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
31
Ashby Gap to Rod Hollow Shelter via the Appalachian Trail (Rating: B)
Gainesville Park and Ride - University Blvd, 7250 New Stable Wy, Gainesville, 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 out and back hike with about 1,300 feet in elevation gain. We'll start at the Appalachian Trail Access Parking area off of Blue Ridge Mountain Rd /Rte 601. We'll head north on the AT, go down to Myron Glaser Cabin, rejoin the AT and go to Rod Hollow Shelter. After lunch we'll return the way we came.
Start time: 9:00 a.m. (meet at the trailhead parking area 15-30 minutes early for sign in)
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles/hour when moving
Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/ashby-gap-to-rod-hollow-shelter-via-appalachian-trail-1bcef5d
Trailhead: Appalachian Trail Access Parking (GPS coordinates 39.01709, -77.96224)
NOTE: entrance to the parking at the trailhead is a steep downturn so if your car does not have much clearance you should car pool. Parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged.
CARPOOLING: Meet at University Blvd - Gainesville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 7:45 to arrive at the trailhead in time to get signed in and start hiking at 9am. The hike leader will not be at the carpool location. Park & Ride GPS 38.80063, -77.58771
Neither the Club nor the hike leader is 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. Suggested carpool fee: $6.00 per rider. Driving time from Gainesville Park & Ride to the trailhead is about 50 minutes.
Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359
Dogs: Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. Please contact the hike leader in advance if you intend to bring a dog. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
14 attendees
Signal Knob (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA 20120, USA, Centreville, 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.
A 10 mile circuit hike with elevation gain 2300 feet on Massanutten Mountain near Strasburg in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests . Sweeping views from overlooks. The high point is Signal Knob, used as a signal relay station during the Civil War. We hike at a pace of 2.25-2.5 mph when moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Tracy Miller 724-967-3248 (C)
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Rating: A
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:45am carpools depart 8:00am. Suggested carpool fee is $7. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836057, -77.455318 https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Driving time to trail head from the carpool location: 60 minutesMeet at the trailhead parking by 9:00am. Hike starts at 9:15am GPS Coordinates: 38.934638, -78.320086 https://goo.gl/maps/UvptRb36AagSqrnU8
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-february-5-2023-54a367d?u=i
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 and elevation gain.
9 attendees
Occoquan Haunted Hike (Rating: C)
Brickmakers Cafe, 9751 Ox Rd, Lorton, 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.
Join us for our 6th annual Haunted Walk! The highlight of this adventure is learning about the haunted history of Occoquan. We will share stories of paranormal activity rumored to occur in various locations in Occoquan. The walk will be entirely on paved trails. The town goes all out with Halloween decorations! We will meet at the upper level parking lot across from Brickmaker's Cafe in Occoquan Park. We will walk two miles (one mile of it is on the bike path along Ox Road) to the town of Occoquan, walk two miles in Occoquan hearing ghost stories, and then retracing our two mile route back to the Brickmaker's Cafe for lunch (for those interested). There is some elevation gain coming out of Occoquan Park and then returning on the bike path from the town of Occoquan. Costumes are encouraged! Our rain date will be Oct. 30.
HIKE: 5.5-6 miles (out and back), 400 ft. elevation gain
PACE: 2.5 miles per hour, while moving
DOGS: are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC dog policy,
https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy. Please note that dogs are not permitted in the cafe.PARK ENTRY FEE: none
RESTROOMS: At the start in Brickmakers Cafe
LEADERS: Teresa B and Kris N
DIRECTIONS:
From I-95 South, exit 163 for VA-642/Lorton Rd. At the end of the exit ramp take a right onto Lorton Rd. Follow Lorton Rd for 1.4 miles then turn left on to Workhouse Road. In 0.6 mile make a left at the light onto Ox Road. In 0.4 mile take a left at the light into Occoquan Park. Go about 0.7 mile and park in the big parking lot on the left, across from the Brickmakers Cafe. This is the upper level lot. Please do not park in the lower lot near the water, as that lot is for boat launch.53 attendees
Rock Creek Park SOUTH (Rating: C)
Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd., NW, Washington, DC, 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.
5.6 mile loop with a 685 ft. elevation gain that makes the hike the equivalent to a bit over 7 miles. (400ft gain = 1 mile)
Due to Park Permit Regulations Attendance is Limited to 20 HIKERS
Description: Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park.
It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreation, fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals.
Military Road divides the park into North and South.
This hike starts from the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and heads east and then south following the creek to the Valley Trail, the Rock Creek Trail and finally to the Western Ridge Trail
through Pierce Mill and then back to the Nature Center. (We will do the hike in the reverse order on 10/31).Pace: pace is about 2.- 2.5 mph while moving.
Bring: adequate water/hydration, also snack/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are rocky areas, tree roots.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy.
Weather: weather in this location is HERE.
Meetup Location: we will meet in the parking lot of the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium at
5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015
GPS Coordinates : 38°57'34.1"N 77°03'05.6"W. LINK-
GPS
Please arrive by 9:45 am to get signed in in time to start the hike at 10 am.Rock Creek Park
Map of Hike
Hiking in Rock Creek Park
Map of Rock Creek ParkQuestions: message me here or text to 703 533 9231 Dawn
7 attendees
Past events
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