About us
The ORIGINAL hiking group in Central Virginia, and still the best! The Charlottesville Chapter and the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club are the oldest trail maintenance and hiking organizations in the Charlottesville area and the Valley, helping and hiking trails since 1985-86! (Way before Meetup.) Our members are avid hikers who love the trails so much we recognize the vital need to maintain them for all to enjoy. Hike leaders include folks who have thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, all of the trails in Shenandoah National Park, and across the planet many foreign countries. Our Chapter’s leaders have combined over 350 years of hiking and 100 years of hike leader experience. The PATC uses only certified hike leaders.
We have a lot of fun exploring local trails, but trail building and maintenance is the centerpiece of the PATC's mission. The PATC maintains 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap at the south end of Shenandoah National Park to Pine Grove Furnace in Pennsylvania and over 1000 miles of other trails in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The effort requires the contributions of hundreds of volunteers, who serve as trail maintainers, trail crew members, land management specialists, and in many other capacities. PATC volunteers log tens of thousands of service hours every year, in their efforts to keep hiking trails safe, sustainable, and accessible. The vast majority of the trails you hike are maintained by volunteers, not paid federal employees.
You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us or do trail maintenance, though we hope that you will consider joining the club. Your dues contribute to purchasing equipment used to maintain trails, acquiring land for parking areas and buffers along the Appalachian Trail, and building/maintaining trail shelters and cabins. And membership entitles you to rent one of PATC’s 45+ cabins in the region.
So don't just HIKE the trails, HELP the trails! Come join us for some fun!
Members must have a profile picture of yourself to join the group.
Upcoming events
5
Hightop Mountain via the Appalachian Trail
Location not specified yetJoin us on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for an approximately four-mile, pet-friendly hike to Hightop Mountain in Shenandoah National Park’s South District. Beginning at Smith Roach Gap, we’ll follow the Appalachian Trail north through the forest to Hightop’s rocky viewpoint, where we’ll pause to enjoy the mountain views, take photos, and have a snack. We’ll then retrace our steps over Hightop, with a side trip to Hightop Hut before returning to Smith Roach Gap.
Expect a friendly, moderate pace with breaks to regroup and enjoy nature. An optional 10-minute yoga-inspired warm-up will be offered before departure. The hike is moderate to moderately strenuous, with sustained climbing, an additional ascent on the return, and rocky footing. Allow approximately 5–5½ hours, including breaks.
We’ll meet at the Smith Roach Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 68.6 (38.3287, -78.5745). Carpooling is encouraged.
Bring water, snacks or lunch, sturdy hiking footwear, and weather-appropriate layers. Pets are welcome; please keep them leashed and bring water and waste bags for them.12 attendees
December Hike Leader class online
Location not specified yetDO NOT REGISTER ON MEETUP. You must click the link below to be directed to the registration site within PATC.
Register HereDescription:
Join us for virtual hike leader training on Thursday, November 5th 7pm-9pm. Space is limited! This class will be taught by Marit Anderson and Jeff Monroe.PATC hike leader training is open to experienced hikers in the Mid-Atlantic who are current PATC members.
Hike Leader Education courses are offered periodically online and in person.
The goal is to provide PATC standards for hike leaders to support safe hiking.
Attaining certification is a 5 step process:
1. Take American Red Cross Basic First Aid online or in person.
2. Read the PATC Hike Leaders Handbook
3. Complete the Hike Leader Education course online or in person
4. Lead 2 hikes to include planning route, advertising hike, vetting hikers, and leading the hike with under the guidance and assessment of a certified hike leader.
5. Lead or co-lead one hike independent of a mentor.
Class fee: $20.00 for PATC members. For non-members, one must become a PATC member before registering for the course. PATC membership for an individual is $50.00, annually.
*The leader of the class will reach out a couple days prior to send the zoom link.
DO NOT REGISTER ON MEETUP. You must click the link below to be directed to the registration site within PATC.
Register Here##
1 attendee
Past events
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