About us
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
21
Billy Goat B and C: a 6-Mile Moderate Hike
Carderock Recreation Area, Bethesda, MD, bethesda, MD, USBilly 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 9:30Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is 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 38.97637, -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 feesCancellation:
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 RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. SHOULD YOUR PLANS CHANGE KINDLY UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND BECAUSE MEETUP MOVES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY TO THE GOING LIST ONCE A SPOT OPENS. SIGNING OUT AFTER 6 PM WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW" AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES LED BY THIS ORGANIZER.
-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
Riverbend Park to Great Falls Loop, a moderate 4.8 mile hike
Riverbend Park Visitors Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St, Great Falls, VA, USPLEASE SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION BELOW
Riverbend Park sits just upstream from Great Falls NP in Virginia. This moderate 4.8 mile hike with only 75 feet of elevation gain follows a trail which provides beautiful river vistas and a variety of natural scenery. This rocky, mainly natural surface trail runs parallel to the river for most of its length. Wildlife such as herons, ducks, or eagles can sometimes be seen along the riverside. You will be able to hear the sound of the falls as we approach Great Falls park. Once we arrive we will take a few minutes at the Great Falls overlooks to enjoy the beauty of the falls, then proceed a bit further along the river before looping back and returning the way we came. Parts of this trail are narrow and there is a small rock scramble as well to add to the fun.
Restrooms are available at both Riverbend and Great Falls visitor centers.Please arrive by 9:45 to check
in. We will begin hiking promptly at 10:00If the hike needs to be cancelled, 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 the hike 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.If you are on the waitlist, please check your status after 6:00 pm the day before to see if you have been moved to the "going" list. If you are on the waitlist and no longer wish to attend, it is important to sign out even if you are not yet confirmed, otherwise you may be marked as a no show.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
1 attendee
Past events
362
Group links
Members
2,960
