About us
THE CLUB www.nvhc.com
The Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) offers a range of hikes of various difficulty levels in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and beyond. The club also offers other outdoor events occasionally. NVHC members reflect the rich diversity of the Washington DC Metro area. Annual membership fee is $5. Guests are welcome and enjoy a month’s free participation in the club events. NVHC is a nonprofit organization and donates funds to local parks and trail maintenance organizations from time to time. The selection of the parks and organizations is based on club usage - it is our way of giving back. Monies vary each time - $7,200 was donated in 2023.
Members are required to accept the liability disclaimer by typing “Accept” in the fields presented when they join the club.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS
NVHC hikes are assigned difficulty ratings. A combination of linear distance and elevation gain is used to determine the rating, with 400 feet of elevation gain considered to be equivalent of 1 mile of linear distance. With the “miles” derived from elevation gain added to the linear distance, following are the ratings:
A+= Very Difficult (19 miles or more)
A = Difficult (13 miles or more, but less than 19 miles)
B = Moderately Difficult (10 miles or more, but less than 13 miles)
C = Moderate (7 miles or more, but less than 10 miles)
D = Easy (Less than 7 miles)
For example, a nine-mile hike with 1,000 feet of climbing would be rated B (9 + 2.5 = 11.5).
Elevation loss is not measured in this system. Also, the difficulty rating is separate from the pace of the hike, which is determined by the leader, and is usually specified in the individual hike descriptions.
RSVP ETIQUETTE
Often there are limits on the number of participants on NVHC events, set by our leaders. This creates wait lists on Meetup. If you find yourself in this situation, we request that you keep in mind the interest of the leaders and your fellow hikers, and follow the guidelines below:
- If you RSVP’d “yes” for a hike, change your RSVP to “no” as soon as you decide not to go, so that someone else can go.
- If you RSVP’d “yes” to overlapping events on the same day, decide on one as soon as possible, and change your RSVP to “no” for all others.
- If you are on a wait list and decide not to go, remove yourself from the list.
DOGS ON HIKES
Dogs are welcome on NVHC hikes at the discretion of the hike leader. Several restrictions apply including advance notification to the leader, dogs being well behaved, and their being kept on a six foot leash. See dog policy located at [https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy] for details.
Upcoming events
11
Banshee Reeks - Loudoun County (Rating: C)
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Rd, Leesburg, VA, USYou must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This is an 8 mile hike with 500' elevation gain in the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. https://bansheereeksnp.org/. We follow our AllTrails route as we go through the many trails in this Preserve.
According to local history, an Irish farmer named Jordon Luck purchased the land in the late 1830s. One dark and blustery night, after visiting a nearby tavern in Leesburg, he was traveling back through his property. The howling wind, strange nocturnal animal sounds, and dense fog spooked the farmer and his animals. When he arrived home, he frantically claimed that he had heard a "banshee on the reeks" (a shrieking spirit on the hills). Modern local historians suspect the spooky "screams" he heard were actually screech owls, foxes, or bobcats. Nevertheless, the farmer's spooky account stuck, and the property officially became known as Banshee Reeks.
We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Meet: Plan to arrive at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center at 8:15am so we can get everyone checked in and start at 8:30am.
The address in Meetup may not get you to the exact location, use GPS Coordinates.
GPS coordinates: 39.028758, -77.599534 https://goo.gl/maps/AADrS4iNX1kYTUZo7
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Alltrails Maps: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/banshee-reeks-ab2ce2a?u=i
Banshee Reeks Map: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fwiDfFL9P9PABzkYXkUaEQuHBqVwDmNh/view?usp=sharing
39 attendees
Meneka Peak Loop (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USYou must read the following https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This is an 8.4 mile loop with 1,800 ft elevation gain in George Washington National Forest. The first 3.5 miles are uphill but then we hike the ridge and work our way back down to the parking lot. The first half is rocky in sections, and there is one easy stream crossing on the way down. We'll hike at an average pace of 2.8 mph. Trail could be overgrown in some places, bug spray recommended.
Hiking map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/meneka-peak-loop
https://cdn-assets.alltrails.com/pdf/v2/meneka-peak-loop-636df2a5.pdf
Lader: Maryellen Trevisan 202-730-5314
Park Entry Fee: $0
Carpools: Arrive by 7:30am to form and leave Centreville Park & Ride no later than 7:40am. Suggested carpool fee is $8. Driving time from the carpool location to the trailhead is about 1 hour. The leader will not be at the carpool location.
If you are meeting at the trailhead, go to the Signal Knob Parking lot off of Fort Valley Road in George Washington National Park.
GPS Coordinates:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eE1c7gs82tda8dF3AWe will start hiking at 09:00 AM.
Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.
6 attendees
Seneca Regional Park Potomac Heritage Trail (Rating: C)
Seneca Regional Park, 101 Seneca Rd, Great Falls, VA, USYou must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This is an enjoyable ~ 7.3 mile hike with ~780 feet of elevation gain.
We'll start by hiking through a full growth hardwood forest of Elm, Ash Trees, and Tulip Poplars, the tallest deciduous tree in North America. We'll then connect to the Potomac Heritage Trail with its wildflowers and massive Sycamore trees. The hike is a loop. Part of the hike will be along the Patowmack Channel created by a series of islands in the river.We'll take our break on a sandy beach.
Thanks to Bob G for the photo.We hike at a pace of 2.3 to 2.5 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leader: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=15.0/-77.3190/39.0474&pubLink=obOQ48o079O4P48KYoJBIMa9&trackId=b81b5829-efdf-4bad-bb66-9e9de4a74efd
36 attendees
Lake Accotink Loop (Rate: C or D)
Lake Accotink, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA, USYou must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
3.9 mile loop around the lake; And for the energetic why not 7.8 miles or a second loop in the opposite direction? 170 feet of elevation.
Description
Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Virginia is a 493-acre park centered around a 55 -acre reservoir, offering a variety of activities. Originally a military reservoir built in the 1940s, it’s now a popular recreation spot which is part of the Cross County Trail system.
The circuit is partially paved and relatively flat with only two short hills; a great hike for beginning hikers. We will complete the first loop or 3.9 miles, stopping at the marina for snack/lunch.
For those who wish to continue the hike, we then will re-do the loop for a grand total of 7.8 miles in the opposite direction.
PACE: the pace will be about 2.5 miles an hour.
Bring: Bring sufficient water/snacks/lunch and sturdy hiking shoes and of course hiking poles if you normally use them. Remember to dress in layers.
FEE: No park entry fee.
FACILITIES: There are restrooms at the Marina very close to the parking area.
DOGS: dogs are welcome on this hike per the NVHC DOG POLICY
WHERE TO MEET:
We will meet in the parking lot facing the DAM or parking lot #1 on the MAP on Lake Accotink Park Road before it curves around to the marina. (Do NOT go to Parking Lot 2 on Heming Avenue).
I have a White Honda HRV w/ the back open.GPS Coordinates: 38.793445, -77.215683
MAP (Parking at Number “1” on map)
Lake Accotink Park
7500 Accotink Park Rd, Springfield, VA 22150
LINK to Meeting Point20 attendees
Past events
4909
