Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)

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 8.5 mile hike with a 2,000' elevation gain in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Because the town of Harpers Ferry itself is likely to be crowded due to Christmas festivities, and parking there will be chaotic, we will begin and end at the parking lot under Route 340 (at the beginning of Shenandoah St (use the coordinates: 39.32165,-77.74318)). If you drive direct, please be there by 8:45, so we can be hiking by 9am.

We will take the “high path” about 2 miles into Harpers Ferry proper, and cross the foot bridge across the Potomac to start our ascent and descent to the Maryland Heights. On the way up, as we are all avid mountain goats looking for more altitude, we will ascend all the way up to the actual heights of Maryland Heights to a few Civil War forts along the South Mountain ridgeline. From there we will descend thru the forts and a couple of gun emplacements, until we get back down to the "normal" trail to the more famous Heights. From there we will zig-zag down to the Overlook where there is sufficient space to spread out and eat with a view. From there we will have to ascend again, but will be shortly back in Harpers Ferry where we will stop to refuel for our trip back to the cars (there should be hot chocolate & hot apple cider (and other warm beverages) for sale in the village).

In years past there was a lot of Christmas stuff set up in town. They got out of the habit during covid, so hopefully it is making a comeback. Santa hats are optional, and if anyone wants to start singing Carols while we hike, I am liable to join in.

I hike at a moderate pace of 2-2.5 mph when moving, with stops at all photo points, and trail intersections.

For those new to NVHC hikes, please note that the “A” rating is a difficulty rating, not a scenery rating, or user feedback rating. These aint Yelp Stars. 8.5 miles (8.5 pts) + 2,000ft (5 pts) makes this a 13.5 point hike, so be sure you know what you are undertaking. If you have not hiked with NVHC before, you may want to start with a “B” or “C” hike, and work your way up.

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

Leader: Dale Johnson (540-454-5592)

Carpool Location: Carpoolers will meet at the Dulles Town Center Park & Ride Lot (21021 Atlantic Blvd, in Sterling, VA, across from Dulles Towne Center Mall). Please arrive by 7:45 so you can get people matched with cars, and out of the lot by 8am (Hike Leader will NOT be at the Carpool location).

Park Entry Fee: The Parking Fee for Harpers Ferry NHP is $20, and I think they are once again collecting it, so if you do not have a pass, carpooling may be the way to go.

Trailhead: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Lot under Route 340 (at the beginning of Shenandoah St (use the coordinates: 39.32165,-77.74318))

Rating: A

RSVPs will close at 9pm the night before, so if you need to make a last minute change text me at 540-454-5592 so we are not waiting for you.

AFTER PARTY: For those interested, on the way back we may stop at Harpers Ferry Brewing (not the Maryland Heights view, but pretty good) to replenish fluid levels, but it will be a brief stop so as not to impair our drivers.

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.

The Second Manassas Trail is an easy C level hike, 6.6 mile circuit hike (429 feet elevation gain) beginning at the Park Visitors Center. The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28-30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia, and a battle of much larger scale and numbers than the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) fought in 1861 on the same ground. This trail guides you through the Second Manassas Battlefield. The hike is about 50% field and 50% under canopy. The trails are sometimes wet and muddy after recent rain. Bring hat and water and a snack if needed.

Leader: Gail Markulin (703) 402-5902 (C)

Please arrive by 9:15 so we can sign in.

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

Meet in the parking lot in front of the Visitors Center

Hike Starting Point: 6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA 20109 (Visitor Center parking lot)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B048'46.7%22N+77%C2%B031'14.6%22W/@38.812977,-77.52073,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d38.812977!4d-77.52073?entry=ttu

No Entry Fee

Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/virginia/second-battle-of-manassas-trail-loop?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map

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.

We will be walking about 3 miles roundtrip from the Burke Centre VRE parking lot on trails and neighborhood streets to Marshall Pond cul-de-sac to see the renowned display of Christmas lights. Pace will be ~2.5 MPH.

As it will be dark, suggest you bring a HEAD LIGHT OR FLASHLIGHT should it be needed. You may also want to DRESS IN FESTIVE, LIGHTED HOLIDAY GEAR!

We should finish the walk no later than 6:30 PM. After the walk, those who are interested can drive to Bunnyman Brewery. There is both indoor and outdoor tented seating with heat lamps, and they will have a food truck. Be sure to bring a credit card. (They run that and then give you a key card that you use to pour your own beer, wine, cider -- as much or as little as you like!) The Brewery is at 5583 Guinea Road, Fairfax, 1.6 miles from the VRE. Drive around the back of the shops to find the Brewery.

Pets are not allowed on this hike.

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.

Hike Overview: This deceivingly short 6-mile out-and-back hike will descend the Big Devils Stairs trail with a bushwhack up the Big Devils Stairs stream bed. The elevation gain is about 1600-1700 feet with lots of climbing, occasionally involving all four limbs. You should be experienced with bushwhacking and climbing rocks to go on this hike.

We start at a small Gravel Springs Gap parking lot on Skyline Drive. We'll travel a short distance on the AT, diverge off to see the Gravel Springs Hut, walk another short distance on the Harris Hollow Trail to the Bluff Trail. We'll hike the Bluff Trail 1.3 mi to the Big Devils Stairs trail and descend that trail to the bottom where we will bushwhack up the stream bed to the Bluff trail then return to the Parking Lot at Skyline Drive.

The picture above is the waterfall on the Big Devils Stairs stream. We'll see this waterfall from above on the Big Devils Stairs trail, the overlook is the normal turn around point of a Big Devils Stairs hike. We'll also lunch at the base of the waterfall on the climb back up.

Leader: Harvey Haines

Rating: A Normally this would be rated a B-hike at (6 mi + 1700ft/400mi/ft = 10.25 eq mi), but the bushwhack makes this hike more difficult, so I've upped the grade one level to an A-hike.

Pace: For most of the hike we will go between 2 & 3 mph. However, it will be slow hiking up the Big Devils Stairs where we'll climb at 1 mph or less.

Trailhead: Meet at the Gravel Springs Gap parking lot between MP 17 & 18 on Skyline Drive (GPS: 38.7678, -78.2336), alternatively if the lot is full, park at Range View Overlook closer to MP 17 and walk the ½ mile down Skyline to Gravel Springs Gap.

Park Entry Fee: $30.

Pets: Because of the terrain no dogs are permitted on this hike.

Map for hike:
Annotated PATC Map 9 cutout:
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0c6GnyiclUvNh-d3OL4iev06A#Big_Devils_Stairs
GaiaGPS map of hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.7/-78.2234/38.7593&pubLink=dyWxMHumLFYniNagkWV1iQ2G&routeId=f50b00b4-9483-4b6c-9f2e-e9bbe32e7b37

Carpools: Feel free to coordinate carpools in the comments section as parking at Gravel Springs is limited. It's a 1hr 25min drive from the Centreville Park & Ride Lot. 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.

Description from the PATC Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park:
The Big Devils Stairs canyon is one of the most impressive features of Shenandoah National Park. Originally the trail followed through the canyon. Due to flooding which obliterated the trail on a regular basis, a relocation was performed which situated the trail on [the] east rim of the canyon. With caution, one can climb along the stream all the way through. The old route up the canyon is not recommended for young children due to the rough going. The present trail should be traveled with caution with children due to the sheer cliffs along the east rim which follow[s] the trail for most of its length.