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
20
Weverton Heights toward Compton Gap via the Appalachian Trail (Rating: A)
Dulles Town Center Park & Ride Lot, Virginia, 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 a 9.75-mile out-and-back hike along the Appalachian Trail with about 1,700 feet of elevation gain. We'll start at the Weverton Park and Ride and head north on the Appalachian Trail up to Weverton Cliffs for the view. Then another 4 miles or so on the AT for lunch. Then back 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
Trailhead: GPS: 39.33295, -77.68326 https://maps.app.goo.gl/NduJqpjG7UiG86Je6
CARPOOLING: Carpools: Meet at the Dulles Town Center Park and Ride at 8:00am. The leader will not be at the carpool location. Suggested carpool fee is $5.
GPS Coordinates: 39.034079, -77.430102
https://goo.gl/maps/Lj1uBdayGR9GTS7VA
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.
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/nvhcdogpolicy26 attendees
Signal Knob Loop (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride Lot, 14700 Lee Highway, 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.
This is an approximately 10 mile circuit hike with an elevation gain of about 2300 feet on Massanutten Mountain in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. The hike is predominantly on the Massanutten (orange blazed) and Tuscarora (blue blazed) trails, and includes good views from Buzzard Rock Overlook, Fort Valley Overlook, and Signal Knob. We hike at an average pace of 2.8 mph while moving, slower on the uphill and faster on flat or downhill terrain.
For those wishing to carpool, the suggested carpool location is at the Centerville P&R ( 38.836080, -77.455327). The driving time from there to the trailhead is about 1 hour. Please arrive at the Park and Ride by about 7:30 AM to allow drivers to leave by 7:45 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. Suggested carpool fee is $8.
Trailhead: Please be at the trailhead by 8:45 so we can begin hiking by 9:00.
Signal Knob Parking Lot https://maps.app.goo.gl/qHEVP5muq2K66JDPADogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Maryellen Trevisan
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Rating: AHiking Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/copy-signal-knob-loop-trail-70cc914?u=i&sh=rr7xq620 attendees
Fred Crabtree Park Nature Walk (Rating: D)
Fred Crabtree Field, 2791 Fox Mill Rd, Herndon, Vi, 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 me on a new NVHC GUIDED NATURE WALK with Heidi Allen, a dedicated volunteer with Fairfax County Park Authority's Invasive Management program for the past 11 years. She has spent a decade caring for Fred Crabree, Deerlick, and Waples Mill Parks, helping to restore the health of our native habitats. She co-founded the NOVA Tree Rescuer program and spent several years coordinating volunteers to protect our tree canopy. We'll learn interesting facts from Heidi as we look for vernal pools, bellwort, wild azaleas, Christmas ferns, Virginia spring beauties, trout lilies, skunk cabbage and different varieties of club moss while walking along Little Difficult Run. Thanks to NVHC member/Crabtree volunteer Margaret Coffey for helping with this event.
DETAILS: We'll do a 2 mile slow-paced guided loop with Heidi in Fred Crabree Park from 9:00-10:30. It is mostly flat, with a small hill. Trails are natural surface. Option for an additional 2.5-3 miles at a moderate pace on other trails within Crabtree Park. There is one stream crossing over large rocks in this second section.
LIMITED PARKING: Please note that due to limited parking at Fred Crabtree Park and the preference of our nature guide for a smaller group, this hike will be limited in size. Please only sign up if you are fairly certain that you're able to attend. Thank you.
RESTROOMS: One porta-potty
FEES: No fee
DOGS: No dogs allowed on this one
12 attendees
C&O Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls, MD (Rating: B)
10801 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, Ma, 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.
9 miles with 400 feet elevation gain.
Join us for a nice hike along the scenic Potomac River and adjoining forests of C&O Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls, Maryland.
Description:
We'll start our hike traveling on Burma Road from Anglers Parking lot and proceed to connect to the Gold Mine loop trail to include the Gold Mine Overlook. Once completing that trail, we will then connect to the towpath and head to the River Trail for a short but scenic loop along the Potomac. After that we travel to Potomac Overlook on Olmsted Island for some great views of Great Falls and the cascading water. After reconnecting to the towpath we'll hike back to the parking lot. The route is mostly level with a couple of short elevations in the forest.The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots in the forest. Restrooms are open near the Tavern visitor center and at Anglers parking area. We'll stop about halfway through for lunch/snack at Tavern Visitor Center.Meet:
We will meet in front of the restrooms at Anglers parking. Do not park across the street at Old Anglers Inn.
Please plan on being there at 9:15am so we can get everyone signed in and start the hike on time.Dogs are welcome.
Dog Policy https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Please note that dogs are not allowed on the Olmsted Island boardwalk, so if you bring your dog, you will have to wait for us at the entrance to Olmsted IslandMap of Hiking Trails at Great Falls, Maryland:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/Great-Falls-Hiking-Map.pdfDirections to
Anglers Parking – C&O Canal Trust
The parking lot has lower and upper parking areas.
10801 MacArthur Blvd.
GPS 38.98198, -77.22638Any questions, please message me on Meetup or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
30 attendees
Past events
4768
