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
15
Budweiser Clydesdales at Frying Pan Farm Park (Rating: D)
Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, 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.
The famous BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES are here! They'll be staying at Frying Pan Farm for a few weeks and performing in DC's July 4th parade. Frying Pan is the oldest working farm in Fairfax County featuring pigs, lambs, cows, horses, chickens and turkeys. The meeting house c. 1791 was used for town meetings and religious services, a Civil War Hospital and is on the National Historic Register. Another fun fact: for over a decade the Thanksgiving turkeys granted presidential pardons were sent to Frying Pan Park in Herndon to live on in peace. Frying Pan is also home to Spirit Equestrian Therapeutic Riding. *Please note that although there's a very good chance, there's no guarantee that we will see the horses outside. They do have windows in the barn where they're staying.
We will walk through the farm to see the animals, take the nature trails behind the farm with a small waterfall, then walk on neighborhood trails to Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park.
HIKE: 5 mile flat loop hike on dirt and paved trails with some neighborhood sidewalks and street crossings at the light. There is a pylon water crossing. Pace is 2.5-3 mph while moving. Please make sure you are comfortable with this moderate to brisk pace.
MEET: Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon. Please arrive by 8:15am at the Visitor Center parking lot so we can check everyone in and start hiking at 8:30am. If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide your full name, cell phone number and emergency contact number. You can message me on Meetup or text me at my cell phone listed below. This will save time getting folks signed in.
FEES: Please bring $2 in small bills. The park now charges a $30 group fee for 12 people and up. If we have under 12, there's no fee.
RESTROOMS: There are restrooms behind the Visitor Center that should be open before our hike. There are additional restrooms near the Carousel on the other side of the farm.
DOGS: No dogs please due to visiting farm animals
LEADER: Kris N. 618-623-2484
31 attendees
Goats and Horses - Gabrielson Garden Park Reston/Oakton (Rating: C)
Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Dr, Reston, 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 7.5-mile hike with 600 feet of elevation gain through the woodlands of Reston and Oakton. On the hike we'll pass horse paddocks and may even see a group of curious goats. This is one of my favorite sections of the Cross County Trail and probably the least traveled. Thanks to Tom Underwood for the photo.
We'll start at the Walker Nature Center and pick up the Cross County Trail (CCT) for an out and back of the northern half of CCT Section . Our turn will be at Gabrielson Garden Park,
Park on Glade Road so the Nature Center parking lot can be kept open for the Center's pre-school activities and drop-offs.We hike at a pace of approximately 2.5 mph while moving. You must be experienced with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leader: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/gabrielson-garden-goats-horse-steve-frith-4cc5400?u=i&sh=iypgzx27 attendees
DC 250 (Rating: C)
Theodore Roosevelt Island Parking, Theodore Roosevelt Island Park, 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.
7.1 miles with an elevation gain of 282 feet.
Description: DC250: July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence-- a celebration of the people, by the people, for the people.
We will begin our visit of DC in festive mode, from the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot. heading over the Key Bridge. From here we will enjoy a leisurely walk along the Georgetown Waterfront towards the Kennedy Center.
Once inside, we will go up to the Terrace Level which allows one to see a panoramic view of Washington DC.From there we will take the pedestrian walk way to the Lincoln Memorial.
The newly re-done Reflecting Pool is the centerpiece on our way to the Washington Monument which offers a view of the entire Mall in both directions.
From there we head back to the Lincoln Memorial along the Reflecting Pool and over the Memorial bridge to the Mount Vernon Trail back to Roosevelt Island.Facilities: Kennedy Center and along the Mall.
Pace: The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
Bring: adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes and hiking poles if you use them.
Fee: None
Dogs: Dogs are not welcome. NVHC Dog Policy
Weather: weather for this location is HERE.
Wher
e to Meet: Meet at the Roosevelt Island parking lot at 9:00 to allow everyone to get signed in and ready to hike at 9:30 am. The Hatchback of my Honda Fit will be up.By Metro: Roosevelt is a 10-15 minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro station toward the Key Bridge. A short paved connecting trail leads downhill to the Roosevelt parking lot. A small green sign indicating Roosevelt Island at 0.25 mile on the right.
By Car: Drivers can only reach Theodore Roosevelt Island from the Virginia side of the river in the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. After Memorial Bridge, follow the signs and turn right into the parking lot.
Coordinates: 38.8958415°N, -77.0624191°W
Feel Free to reach out via text with any questions, Dawn K 703 533 9231 If you do text me, thank you for including your name.
20 attendees
Lubber Run - Bon Air - Bluemont (Rating: C)
Lubber Run Community Center, 300 North Park Drive, Arlington, VA, USWAIVER REQUIRED: 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: A 6-mile urban hike will take us through the Lubber Run Park, Bon Air Rose garden, Bluemont and Glen Carlyn parks, and Arlington neighborhood streets. We will be on natural trails for less than a mile; the rest of the time we will be on paved bike trails and sidewalks. We'll have a snack/restroom break part way through. There will be a few hills and some stairs.
Along the way, we'll see a beautiful stream, a large rose garden, and other gardens in bloom.
WHERE TO MEET: We will meet *inside* the Lubber Run Community Center, near the vending machines/restrooms (there is a large lobby area near the information desk).
There is a garage with free parking (up to 4 hours).
DISTANCE: 6 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 400 feet
PACE: Our average moving pace will be between 2.5 and 3.0 miles per hour.
DOGS: Dogs on a leash are welcome in accordance with NVHC pet policy (https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy). (If you plan to have a dog, let me know; we may need to meet you outside.)
20 attendees
Past events
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