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
19
Little Devil's Stair/Piney Branch Loop
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy,, 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.
Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for transportation to or form 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.This is an 8-mile loop with 2000 feet of elevation gain. You can find a map and description of the hike at https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/little-devils-stairs-and-piney-branch-loop. Our pace will be around 2.5 mph, with pace slowing on the uphills.
The first two miles of the hike are steep, and typically wet and slippery, so please come prepared.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
The meetup for carpooling is at the Centreville Park and Ride. I will be in a gray Mazda 3. Please arrive at 7:45 for an 8:00 departure. If you plan to meet us at the trailhead, please let me know, and plan to be at the trailhead by 9:30. We will start from the parking lot near the west end of Virginia Rte. 614 (Keyser Run Road). The map coordinates for parking are 38.7309,-78.2557.
CARPOOL FEE: $4.00, paid to the driver.
Will Martyn, 703-994-909823 attendees
South River Falls (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 a 10 mile hike with 2500' feet of elevation gain. The hike takes place in the southern portion of the central section of Shenandoah National Park.
From the South River Picnic Area we will take the Appalachian Trail (AT) north past the Pocosin Cabin and then take the Pocosin Fire Road and Horse Trails past the Pocosin Mission ruins and on to South River Falls. South River falls is 83 feet high and is the third tallest in the park. There is a steep 2 mile climb with 1000' gain at the end of the hike. 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)
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:00am. Suggested carpool fee is $13. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836038, -77.455371, https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Meet at the trailhead by 9:00am, GPS Coordinates: 38.381178, -78.516972 https://goo.gl/maps/jS4H3sehRpvJQ1B16
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.
Park Entry Fee: $30 (free with park pass)
Alltrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/south-river-falls--10?u=i
Driving time to trail head: One hour 45 minutes
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.
33 attendees
Lake Front Royal to Denton Shelter via Appalachian Trail (Rating: A)
Park and Ride Access Road, Park and Ride Acc Rd, 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 about a 10-mile out-and-back hike along the Appalachian Trail with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain. We'll start near Lake Front Royal and head north on the AT. After about 5 miles we'll stop for lunch at the Denton Shelter and then head back the way we came.
Please note the earlier start time of 0800. We need to beat the heat.
Start time: 8:00 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/lake-front-royal-to-snp-boundary-via-appalachian-trail-49265d2Trailhead parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged
Trailhead: Intersection of Rte 522 and the Appalachian trail near Lake Front Royal (GPS coordinates 38.878, -78.15056)CARPOOLING: Meet at University Blvd - Gainesville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 7:00 to arrive at the trailhead in time to get signed in and start hiking at 8 am. 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/nvhcdogpolicy20 attendees
Catoctin Mountain (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USYou must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, [https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf](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 A hike of 10.7 miles and 2198 feet of elevation. This is my favorite way to hike at Catoctin Mountain Park when I want to get in a good bit of my elevation early, and end up with a nice mile downhill. It's a little different because we'll be parking at the small lot across from Park Headquarters, NOT at the Visitors Center. I'm also going with a hike start time of 8:30 to try to take advantage of the cooler morning weather.
We'll begin by doing an out-and-back to Cat Rock on the Cunningham Falls side of the road, followed by a mile to the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitors Center. Then we'll do a loop hitting Cunningham Falls, Hog Rock, Blue Ridge Overlook, Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock. Lots to see, with lunch and an optional rock scramble at Wolf Rock, and then our mile downhill back to our vehicles.
There is quite a bit of elevation on this hike and a few sustained climbs, so please make sure this is an appropriate hike for you in the summer heat! Plan for plenty of water and electrolytes. We will hike at a moderate pace of 2.5 miles and stop at all intersections.
We will meet and park at small lot across from Park Headquarters at 8:15, and start hiking promptly at 8:30.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10TK3WUZt86QCViPsF8jO39s5rVbgEymD/view?usp=sharing. If you plan to bring a dog on this hike, please contact me about the dog’s prior hiking experience.
Carpools: Meet at Centreville Park and Ride at 7:00 to leave by 7:10. Suggested carpool fee is $7.00 per rider. The hike leader will not be at the carpool location and will meet the group at the trailhead. If you would like to carpool, please mention it in the comment section to be sure someone else will be there to carpool with.
GPS coordinates for Centreville Park and Ride: 38.836080, -77.455327.
https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18Leader: Becky Reickel 301-471-3641 Note: I am unlikely to have cell service in this area.
Trailhead: Meet at the Cat Rock Trail parking lot across from Park Headquarters at 8:15 AM for our 8:30 AM start. https://maps.app.goo.gl/xXQqEGQuLSjc7hNH7
GPS coordinates: 39.625946, -77.440649
Park entry fee: $0
Rating: A
Map for hike: https://api-v5.alltrails.com/explore/recording/11212025-cat-rock-catoctin-1c52acc?p=-1&sh=zg5qvz&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
13 attendees
Past events
4914
