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
27
Greenbrier State Park to Annapolis Rocks (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 trip.
This is a 9.5 mile hike with 1700 feet elevation gain. We will start at the Maryland Greenbrier State Park parking lot by the lake/Visitor Center, walk around the lake then take the Bartmans Hill trail up to the Appalachian (AT). We will follow the AT north to Annapolis Rocks for the view and lunch and then return to the cars.
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 Dulles Town Center Park and Ride at 7:15am carpools leave at 7:30am, GPS Coordinates: 39.034079, -77.430102, https://goo.gl/maps/Drvzn7wmu76vnmgR6 . Suggested carpool fee is $7. **The leader will be at the carpool location.**
Driving time to the trailhead from the carpool location 1 hour 10 minutes.
If you are going to the trailhead, meet at the parking lot by the lake near the Visitor Center at arrive at 8:45 am hike starts at 9:00am, Parking GPS Coordinates: 39.536071, -77.618210
https://goo.gl/maps/dPQGy1zsaCVbrYuw5Park Entry Fee: The fee booth will be closed. You will need to pay with credit card.
Maryland residents $3/car
Out-of-state residents $5/car**Free with a Maryland State Park pass but you will have to go into the camp store near the fee booth to get a card from them that allows you to tap to get in for free unless you already have a state park card that allows you to tap to get in.**
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.
Alltrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/greenbrier-state-park-annapolis-rocks-8123b78?u=i
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain..
25 attendees
Route 50 to Whisky Hollow Shelter via AT (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA 20120, USA, Centreville, VA, USThis is a 9 mile out and back hike along the Appalachian Trial with about 1,700 in elevation gain. We'll head south for about 4.5 miles to Whisky Hollow Shelter and have lunch. Then we'll head back the way we came.
We'll be hiking at a 2-2.5 MPH.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 permit
ted on the hike.GPS Coordinates for trailhead: 39.01843, -77.96848
Leader: Dick Pregent, 703-587-2359
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
For those wishing to carpool, the suggested carpool location is at the Centerville P&R. The driving time from there to the trailhead is about 45 minutes. Please arrive at the Park and Ride by 7:45 AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 8:00. AM. Suggested carpool fee is $5.
Hike leader will not be at the carpool location.Please arrive at the trailhead 15 minutes before 9:00 AM so we can get everyone signed in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00 AM. There are port-a-pottys at the trailhead.
PLEASE NOTE: 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.20 attendees
Fairfax CCT - Oakmont to Gabrielson Garden (Rating: B)
Oakmont Recreation Center, 3200 jermantown rd, oakton, 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 enjoyable 10 mile Hike with 450 feet of elevation gain along Section 7of the Fairfax Cross County Trail. We'll hike through the woodlands of 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.
Meet in the parking lot on the left upon entering Oakmont Recreation Center. Most of this hike will be along Difficult Run. We will hike to Gabrielson Garden Park., where we will stop for a brief snack before turning around and returning. Most of the hike is on trails, except for a short asphalt section and a short section along a neighborhood streets.
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: $0.00Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/connolly-cross-county-trail-lawyers-road-and-oak-marr-rec-center?sh=iypgzx&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality21 attendees
Lake Anna State Park (Rating: C)
Lake Anna Visitor Center, Visitor Center, 6014 State Park Ln, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22551, USA, Spotsylvania Courthouse, 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.
8.7 miles with 480 feet of elevation gain.
Lake Anna State Park is a beautiful park with over 15 miles of hiking trails. The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829, and mining peaked in the 1880s. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983. Common sightings include bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and egrets.
We'll combine several trails in the park to complete an 8.7-mile zig-zag loop. You'll get great views of the lake throughout the hike. Our route includes Glenora Trail, Big Woods Trail, Cedar Run Trail, Mill Pond Trail, Pigeon Run Trail, and finally the Sawtooth Trail. The hyperlink to the park is: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/lake-anna-custom-5a035ce?u=i&sh=pcotzb
Hiking Pace: Pace will be about 2.5 mph while moving.
Leader: Schenell Agee 540.207.7128 (C)
Restrooms are available at the Visitor Center, near where we begin our hike.
Recommendations:
Insect repellent, snack/lunch, adequate hydration/2 liters of water. Some sections may get muddy after heavy rain. I recommend sturdy hiking boots/shoes and poles if you normally use them.Park Entrance Fee:
$7.00/ per car -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 are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
PETS - Pets are permitted at Lake Anna State Park in enclosed areas or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please clean up after your pet. Pets may not be left unattended at any time.Lake Anna State Park Trail Guide
Meet at the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early so everyone can sign in and get ready to hike at 9:00 am. The park is open daily, dawn to dusk; the gate opens at 5 am.
Meeting Place Instructions: Lake Anna State Park, 6800 Lawyers Rd., Spotsylvania, VA 22551; Phone: 540-854-5503. Access to the park via Lawyers Rd. to State Park Ln at the park entrance. Continue on State Park Ln and follow the signs to the Visitor Center. We will meet in the parking lot. Look for a Dark Brown Toyota Highlander. GPS 38.112307, -77.831581
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ahjbvdcjA25gic5FAAny questions, please message me here or text/call 540.207.7128. If you text me, please include your name.
16 attendees
Past events
4977
