoir (Rating: C)
Brambleton Park West, 22404 Water Vista Drive, Brambleton, VA, 20148, Ashburn, 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 pleasant 7.3 mile/ 212 foot elevation gain hike around Beaverdam Reservoir with plenty of water views. For those of you who like numbers the reservoir is 350 acres and holds between 1.3 and 1.5 billion gallons of water.
We will meet in front of the Visitors Center at 8:45. The Visitor Center, with the trailhead, is new and the GPS mapping apps are still updating.
The Reservoir Park Main entrance is located within the Brambleton Community Park West Baseball field complex, accessed from Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn.
The address is 22211 Water Vista Drive Ashburn, Virginia.
The GPS coordinates are: 39.00223 N, 77.53529W.We hike at a pace of ~ 2.5 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8:45am for sign-in. Restrooms are available.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.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/reservoir-park-trail?sh=iypgzx&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality33 attendees
Past events
4683
