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
Super Sunflowers (Rating: C)
McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area, Poolesville, MD, 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.
Trek along the C&O Canal to four sunflower fields at Poolesville's renowned McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area. We’ll hike about 7-9 miles. When we're hiking around the refuge and heading to the sunflowers along the canal, we'll hike at a brisk 3-mph pace with several stops for nature. Once we’re in the fields, we’ll dawdle as we ogle the feisty flowers and take selfies galore. Maybe we’ll even see some blazing blue indigo buntings and perky yellow goldfinches perched atop the sunshine-yellow flowers. Our route is a little squishy depending on trail conditions but we will cover a big chunk of the wildlife management area in addition to the sunflower fields. Plan for up to 9 miles just in case trails are impassable on hike day.
WEATHER:
Hike will go in light rain but heavy weather will cancel. I'll post a weather update here 24 hours before the hike.BRING:
Love of sunflowers, sense of awe; sense of humor; lots of ICED water; fully charged cell phone; lunch; bug spray; sunblock; sun hat; shoes you don’t mind trekking through water or mud; optional camera and/or binoculars. DRESS FOR SELFIES!MEET:
9 am, C&O Canal Parking lot: Sycamore Landing Road at the C&O Canal
13402 Sycamore Landing Rd., Poolesville, MD. GPS coordinates: 39.074928, -77.419886IMPORTANT NOTES:
Details about the hike may have to be tweaked a week before the hike depending on our scouting expedition because we are depending on access to the refuge from a "secret" entrance along the canal that can get too overgrown to enter.) If the sunflowers peak at a very different time than past years, we might even have to change the date! There could be some high grass -- WITH TICKS! -- and some BIG PUDDLES (maybe even a minor stream crossing) so dress accordingly. Adults only and no pets, not even pet sundogs.. No restrooms except a portapotty near the start. Biobreaks possible though. Absolutely NO CUTTING of flowers.We will likely finish well before our 3 pm end time but that’s for planning purposes since we’ll lollygag a lot. (If you want to photograph before or after the hike, you might want to bring a ladder in your car for after the hike.)
Homestead Farm is nearby if you want more flowers, you-pick blackberries, or pre-picked produce. http://www.homestead-farm.net
MCKEE-BESHERS WMA:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/publiclands/central/mckeebeshers.aspx2026 SUNFLOWER MAP (NOT IN THE 2025 LOCATIONS!):
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/Sunflower-Map-2026.pdf21 attendees
Wakefield Park To Lake Accotink (Rating: D)
Wakefield Park Softball Field #8, Annandale, 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.
Forecast is HOT for Wednesday! We are starting early. Please bring enough water. There will be a break about half way with bathrooms and water. This is a relatively flat five-mile circular hike, elevation gain is minimal. Hiking pace while moving is about 2.7 miles an hour. Part of the trail is paved. Sneakers or hiking boots; can be some mud on the trail. In addition to water, bring a snack if you like. Please note the 7:45 a.m. start time and arrive early to sign in.
Thank you,
Dotty Smith 703-439-8670No dogs permitted on this hike.
DETAILS/DIRECTIONS: Drive off of Braddock Road into Wakefield Park, after a service road on the left, take the next left into a parking lot. We will start near the first ballfield. Restrooms are slightly further into this parking lot. There also are restrooms 1/4 mile further down the park road at the Audrey Moore Recreation Center.
GPS Coordinates: 38.814247, -77.224871
14 attendees
Sunflower Mystery Hike (Rating: C)
North Pole, Oslo, NOYou 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.
IMPORTANT:
Our final date is Thursday, July 16 at 11 a.m. The sunflowers will likely be slightly past peak. If you attend this hike, you PROMISE NOT TO REVEAL THE SUNFLOWER LOCATION on any social media, including Meetup.5 to 7/8ish miles hike on largely flat, sandy, wooded trails, at a moderate pace (2.5-3 mph) beginning and ending at SECRET SUNFLOWER FIELDS. Our route depends on the heat and trail conditions, but please be prepared to hike roughly 7 miles. (And, OPTIONALLY, roughly another 1ish mile around the sunflower fields to photograph them AFTER the official hike, if you like.) Please do NOT attend if you can't keep up with the group because this area is isolated.
We'll see indigo buntings and likely some other boisterous birds like summer tanagers and white-eyed vireos. And some wildflowers grow there in the sand that don't flourish in the DMV.
OPTIONAL ICE CREAM! Please join us for some of the best ice cream ever at a local dairy farm after the hike.
MUST-READ NOTE: (updated July 6): Someone asked why I require that everyone protect the location of this MAGICAL sunflower field. It’s to protect the entire magical experience from being overrun by people flying drones, blasting music, stealing sunflowers & others -- like at McKee-Beshers. I've watched what happened at Poolesville over the years after I first wrote about them for the Washington Post -- before Facebook spread everything instantaneously. Please don’t ask to attend if you will share the location on Meetup and/or other social media or if you divulge it to others who will. There are LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of other sunflower fields in MD, VA, DE, WV, PA, etc. Just Google it. Thanks so much for understanding!
MEET: Exact location will be emailed or texted to participants the night before the hike if you supply your email address or phone. For planning purposes, our hike is roughly 100 miles from the White House on the Eastern Shore. BUT EACH MEMBER WILL PROMISE *NOT* TO REVEAL THE LOCATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS WHO DO. Thanks for understanding! :)
BRING: Love of sunflowers, sense of awe, sense of humor, several bottles of water, fully charged cell phone, bug spray, and lunch or a snack. Optional: binoculars or camera. I RECOMMEND FREEZING SOME OF YOUR WATER BOTTLES HALF-WAY SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE COLD WATER. In severe heat, you have to drink enough to stay SAFE. Also recommended is an ice chest in your car with additional half-frozen water bottles.
PEAK BLOOM UPDATE: Will be updated in early July.
MISCELLANEOUS: Adults only. No pets. We'll hike on SAND trails and we could encounter some wet areas. There is one potential (but unlikely) stream crossing. Some trails may be overgrown so bring bug spray and check for ticks after the hike!
RESTROOMS: None. Stop at a restroom beforehand. Lots of "biobreak" opportunities on the hike.
WEATHER: Hike will be postponed if rain is forecast. Forecast will be posted here the day before the hike and/or emailed/texted to members.
12 attendees
Beaverdam Reservoir ( Rating: C)
Brambleton Park West, 22404 Water Vista Drive, Brambleton, VA, 20148, Ashburn, 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 hike offers plenty of water views. It's a 7.7 mile/ 212 foot elevation gain hike around Beaverdam Reservoir. Please note that we're starting at 8:30 to take advantage of the cooler morning air.
For those of you who like numbers the reservoir is 350 acres and holds between 1.3 and 1.5 billion gallons of water.
We will meet in front of the Visitors Center with hike start at 8:30 am.
The Visitor Center, with the trailhead, is new and the GPS mapping apps are still updating.
The Reservoir Park Main entrance is located within the Brambleton Community Park West Baseball field complex, accessed from Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn.
The address is 22211 Water Vista Drive Ashburn, Virginia.
The GPS coordinates are: 39.00223 N, 77.53529W.We hike at a pace of ~ 2.5 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8:45am for sign-in. Restrooms are available.Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leaders: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/reservoir-park-trail?sh=iypgzx&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality33 attendees
Past events
4889
