What we’re about
PATC hikes are an opportunity to understand the club and its important trail maintenance work. You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us, but we hope you will consider joining after getting to know us. Come join us on the trails!
(PATC hikes are conducted by trained hike leaders. The hikes offer various levels of difficulty and distance).
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ABOUT PATC
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.
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ABOUT THE HIKE PROGRAM
The first stated purpose of PATC is "to support and encourage the ... proper recreational use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and other trails". This is done partly through the sponsorship of hikes on trails in PATC's area and on other trails.
The club has a wide-ranging hiking program which includes local area hikes and excursions into other geographical areas. Hikes can range from short, close-in day hikes to extended excursions. Hikes can be for physical conditioning, social interaction, nature walks, history lessons, to reach a viewpoint, or any of a number of purposes. The club encourages a wide variety of hikes, and provides training and support to hike leaders.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary! A 7.5 Easy-Side-of-Moderate Mile HikeJug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD
Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary! A 7.5 Easy-Side-of-Moderate Mile Hike
Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary in Ann Arundel County, 20 miles Southeast of Washington DC and 18 miles South of Annapolis, is home to amazing walks along the marshes of the Patuxent River.
The marshes draw wildlife to this Natural Area in summer and fall. They provide food for waterfowl, and are a haven for numerous birds, including rails, egrets, herons and the rare American bittern. Boardwalks along the marsh edge lead to tidal shrublands and swamp forest that lie in the transition between upland slopes and open marsh. Trails in the woods cross through unusually dry, sandy forest that supports rare plants adapted to the droughty, low-nutrient soils.
Our hike will take us along woodland trails, over gentle slopes, along and over marshes to wildlife blinds on boardwalks; We hike along the Patuxent River including great views from a bluff. Our trails lead us also over meadows and fields of the River Farm.
Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30.Directions to Trailhead:
The Street address to the park entrance is 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD 20711
GPS Coordinates will give you the most precise location: 38.784860, -76.700950
We meet at the visitors center by the parking lot.Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa -- 410.610.6254. Call or text as needed.Details:
Rating: Easy side of moderate
Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 250 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Bathroom at trailhead: Visitor Center; portable bathroom about 3 miles into the hike.Park Entry Fee:
$6.00 per car (Ann Arundel County); free for active militaryCancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here. - Fox Hollow/Snead Farm/Dickey Ridge 5.3 Mi Moderate HikeNeeds location
This is one of the northernmost hikes in Shenandoah National Park. This hike combines the Fox Hollow Loop, the Snead Farm Loop, and the Dickey Ridge trails. Highlights include views from the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Fox Family Cemetery, Snead Farm ruins, and one of my favorite parts of the hike, the expansive vista southwest from the Dickey Ridge Trail just below Dickey Hill. This hike is on the upper end of moderate, with nearly 1000 ft of total ascent. We will hike at an average pace of 1.7 to 2 mph.
Hike Route: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/DickeyRidgeArea_RoadTrail.pdf
Group Size: 12 hikers
Time to Meet: Please meet 15-20 minutes before the hike starts for introductions and liability waiver sign in.
Meeting Location/Parking: We will meet at the Shenandoah National Park Dickey Ridge Visitor Center parking lot (milepost 4.6 on Skyline Drive).
Facilities: Located at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. The visitor center also has a water source.
Admission: Park fee or pass. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for comments and questions. The hike leader is Sue Collins.
Cancellation: If the hike needs to be canceled, hikers will be notified through comments on this posting. Please check Meetup for updates the evening before the hike.
What to Bring: AT least two liters of water, emergency contact information, personal first aid kit and medications, snacks/meal, sunscreen/protection from weather, insect repellant, trekking poles if you use them (highly recommended for hikes with water crossings), sturdy hiking footwear.
Please leave pets at home. Thanks!
Notes:
- RSVP to register for this hike. If your plans change, update your RSVP.
- To find out more about PATC, click here.
- Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.
Attendance is limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.
- Turkey Run & Langley Oaks Parks--4.2 miles; 6 stream & gulch crossingsTurkey Run Park, Mclean, VA
A slow-moving, moderate-to-difficult hike through close-in Turkey Run Park on the George Washington Parkway. Will be on shady, dirt trails that cross Turkey Run, Dead Run, and some gulches, and detour into Langley Oaks Park next door. Expect:
-hills;
-several wide stream crossings on rocks; -two difficult gulch crossings on a log or board using ropes;
-wooden stairs; and
-a section of the Potomac Heritage Trail along the Potomac riverbank.Though the hike distance is short, the multiple stream crossings and gulch crossings are challenging and will take time. For the water crossings, hiking poles are recommended. Be prepared to be adventurous!
Required: Hiking boots or sturdy hiking shoes, lots of water. Recommended: hiking poles, sunblock, insect repellent, rain gear.
Average pace: 2.0 mph
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/turkey-run-and-potomac-heritage-trail?u=i&sh=fuqxr6Meeting time: Gather in C-1 parking lot at 10:00 to sign in and begin hike at 10:15. If you can't make the hike, please cancel your RSVP by 6 pm the night before to allow others on the waiting list to join.
Meeting point: Parking lot C-1, Turkey Run Park. Exit from the George Washington Parkway in either direction. The exit is north of Chain Bridge and south of the I-495 Beltway and is currently well marked. However, allow plenty of time for construction delays on the Parkway! Speed limit is 40 mph, only one lane is open in each direction, and traffic could be backed up during rush hour. (Note that we meet at 10:00, not 9:45, to help avoid traffic.)
GPS coordinates for C-1 parking lot: 38.964441, -77.153138Park entrance fee: none
Facilities: NO bathrooms; the park's restrooms are closed and boarded upContact: Use Comments section for routine comments and questions. Hike Leader is Amber 703-231-5978.
RSVP: Sign-up ends at 6:00 pm the night before the hike. Please do not show up unregistered. If possible, cancel by the same deadline.
PATC serves the outdoor community through leading hikes and creating and maintaining trails, cabins, and shelters throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. To find out more, see https://www.patc.net
To join PATC and/or volunteer, see https://www.patc.net/membership
