PATC Hikes & Events

Thru, Chevrolet, Joe's, and Quarry Trail Loop 6 mile hike

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER NOTE

This hike is in the Patapsco Valley State Park- near Woodstock, MD. The hike (6 miles) starts off through rolling hills of forest and goes around an old quarry filled with reflective water surrounded by granite rock. We then return hiking along more forest and small streams. There are a couple of stream crossings. So poles are helpful but not necessary. Some areas can be muddy after rain, so you should wear appropriate boots. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

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 GPS Coordinates are 39.331021,-76.870569
The address is 1415 Woodstock Rd · Woodstock, MD 21163. Note: This address is for the Woodstock Inn. The parking for this hike is across the street. Park in Designated Parking Spots Only Because Some Parking Spaces are Reserved for the Inn and Towing IS Enforced.

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
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 450 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: No toilets are available on this hike
Fees: No entrance fees at this time of year
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.

Billy Goat B and C: a 6-Mile Moderate Hike

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER NOTE

If you’re looking for a great day out at Great Falls (Maryland side), this is a good spot. While Billy Goat Trail A gets all the "fame" for its rock scrambling, Section B and Section C offer a much more serene experience through the Potomac River woods. Billy Goat B has wooded paths interspersed with some small rock hops, rock scrambling, and uneven ground. It is quiet and forested and offers great views of the river. Section C is relaxed. It is mostly flat and sandy. It winds through a lush canopy of trees and follows the shoreline closely. There is one stream crossing. Combined, they offer a great hike.

The hike will begin at parking lot 4 of the Carderock Parking Lot; the most northern lot. We will take our time on this hike to enjoy the river views and spring flowers. Bring a snack to enjoy along the way.

If the restrooms are closed portable toilets are available at the trailhead.

Well-trained dogs are permitted on the Billy Goat trails B and C but must be on a leash at all times.

Bring a lunch or snack that we will have along the way.

The hike will end around 12:30.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leaders are Tim (202-744-0289) Christa (410-610-6254). Call or text as needed.

Directions to Trailhead:
It is best to use the GPS coordinates. They will take you directly to the parking lot.

The GPS Coordinates are 38.97637, -77.20534
While there is no street address, you can search for “North Parking, for Carderock Cliffs.” It will take you to the parking lot.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 233 feet
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There is a portable toilet near the trailhead
Fees: no 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.

Jefferson Patterson Park, Archaeological Sites & Indian Village! Easy 5-Mi Hike

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES."

This hike plan will take us past archaeological sites that were explored over the last 50 years. They date back to the 15th century when Native American Settlers first occupied the site, to 17th and 18th century plantation sites, and 19th century post emancipation sites. One of the battles of the War of 1812, the Battle of St. Leonards, was fought just offshore the property (with the support of an onshore cannon). Archaeological evidence goes back about 9000 years. Most of the buildings on the site go back to the 1930s when Jefferson Patterson bought the property.

The hike leads through woodlands, over the fields, along the shore of the Patuxent River to the mouth of St. Leonard Creek. There is a reconstructed Indian Village with longhouses, protected by a palisade – a tall fence of poles. A working garden is located just outside the palisades where a variety of plants represent some of the crops Native people were growing. We will return past the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, which stores collections from all over Maryland (There is currently construction for additional storage space) to the Visitor Center.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leaders are Christa (410-610-6254) and Tim (202-744-0289). Call or text as needed.

Directions to Trailhead:
It is best to use the GPS coordinates. They will take you directly to the parking lot.
The GPS Coordinates are 38.400152, -76.507586
The address to Jefferson Patterson Park is 10515 Mackall Rd, St Leonard, MD 20685. We meet at the Visitor Center Parking Lot. From the entrance, look for signs to the JPPM Visitor's Center -- It should be the first road to the left uphill.

Details:
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 5 total miles with shorter options
Elevation Gain: minimal
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Bathroom near the trailhead
Fees: no 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.

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION BELOW.

Explore a shaded walk through the woods above the C & O towpath in Maryland. On this moderate figure-8 loop we will walk along a stream, pass by the site of a former gold mine, search for other signs of the area’s past history, and generally enjoy stretching our legs along the shaded path. This natural surface trail can have muddy spots after a rain. The trail is approximately 4.4 miles long with a 410 ft elevation gain. It is mostly rolling hills with a couple of steeper spots. Bring a pole if you like. Our pace will be 2-2.5 mph.

AllTrails map: Valley Trail, Gold Mine and Woodland Trail Loop on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/valley-trail-gold-mine-and-woodland-trail-loop

This hike begins in the lot across the road from the Old Angler’s Inn restaurant. We will meet in the lower lot, but there is often more parking available in the upper lot. There is a bathroom available at the start of the trail.

Please note: This hike begins at 9:30 to help beat the July heat. Please arrive by 9:15 to check
in. We will leave promptly at 9:30.

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.

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. DO NOT SHOW UP UNREGISTERED!
If your plans change, please update your RSVP by 6:00 pm the day before to allow sufficient time to fill your spot. Signing out after this will be considered a "no show". Repeated instances may result in being barred from participating in future hikes.