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
Emerald Pond - Massanutten South (Rating : B)
Centreville Park and Ride, 14700 Lee Highway, 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.
This 8.5 mile with 1,600 feet elevation gain in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. We begin at the now closed and torn down Massanutten Visitor Center parking lot at New Market Gap and then utilize the Massanutten South and Bird Knob trails. A small pond about midway provides a pretty spot for lunch. We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while 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)
Park Entry Fee: $0
Carpools: Plan to arrive at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:15am. Carpools depart at 7:30am. Suggested carpool fee is $10. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836038, -77.455371. https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Driving time to trailhead from carpool location: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Arrive at the trailhead at 9:00am hike starts at 9:15am Meet at the parking lot of the old Massanutten Visitor Center (now torn down) GPS Coordinates: 38.642621, -78.611218 https://goo.gl/maps/GFpkeLKNkshFMxv4A
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/custom-routes/bird-knob-emerald-pond-shorter-version-da40657?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain. There is significant uphill in the first couple of miles. This hike has some steep uphill.
30 attendees
Bike Lane Brewery Reston to Colvin Run Mill (Rating: B)
The Bike Lane (new shop location), 11150 Sunset Hills Rd, 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 enjoyable hike with wooded trails and a brewery/cafe at the end. The hike is about 9.2-miles with 450 feet of elevation. We'll start at the Bike Lane Bicycle Shop and Brewery and hike through Lake Fairfax Park and the Colvin Run trail. The route will be a "lollipop" with a loop in Lake Fairfax and an "out and back" along Colvin Run to the Mill where we'll take our break.
This hike has a permit fee. I will need to collect $2.00 from everyone at the beginning of the hike. Small bills only please.
Colvin Run Mill is in Great Falls, Virginia. Built c. 1811, Colvin Run Mill is the sole surviving operational 19th-century water-powered mill in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and its restored mechanism is a nationally significant example of automated technologies pioneered in milling and later adopted across American industry. (Wikipedia)
You must be experienced with hikes of this length and elevation gain. We hike at a pace of approximately 2.5 mph while moving.
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: $2.00
Map for hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/kalxDAAu7vp12fnDBX2UPup938 attendees
South Run to Burke Lake Loop (Rating: C)
South Run Field House, 7550 Reservation Dr., Springfield, 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:
This is 8 mile walk mostly in the shade and on partially paved wide trails from South Run Park to and around Burke Lake. The route is mostly flat with a mix of paved and dirt trails on this hike (250 ft elevation gain.) We will walk 2.5 to 3.0 mph when moving with a brief break (restrooms / snack) about 3/4 of the way.No park entrance fee.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration. Snacks/lunch. You may want to bring insect repellent and sunscreen. Most of the hike is in the forest canopy other than a couple of short sections.Dogs are welcome. Dogs are welcome on the hike (see the NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy )
MEET AT THE END OF THE PARKING LOT - NEAR GREEN ROOF FIELDHOUSE BUILDING - see map below.
GPS: 38.74676, -77.27376
If there are any impacts to parking at the Fieldhouse due to events, we'll park by the Rec Center and walk down.Please arrive a few minutes early to get signed in. We start promptly at 9:00 am
South Run Field House has restrooms. There will also be a restroom about 3/4 of the way.Post-hike rehydration TBD
Trail Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/burke-lake-via-south-run-district-park?If you have any questions, please message me on Meetup or text me at 202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
35 attendees
Restorative Hike - Lake Mercer (Rating: D)
South Run Field House, 7550 Reservation Dr., Springfield, 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:
This walk is intended for slower hikers, especially those who might be getting back into hiking or recovering from injuries or recent surgery. We will be doing a slow walk (4.2 miles, 183 feet of elevation gain, pace approximately 2-2.5 MPH) entirely on paved or gravel trails around Lake Mercer. The group will stay together and no one will be dropped. Faster hikers are welcome if they are ready for a very leisurely walk. Please be sure you understand and are accepting of the slower pace.NOTE: There is an 8 mile C hike starting from the same location but at 9 AM. If the end time of both hikes coincide, we may join together for group refreshments or lunch at a nearby restaurant.
No park entrance fee.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration and a snack.Please no dogs on this hike
MEET AT THE END OF THE PARKING LOT - NEAR GREEN ROOF BUILDING - see map below.
If there are any impacts to parking at the Fieldhouse due to events, we'll park by the Rec Center and walk down. South Run Rec Center has restrooms.Please arrive at 9:15 to sign in. We start promptly at 9:30 am.
Post-hike rehydration TBDTrail Map:
Lake Mercer Park Loop, Virginia - 1,856 Reviews, Map | AllTrailsIf you have any questions, please message me on Meetup.
17 attendees
Past events
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