Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)

4.9•30072 ratings

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

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Katahdin Base Camp and Acadia
Thu, Aug 20 · 4:00 AM EDT
Forest Glen metro station, Kiss and Ride lot, 2200 Forest Glen Rd, Forest Glen, DC, US
*** New Trial Process - No More Signing In ***
Step 1: Read the Liability Disclaimer: https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf
Step 2: When prompted, type:
"I Accept", full name, contact number, emergency contact number

Example: "I accept. Jane Doe, (703)555-5555, (301)666-6666."

This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes.

LENGTH: Negligible ELEVATION: Negligible. PACE: n/a.

DESCRIPTION
On this five-day trip we will visit Acadia National Park and on the best of the three days, drive to Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin trailhead. Those willing are welcome to hike to the summit. The leader will not attempt the summit but will provide directions, maps, and moral support.

DETAILS
Day #1: Fly to Boston (around $150), rent cars, drive to Bar Harbor, Maine. Check into motel; enjoy Bar Harbor.
Day #2, #3, or #4: Whichever day has best weather, drive to Baxter State Park (about two hours) past the town of Millinocket. Leader will travel with the group to the trailhead but will not hike; once the group leaves leader will drive back to enjoy the bars in Bar Harbor.
Days when we are not hiking Katahdin: We will spend visiting the famed Acadia National Park and climb Cadillac Mountain and other trails.
Day #5: Drive and fly back to DC.

Everyone is responsible for their own travel and stay at Bar Harbor. We will form voluntary carpools for the drive from Boston. See below.

FLIGHTS TO BOSTON
The leader plans to fly as below. You are welcome to book the same fight, or a different one. As soon as you book, let the leader know your flight plans by filling out this Google sheet. Before booking your flight, please read the sections below on HIKING KATAHDIN and LEADER PERMISSION NEEDED.

Outbound: Southwest #2895 from BWI to Boston departure 6:30 am.
Return: Southwest #825 from Boston to BWI departure 6:45 p.m.

When you book, please make sure that:
(1) You arrive in Boston Logan no later than 11 a.m. (on 8/20)
(2) You depart from Boston no sooner than 5 p.m. (on 8/24)

(keep in mind Acadia is a 4-5 hr drive from BOS).

CARPOOLS
Neither the Club nor the leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants, and they participate at their own risk.

Once you join a carpool please let the leader know by filling out this Google sheet.

STAY
Hotel rates seem to start from $150 per night. Campsites are available for $20-$60. Let the leader know where you plan to stay using this Google sheet.

CARPOOL AND PARK ENTRY FEES
Suggest we add tolls, park entry fees, and twice the cost of gas, and share the total among all including driver.

HIKING KATAHDIN
This is not your average walk-in-the-park. The distance is only 10.5 miles (via Hunt Trail) but includes a 4,000-foot elevation gain. The trail is rough and rocky and requires significant boulder climbing. The upper parts of the trail are exposed. Because of these reasons this hike is sometimes described as the hardest hike east of the Mississippi. Not to be under-estimated.

Those attempting the hike must be physically fit and should train for a few weeks before the attempt.

ITEMS TO BRING ON THE HIKE (courtesy: ChatGPT)
- Plenty of water (2–3 liters, more on hot days)
- High-energy snacks and lunch
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Warm layer (temperatures at the summit can be much colder)
- Hat and gloves (recommended even in late summer)
- Hiking boots or trail shoes with excellent traction
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Map (or offline map) and fully charged phone
- Small first-aid kit
Plus a couple of my own: Net to cover your face (flying insects can be ferocious on this mountain), bug spray, and sunblock.

LEADER APPROVAL NEEDED
If you plan to hike Katahdin and you don't know the leader well, please introduce yourself asap and present your credentials. Do this before booking your flights. If you just show up at the trailhead the leader will not permit you to join the Club group.

ACADIA
Unless you are hiking Katahdin you may spend as many as three days in Acadia National Park - not nearly enough time to explore it. Attractions include a drive along the spectacular Ocean Drive, a hike up the 1,500-foot Cadillac Mountain (maybe to catch the sunrise), and numerous other hikes, some very exposed and demanding such as the Precipice Trail, which requires using iron rungs drilled into the rock. Consider a boat ride to the light on Bass Harbor. And of course there are bars in Bar Harbor - DUH! [Actually, the name is supposed to be derived from a sand bar but I have my doubts :)]
4 attendees
3 seats left
National Military Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center Loop, (Rating: C)
Sun, Aug 23 · 9:00 AM EDT
Columbia Island Marina, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, VA, US
You 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.

7.5-mile loop with 250 feet elevation gain.

Description:
Let's visit the newly installed National Military Monument at the Lincoln Memorial. It's here until August 23.

From Columbia Island Marina, we will connect to the Mount Vernon trail and hike to the Arlington Memorial Bridge and cross over to the Lincoln Memorial and view the National Military Monument.

After that, we'll proceed to the Kennedy Center to admire the view from the terrace deck. We will also take our lunch break here. After the break we will hike back toward the Lincoln Memorial and make our way to the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial. We will recross the Potomac on the 14th St. Bridge and reconnect to the Mt Vernon trail returning to our starting point.

Pace: 2.5 mph

Bring: Adequate hydration, also snack/lunch, and comfortable hiking/walking shoes. Recommend sunscreen.

Dogs: Dogs will not be allowed on this hike.

We'll meet in the parking lot of the Columbia Island Marina, GW Parkway, Arlington, VA. GPS 38.87544, -77.04896

NOTE:
The hike starts at 9:00am, please arrive a few minutes early so we can get folks signed in and ready to hike on time. Restrooms are available at the marina and several locations along the way.

Rehydration: Yes, Island Time Bar & Grill

Any questions please contact me at 202-528-0456. If you text, please include your name.
27 attendees
Bears Den and Raven Rocks Summer Hike (Rating: B)
Sun, Aug 23 · 9:00 AM EDT
Snickers Gap - Appalachian Trailhead, Bluemont, VA, US
REQUIRED: You 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 a 6.5 mile out-and-back hike on the "roller coaster" section of the Appalachian Trial (AT) near Bluemont, VA, about an hour east of DC, featuring one of the prettiest sections of the AT and a lovely view of Catoctin Valley eastward from the summit of Raven Rocks. This is a B level hike with A+ elements and a total elevation gain of about 2,000 feet The hike should last about 4.5 hours.

We will start by going south on the AT to the summit at Bears Den, where we will get a splendid view of the Shenandoah Valley looking westward. We'll then backtrack to the parking lot, cross Rte 7 and turn north towards Raven Rocks. This leg of the hike part has rocky footing and four challenging climbs that may be difficult for inexperienced hikers. We will hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph while moving and will take stops as needed to keep everyone on track. The most scenic area is the summit at Raven Rocks, where we will stop for lunch and be rewarded for our effort. We'll then backtrack to the parking lot on Route 7 .

We will meet at Snickers Gap Appalachian Trailhead parking lot (39.115718588736115, -77.84674599970691). It’s at the intersection of Rt.7 and Blue Ridge mountain road. If you are driving west on Rt.7, the parking lot is on your left (south side of road). See the parking lot coordinates in the map below. Note that it is NOT the parking lot at the trailhead on the right side of Rt 7 driving west, which is small and fills up early. Also note that we'll need to walk about 200 yards along Rte 7 from the parking lot and then cross Rt 7 to get to the Raven Rocks trailhead.

Please bring a liter of water and snacks/lunch. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear hiking shoes or other rugged footwear. Poles are a good idea on the rocky terrain, especially on the descents. The hike will be weather dependent – no rain. Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy. The dog must be on a leash, and you must let the hike leader know in advance.

Neither the Club nor the hike leader is responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Carpooling is organized by the participants, and they participate at their own risk.

Trail map for the northern leg of the trip—https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/raven-rocks-via-appalachian-trail

You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, terrain, and elevation gain. This hike is suitable for experienced hikers who have done similar hikes in past few months. Though the total distance is single digit, this hike can be challenging with steep climbs up and down. If you have any question about your ability to complete this hike, please contact me.
22 attendees
Eagle Rock - Tuscarora North of Route 55 (Rating: B)
Mon, Aug 24 · 8:00 AM EDT
Centreville Park & Ride Lot, 14700 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA, US
You 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 a 9 mile in and out hike with 1500 feet elevation gain, high end of B rating. We will follow the Tuscarora Trail along the VA/WV border in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests from route 55 north for <4.5 miles then turn around and retrace our path back to the cars. We will stop at Eagle Rock for lunch on the way back. Nice views from the ridge. We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph when 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)

Park Entry Fee: $0

Rating: B

Carpools: Plan to arrive at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:45am carpools will depart at 8:00am. Suggested carpool fee is $10. The leader will be at the carpool location. Carpooling is recommended as trailhead parking is limited. GPS Coordinates: 38.836057, -77.455318 https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18

Driving time to trail head from the carpool location: 70 minutes

Plan to arrive at the trailhead by 9:00am hike will start at 9:15am. GPS Coordinates: 39.085335, -78.510589 https://goo.gl/maps/bZYfxMBGdZshTpy7A

Park on the left side of the road by the chain link fence. For your safety you may need to continue past the parking area to find a safe place to make a U-turn. Parking is on the shoulder of road and is limited.

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.

AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-324545e--56?u=i

****You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain.****
32 attendees