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 monthās free participation in the club events. NVHC is a nonprofit organization and donatesĀ fundsĀ to local parks and trail maintenance organizations from time to time.Ā The selection of the parks and organizations is based on club usage - it is our way of giving back. Monies vary each time -Ā $7,200 was donated in 2023.
Members are required to accept the liability disclaimer by typing āAcceptā 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 āmilesā 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)Ā
B = Moderately Difficult (10 miles or more, but less than 13 miles)Ā
C = Moderate (7 miles or more, but less than 10 miles)Ā
D = Easy (Less than 7 miles)Ā
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 RSVPād āyesā for a hike, change your RSVP to ānoā as soon as you decide not to go, so that someone else can go.
- If you RSVPād āyesā to overlapping events on the same day, decide on one as soon as possible, and change your RSVP to ānoā 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
34
Fall Three-fer (Rating: C, Fun)
Carderock Recreation Area, Carderock Recreation Area, Potomac, MD 20854, USA, Potomac, 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/Jane Doe/703-555-5555/301-666-6666"This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes.
Length: 5-6 mi. Elevation: 600 feet.
Pace: 1.5 miles per hour uphill, 2.5 downhill** Not suitable for fast paced hikers **
DESCRIPTION
Join us as we enjoy the Fall season with three activities offered in Montgomery County, MD: a hike in Black Hill Regional Park, a "pick your own" visit to forage what we can (no apples :(), and a winery visit,DETAILS
1. Fall Colors hike in Black Hill Regional Park:
Starting at the parking lot near the facilities, we will hike the Hamilton, Field Crest, Cabin Branch, and Hard Rock trails, taking in the scenery.2. "Pick your own" visit:
Next, we will drive over to the "pick your own" site at Homestead Farm located 15604Sugarland Rd, Poolesville MD (coordinates 39.111295, -77.355120)). Sorry no apples to pick but they have pumpkins and a hayride. Cost: $4 per head. They also have a produce stand where you can buy stuff already picked.3. Winery Visit:
Lastly, we will drive over to the Windridge winery to sample their Fall offerings. They are located at 15700 Darnstown Road (aka Rte. 28), Darnstown, MD. Coordinates: 39.121774, -77.325736. Lunch will be at the winery. You can either eat at the winery, or at the nearby food truck, or bring your own.WHERE TO MEET
Two options:
Option #1: Carderock Rec Area Lot #2 (or "B" the one with restrooms) at 8:00, if you want to carpool (either drive or ride). Leader will be at the carpool location. 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. Suggested carpool fee: $5.
Option #2: Trailhead at Black Hill Park at 8:30. coordinates: It will be marked Parking Lot #3, at the Discovery Center. You will need to pass Parking Lots 1 and 2 on your way. Look like the lot we need is at 39.190999, -77.292080.
DOGS permitted per NVHC dog policy https://nvhc.com
31 attendees
Sky Meadows State Park - Special Event (Rating: D Fun!)
Sheetz Gainesville, 7201 New Stable Wy, 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.
Join us for the 2nd U.S./9th Union Cavalry Living History Demonstration
Step back into Civil War cavalry history at Sky Meadows State Park.
Visitors will have the chance to view and experience a Union cavalry camp, complete with A-frame tents, a working picket line, historic replica equipment and live horses. Enjoy exploring the camp and chat with interpreters followed by a cavalry training exhibition, black-powder firing, and meet and greet with the horses. This will be a great opportunity to see how the Civil War cavalry lived and trained.Description: We will do a short 4 mile hike (360 ft elevation gain) on a few back trails before the event begins to get warmed up. After the hike, we can tour the camp and then get ready for the demonstration which is scheduled to start at 11:00am.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
Bring: Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas, and tree roots. Hiking poles if you use them.
Fee: The park fee is $10 unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass or use your REI purchase receipt parking coupon from a participating Virginia REI.
Provide your REI receipt to the contact station ranger or insert it in a self-pay envelope. If main entrance contact station is not staffed you must use the self-pay envelope provided at the gate and hang the stub on your rearview mirror.Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, meet at the new Sheetz convenience store which is at Gainesville Park & Ride. 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: $4.00 per rider. Driving time from Gainesville Park & Ride to Sky Meadows is about 30 minutes. The Sheetz at Gainesville Park & Ride is located at 7201 New Stable Way, Gainesville. GPS 38.80182, -77.58866
Park across the road from Sheetz instead of in their parking lot.
Please DM or text me if you plan on meeting at the carpool location.Sky Meadows trail map link: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-skymeadows.pdf
NOTE: The hike starts at 9:00am at the parking lot at Sky Meadows State Park. If you are carpooling from Sheetz Gainesville Park & Ride, plan on leaving there by 8:15am.
Meeting Place Instructions: We are meeting at the parking lot closest to the Visitor Center GPS coordinates 38.991732, -77.966120
This parking lot is in front of the Mount Bleak House. There is an overflow parking lot in case the main parking lot is full.
Optional rehydration at a local winery TBDš
Any questions please message me here or text/call me at 202-528-0456. If you text me please include your name.
17 attendees
Boulder Bridge Foliage (Rating: C)
Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA, 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.
(6-ish mile fitness (and some nature) loop hike on potentially slippery, rocky, and narrow trails with up to 700 elevation gain.)
It's not New England -- but a trek through Rock Creek Park in late October is one of the most enjoyable local hikes to immerse yourself in fall's fabulous colors. We'll start at the nature center and head south, turning around at Peirce Mill by the spy-storied Art Barn. If we time it right, we hope to take a lunch break at the bee-you-tee-ful Boulder Bridge! En route, be on the lookout for mushrooms, wandering warblers (migrating south), remnants of the remnants of the Capitol building stones, salamanders, and more. Our hike speed will average about 2.5 to 3 mph excluding multiple nature stops.
MEET: 9 A.M., Rock Creek Park Nature Center (temporarily closed), 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC (Just off Military Road east of Connecticut Avenue, NW) GPS: 38.959634, -77.051865
IMPORTANT NOTES: Adults only and no pets, not even pet rocks. End time will vary depending on what we see and how long we care to linger.
WEATHER: Rain cancels or postpones. Weather update will be posted here by 5 pm on 10/24.
RESTROOMS/PORTAPOTTIES: At start, turnaround point, and at least one along the hike, depending on our exact route -- which depends on trail conditions.
BRING/WEAR: Sense of humor, sense of awe, water, snack/lunch, and fully charged cell phone. Please dress for variable fall weather and potentially *MUDDY AND SLIPPERY* trails. Optional: Binoculars and iNaturalist app on cell phone.
(Free) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE APP:
https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/get-the-app.htm(Free) INATURALIST APP & WEBSITE:
https://www.inaturalist.orgROCK CREEK PARK TRAIL MAP:
https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htmNATURE CENTER:
https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htmPEIRCE MILL & ART BARN / other historic:
https://www.nps.gov/places/peirce-mill.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/places/000/peirce-barn.htm
BOULDER BRIDGE:
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/boulder-bridge.htmBIRDING IN ROCK CREEK PARK:
https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/rock-creek-park/(Free) GAIA MAP APP:
https://www.gaiagps.com20 attendees
Fall Favorite: Duncan Knob & Strickler 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.
Fun scrambles, stunning views, and peak folliage make this one of my favorite hikes. This 10.3 mile "lollypop" loop hike has side excursions to Duncan Knob and Strickler Knob, 2 of the best viewpoints in the George Washington National Forest. There will be about 2,300' of elevation gain, so this hike has a DIFFICULTY RATING of A (10 pts distance + 5 pts elevation = 15). The Scothorn Gap Trailhead (38.69143, -78.58004) is along Crisman Hollow Road/Rt #274, and is very small, so carpooling is encouraged. There is no bathroom at the trailhead, so a stop in New Market or Front Royal (depending how you come) may be advised.
We start out on the Scothorn Gap Trail (Yellow) going clockwise around the loop until we get to the Gap Creek Trail (Blue) and our first side trail up to Duncan Knob. This side trail is an extensive rock scramble (not suitable for dogs). We will continue over the ridge until we meet the Massanutten Trail (Orange), which will take us along the valley until we climb up to the unofficial Strickler Knob Trail (Pink). We will have lunch there and then return to Massanutten Trail (Orange), which will take us back to the Scothorn Gap Trail, and our vehicles. Lunch will be on the late side, so please bring a snack.
I hike at around 2.5 MPH pace and stop at all trail crossings and photo points. I don't recall any difficult stream crossings, although it has been muddy in the past.
CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, we will meet at the Centerville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 7:00AM to arrive at the trailhead by 8:45, in time to get signed in and start hiking by 9:00 AM. As hike leader, I will be at the carpool location.
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: $9.00 per rider. Driving time from the Centerville, VA Park & Ride to the trailhead is about 1hr 35 minutes.
NOTE: Times listed are to and from the Centerville Park & Ride.
The hike will start at 9:00am from the Scothorn Gap Trailhead (38.69143, -78.58004) along Crisman Hollow Road/Rt #274.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy, but they will keep you from getting to the 2 viewpoints due to rock scrambles. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Caroline Steinberg (703.489.1315)
Rating: A (Please NOTE, this is a DIFFICULTY RATING, be sure you are able to handle a hike of this difficulty including high comfort level with rock scrambles.)
Map for hike: Alltrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/ad8nfternoon-hike-2668a71
20 attendees
Past events
5030
