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
17
Prince William Forest Loop (11 miles)
Location not specified yetPrince William Forest is a 15,000 acre National Park located in Prince William County, Va. about 30 miles south of DC. The park is mostly mature hardwood forest and is traversed by several streams and a number of hiking trails. This hike will be an 11-mile loop with an option to take an easily navigated shortcut to make it 8 miles for those wishing to make it a shorter day. There are some hills, but the difficulty rating is mainly due to the distance. Much of the hike will be on level trails along two branches of Quantico Creek, affording nice scenery with beautiful fall colors and generally easy walking.
- Rating: Moderately Difficult
- Pace: 2.25 - 2.5 mph
- Length: 11.1 miles (8.3 miles with shortcut)
- Elevation Gain: 1,074 ft
- Estimated hiking time: 5 hours
- Maximum Group Size: 10 hikers
Hike Route & Info
This hike will start at the parking area adjacent to the Prince William Forest Visitor Center. We will walk past the Pine Grove picnic area, enter the trail, and descend to Quantico Creek. We will follow the creek upstream along the North Valley trail until it passes over a small cascade. We will then cross a ridge using several trails to get over to the South Fork of Quantico Creek and then follow it downstream most of the way back to the visitor center. Trails are well-marked, and all of the stream crossings have footbridges. Although much of the hike will be on easy trails there are a few rocky and/or steep sections. You should bring good hiking shoes and trekking poles if you use them.Normally, there is plenty of parking, water, and bathrooms available at the visitor center. However, if the government shutdown is still in effect on the day of the hike, assume that no water or bathrooms will be available in the park. In that case, please use facilities outside the park before arriving, and plan to bring your own water. I recommend bringing at least 2 liters of water and preferably 3, since we will be on the trail for 5 hours.
Make sure to pack a lunch to enjoy on the trail!
Meeting Point:
I recommend using the GPS coordinates below with Google Maps or another mapping application to get to the meeting point.- Meet at: Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center, parking area
- Address: 18170 Park Entrance Road, Triangle, VA 22172
- GPS Coordinates: 38.55939, -77.34760
Meeting Time:
Plan to arrive at 9:45 so you will be able to meet everyone and sign the PATC waiver. Once the waiver is signed, we will begin the hike by walking to the trail head in the Pine Grove picnic area. We will begin walking at 10:00 AM. Please be punctual as my hikes begin on time.Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Peter; 703-999-9435. Call or text as needed.Hike Route-> https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=13.6/-77.3742/38.5742&pubLink=OM6IwM8CLguKPd853pVQrmy4&routeId=5cd29f27-dc5c-4b67-a84e-e62e0d1e5a2a
Other Notes
- This hike will take place in Prince William Forest National Park. Standard NP entry fees apply.
- When you RSVP, you are taking one of the slots. It is understood that plans change and people’s tolerance to weather differs, so if you aren’t going to be able to attend, please update your RSVP as early as possible.
- If you have no-showed on a previous hike, you may be moved to the Waitlist until the end, allowing others to join first.
- The PATC requires each hiker to sign a liability waiver, which will be available at the trailhead.
- Please check Meetup the night before. We will cancel a hike due to unsafe conditions, heavy rain, or if the park is closed.
- 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.
- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Club volunteers maintain over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, including 240 miles of AT (and the section we will hike!). For more information about PATC, please visit https://www.patc.net/
12 attendees
Patapsco Valley State Park – Hilton & Gray Mills Areas: A Moderate 6 or 9 Miles
Patapsco Valley State Park – Hilton and Gray Mills Areas, 5120 South St, Halethorpe, MD, USPatapsco Valley State Park – Hilton and Gray Mills Areas: A Moderate 6 or 9 Mile Hike
This moderate hike explores the natural beauty and unique features of Patapsco Valley through the scenic Hilton and Gray Mills Areas. Choose between a 6-mile core hike or extend your adventure to 9 miles by exploring the park’s popular Cascade Falls section. The route offers a blend of tranquil forest, quirky attractions, historic features, and breathtaking views.
The hike begins by crossing the famous swinging bridge, a hallmark of Patapsco Valley State Park. We then hike in the quieter Hilton Area, venturing into less-traveled parts of the park and ascends into the forested hills via the Sawmill Branch trail, enjoying peaceful woodlands and occasional wildlife sightings. We then hike through the Gray Mills loop, home to a whimsical miniature “Gnome Village” perched on a log—a favorite spot for hikers. Next we hike along the Buzzards Rock trail, which provides striking vistas of an old, still-operational railroad and the historic Patapsco River bridge. We will pause at a scenic overlook before returning to the trailhead to complete the 6-mile loop.
Anyone who wishes can join us for a quick "bring your own lunch" before headed home or going on the extension.
For those seeking a longer trek, join the 3-mile extension through one of Patapsco’s most beloved sections including Cascade Falls. From there, we cross a stream at the Falls and hike through rolling hills and the Upper Cascade Trail system.
The 6 mile hike ends at 1:00. The 9-mile hike will end around 3:00.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.240879,-76.749977
The Street address to the park entrance is 5120 South St, Halethorpe, MD 21227. After turning into the park, proceed to the end of the road (about 3/4 mile) and turn left over the bridge. Follow the road for another 2 miles or so until you see bathrooms on the LEFT. The parking lot is just pass that point. We will meet near the swinging bridge,Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.Details
Rating: Moderate to easy side of difficult (for the extended hike)
Distance: 6 or 9.2 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: Approximately 450 ft (6 miles), or 730 ft (9.2 miles)
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead
Fees: No entrance fees at this time of yearCancellation:
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.15 attendees
Little Bennett Park! Moderate to Easy-Side-of-Strenuous 9 or 12-Mile Hike
24935 Clarksburg Rd, Clarksburg, MD, US# Little Bennett Park! Moderate to Easy-Side-of-Strenuous 9 or 12-Mile Hike
This hike is only 20 miles from D.C. and about a 50-minute drive from Baltimore so is most convenient for more than two-thirds of our members!
Just a little northwest of Washington, Little Bennett Regional Park is a superlative hiking venue. It’s Montgomery County’s largest park, covering almost 3,650 acres (a small piece also juts into Frederick County). A park since 1975, it has the county’s largest expanse of continuous woodland, splendid scenery, much wildlife, a trail network, and few human users.
This hike is a challenging 12-mile grand tour, with about 1100 feet of elevation change. Those west of Little Bennett Creek are quite well signposted and in good shape. Most of these trails are off-limits to bikers and horse riders. Those in the more rugged eastern area are twice as hilly.
The 9 mile hike will end around 2:30. The 12 mile hike will end around 4:00.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Directions to Trailhead: We meet at the Kingley parking lot in Little Bennett Park. The best address to use in your GPS is 24472 Clarksburg Road, Clarksburg, MD. However, the Kingsley parking lot is a little north of that address. Look for the sign that says Kingsley Parking Lot. The Pin location is correct.
Use the GPS Coordinates if you can: 39.266022, -77.280568Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leaders are Tim; 202-744-0289 and Christa; 410-610-6254. Call or text as needed.
Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 9 or 12 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hourFacilities: Toilets can be found about one mile into the hike
Fees: No entrance fees
Cancellation: 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.16 attendees
Past events
232
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