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
14
$20 NYC (Coney Island, Brighton Beach; Rating: C, Fun)
BWI Amtrak Station, 7 Amtrak Way, BWI Airport, MD, 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/Monster/(240)604-5555/(301)562-6666"This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes.
LENGTH: 8 mi. Elevation: Negligible PACE: 2.5 - 3.0 miles/hour
** Not suitable for fast paced hikers **
EXTERNAL RESERVATIONS: Amtrak tickets (see below) - Book EARLY to lock in the dirt-cheap fares.
Special thanks to Barbara Saffir for pointing out the Amtrak deal.
DESCRIPTION
We will take advantage of Amtrak's special Night Owl offer of $20 fares to NYC to visit, given the season, Coney Island and Brighton Beach. (The catch, and there is always one, is that we need to start in the wee hours). We will try to do most of our hiking in the morning before it gets too hot. The plan is tentative and is subject to change based on the weather forecast.PLAN
We will take Amtrak Saturday early morning. We will start our hike right away and walk the High Line Trail and by the Hudson river to Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. We may stop along the way to grab a quick pastry or croissant for breakfast. In Brooklyn, we will take the Subway to Coney Island. After the visit to Coney Island, we will walk along the beach to Brighton Beach. We will then take Subway back to Manhattan and depending on the time available, explore the sights of midtown. We will then take Amtrack back to the DC area.BREAKS
We will stop as needed for bathroom breaks and lunch/snack/pastry/coffee/tea/hot chocolate.AMTRAK RESERVATIONS
Go to Amtrak.com and under "Deals" select Night Owl. Reserve as below. Note that the departure station is assumed to be BWI (where parking is convenient and relatively cheap); you may board at alternative locations (Union Station).Adding the "flex" option (about 10% more) is recommended since it will allow you to cancel or re-schedule without penalty.
Outbound: Train 160, departing BWI at 5:43 a.m. (to NYP).
Return: Train 107 departing NYP at 6:29 p.m.
The price, as of January 28, 2026 is $44 (includes the Flex option).
CARPOOL
Not ApplicableDOGS
Not suitable due to the nature of the trip6 attendees
Signal Knob Loop (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 and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
Meetup date/time: August 29, 2026 7:45 a.m. (carpool location) or 8:45 a.m. (trailhead location)
Distance and Elevation Gain: Approximately 10 miles and 2.200 feet. You should have prior, recent experience with "A" level hikes.
Description: This is a circuit 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 great views from Buzzard Rock Overlook, Fort Valley Overlook, and Signal Knob. Signal Knob's historical significance stems from its use as a lookout point during the Civil War by both the Confederate and Union troops. We hike at a pace of ~2.5 mph while moving, slightly slower on the uphills and slightly faster on the downhills.
Carpooling: For those wishing to carpool, the suggested carpool location is at the Centreville 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 7:35 AM. Neither the Club nor the hike leader is responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed 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 $7. The hike leader will be at the carpool location.
Trailhead: Please arrive at the trailhead by 8:45 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. start at the Signal Knob Trailhead Parking Lot on Fort Valley Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652 (GPS: 38.934984, -78.319957).
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Alex Kennedy 703-310-8659
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Rating: A
Hiking Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/signal-knob-loop-trail-fb4c835-2
24 attendees
Mason Neck State Park (Rating: C)
Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point 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.
8 miles with 250 foot elevation gain.
A scenic hike at Mason Neck State Park which is situated on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. The peninsula is the site of an active heron rookery. The park also attracts several other migrating and non-migrating species of birds, including whistling swans and assorted species of duck. Bald eagles and Osprey also inhabit the area.
Description:
We'll combine several trails in the park to complete an 8 mile loop, a couple of the trails are out and back to bird viewing stands. There will be a great view of the bay area as well as a lake and marshes.Hiking Pace:
Pace will be about 2.5 mph.There are restrooms at the main picnic area as well as at the Visitor Center which is near where we begin our hike.
The hike is being limited to 25 participants to accommodate the park policy.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration (at least 2 liters), also snacks/lunch, The route is mostly level and there are no stream crossings. Some sections may get muddy after heavy rains. I recommend sturdy hiking shoes there are areas of the trail with many tree roots covered by fallen leaves.Park Entrance Fee:
$10.00 park entrance fee (no fee for state park pass holders) or use your REI purchase receipt parking coupon.
Provide your REI receipt parking coupon from a participating Virginia REI, to the contact station ranger or insert it in a self-pay envelope at the contact station.
Use the self-pay envelope to pay the entrance fee if the contact station is not open and hang the tear-off tab on your rear view mirror.Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyMason Neck Hiking Upward:
https://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/MasonNeck/Mason Neck State Park:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/mason-neckMeet at the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to be signed in and get ready to hike at 9:00am. The gate at the contact station opens at 7:00am.
Meeting Place Instructions: Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Road, Lorton, VA. Access to the park is via U.S. 1, then five miles east on Route 242 (Gunston Road) to the park entrance. Continue into the park on High Point Rd, and take a right onto Outlet Rd. toward the Visitor Center. The main picnic area veers off to the left just before the Visitor Center. We will meet at the main picnic area parking lot. GPS 38.642150, -77.197876
Any questions, please message me here or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
25 attendees
Early Bird Burke Lake (Rating: D)
Burke Lake Park, Ox Road, Fairfax Station, 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.
DETAILS: Monday's forecast is a 90 degree scorcher! Beat the heat with this early start time. This mostly shady hike is almost 5 miles with essentially no elevation change. Pace will be about 2.5-3 miles an hour when moving. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time to sign-in.
RESTROOMS: There are restrooms if you continue into the parking lot where we meet, towards the lake, by the marina.
LEADER: Kris N. (618) 623-2484
DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the parking lot near the Marina. Enter the park at the Burke Lake Park Entrance on Ox Road (Route 123). If using a GPS to find the park, just key in "Burke Lake Park." More directions are below. After entering the park, go straight following the road as it curves to the right.
FEE:
Admission to Burke Lake Park is FREE for Fairfax County residents at all times. There is no charge for out-of-county residents on weekdays, except for a few holidays during the warmer months. On the weekends from April to October and those couple of holidays, there is $12.00 a car fee for those from outside of Fairfax County.MORE DIRECTIONS:
From I-95 Take exit #160 (Route 123 North). The sign will say Woodbridge, Occoquan, and Lake Ridge. Follow 123 North (Ox Road) for 7.5 miles to the park entrance on the right. (If you see the golf course, then you have gone too far. The golf course entrance is the next right off Route 123; this is beyond the park entrance. Good place to turn around, if need be.)
From the Beltway (495) Take the Braddock Road West exit (Exit 54, VA-620) and travel approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Burke Lake Road (at Kings Park Shopping Center). Follow Burke Lake Road for 5 miles. Turn left onto Route 123 South (Ox Road). The golf course entrance is the first left off Route 123. The park entrance is the second left off Route 123.
From Route 66 Take the Fairfax County Parkway, Exit 55A (Route 286 South towards Springfield). Continue on the Fairfax County Parkway for approximately 5 miles. Take a right onto Burke Lake Road. At the next light, turn left onto Ox Road (Route 123). The golf course entrance is the first left off Ox Road. The park entrance is the second left off Ox Road.
31 attendees
Past events
4945
