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
29
Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve (Rating: C)
Occoquan commuter lot, 1325 Old Bridge Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22192, USA, Woodbridge, VA, USDetails
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.
This is 8.66 mile hike with 604 feet of elevation gain.
Join me in exploring this tucked away gem in Stafford County. Crow's Nest is, simply, a beautiful place and considered highly significant from numerous standpoints. Topography is varied, with the high narrow ridgeline rising 160 feet above two tidally influenced creeks: Potomac and Accokeek. The peninsula is deeply dissected on both its northern and southern flanks by a series of deep ravines cutting into ancient coastal plain marine sediments and feeding tidal marshes along the bordering creeks. The hyperlink to the hike https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/crow-s-nest-natural-area-preserve-nvhc-458f6cb?u=i&sh=pcotzb
Hiking Pace: Pace will be about 2.5 mph while moving.
Leader: Schenell Agee 540.207.7128 (C)
One Porta Johns is available at the trailhead start.
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 Thursday – Sunday, 8 am – 5:30 pm.
Trailhead Meeting Location: 81 Raven Road Stafford, VA 22554 (804) 786-7951
GPS Coordinates: 38.36212° N, 77.34232° WAccess to the park via Raven Rd. You will drive approximately 1.5 miles once you enter Raven Road on a narrow gravel road. Speed limit: 5 mile per hour, as the road is used for two-way traffic. We will meet at the Raven Road entrance trailhead. Look for a Dark Brown Toyota Highlander.
Post hike rehydration TBD
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
PETS - Pets are permitted at Crow’s Nest Preserve. All dogs must be on a leash. Please clean up after your pet. Pets may not be left unattended at any time.Recommendations:
Insect repellent, snack/lunch, adequate hydration/2 liters of water. I recommend sturdy hiking boots/shoes and poles if you normally use them.Any questions, please message me or call 540.207.7128. If you text me, please include your name.
Park Entrance Fee:
$0.00 | There is very limited parking (18 vehicles) at the start of the trailhead.Carpool Parking Lot: 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.
Hikers will depart the carpool lot by 8:00 AM. It's about a 45-minute to one hour drive from the Occoquan Commuter Lot to Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve depending upon traffic. Suggested carpool fee is $4. Hike leader will meet the group at Crow’s Nest Preserve trailhead at 8:45AM.9 attendees
Emerald Pond + Chips/BBQ (Rating : B + Fun)
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 is a 3-part event. By signing up, you must be able to complete the first part (the hike) at a relatively fast pace so those opting for part 2 will have time for the full experience.
Part 1: 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 a brief admiration.We need to complete this hike no later than noon, so the hiking speed will be about 3 mph when moving. This is not as fast as my normal hikes but still considered a relatively faster B-level hike.
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, elevation gain and speed.Part2 (optional): Route 11 potato chip factory
After the hike, those interested will carpool to the Route 11 chip factory (about 15-20 minutes drive). We will get there when they are cooking so we will see chip making in action as well as sample some chips. Hopefully they will have the seasonal sweet potato chips for sample/purchase at this time.Part3 (optional): Triple Crown BBQ
After returning from the potato chip factory and getting back to the cars at the trailhead, we will head back to Luray (which is on the way going back to Northern Virginia) and make a stop at the little BBQ trailer to have lunch or pack some delicious meat to go for later to enjoy with the potato chips.Leader: Xiaobin 857-408-1070
The hike leader will meet at the trailhead at 8:30AM.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 1 hour 30 minutes. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7:00AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 7:00AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $10.
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.Trailhead: The old Massanutten Visitor Center (now torn down) at 8:30AM
GPS Coordinates: 38.642621, -78.611218 https://goo.gl/maps/GFpkeLKNkshFMxv4APark Entry Fee: $0
Rating: BDogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Hiking Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/bird-knob-emerald-pond-shorter-version-da40657?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
14 attendees
Workhouse Hike & Author Event: Veterans in the Age of Incarceration (Rating: C)
Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Wy, Lorton, 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 this 6.5 mile hike and optional book talk. History professor at Virginia Tech, Jason Higgins discusses his award-winning book Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration with a book signing to follow the talk. Higgins traces the lifelong effects of war, inequality, disability, and mental illness, and explores why hundreds of thousands of veterans, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, were caught up in the carceral system. The book talk will run from 12:00pm to about 12:40pm, upstairs in Building W-16. You are welcome to bring a snack into the talk, purchase food there, or visit Bunnyman Brewing Cafe after the talk.
If you have someone who would like to join for the author talk, they are welcome to meet us after the hike.This 6.5 mile hike will explore some of the less-traveled trails of the Workhouse/Lorton Prison past abandoned structures including the Slaugherhouse and Dairy, connecting to the Cross County Trail and Giles Run Trail. These trails run between the Workhouse and Lorton Reformatory. The 3,200 acre Lorton complex began as a prison farm for nonviolent offenders called the Occoquan Workhouse, and grew into seven different facilities. It was one of the few prisons in the US to include Minimum, Medium, Maximum, Super Max, Youth and Women's facilities. The 91 year prison history includes the suffragists who were arrested and force-fed after picketing the White House for the right to vote, the National Nike Missile Site used during the Cold War, and Vietnam War protesters held here after the 1967 March on the Pentagon. Celebrities including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald performed for prisoners and guards as part of a local Jazz Festival. By the 70's, this "Prison of Terror" was considered one of the most violent and overcrowded in the country. It closed in 2001.
This hike will be on paved, gravel and dirt switchback trails, with a minor stream crossing. Please make sure you are comfortable with the distance, elevation and pace of 2.5-3 mph. Post-hike rehydration for those who are interested at Bunnyman Brewing, located within the Workhouse campus.
Distance: ~ 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~ 400 feet
Hike pace: ~ 2.5-3 mph when moving
Restrooms: Bunnyman Brewing Cafe has a restroom that will be open
Entrance fee: None
Dogs: Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Kris N. (618) 623-2484How to get there: From I-95 South, exit 163. At the end of the exit ramp take a right onto Lorton Rd. Follow Lorton Rd for 2.1 miles then turn left on to Workhouse Road. In 0.5 miles turn left at the sign for the Workhouse. Then take the first right and park (one of the North Parking lots). I'll be at the picnic tables across from the big green barn. Please arrive by 8:45 am so we can get everyone checked in.
35 attendees
Big Devils Stairs (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride Lot, 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 is a 10 mile hike from the boundary of SNP to a spectacular gorge. It has an elevation gain of about 2200 feet. This hike is rated A for difficulty. We start at a small parking area along Rt 625 at the Mount Marshall Trailhead. We immediately start climbing. We make a left on the Bluff Trail. Then we descend to the overlook on the Big Devils Stairs Trail for a snack/lunch before retracing our steps back to the cars.
Leader: Tracy Miller 724 967-3248 (C)
Rating: A
Pace: 2.25 to 2.5 mph
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:15am to depart by 7:30am. Suggested carpool fee is $7. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836038, -77.455371
https://goo.gl/maps/UhxfSAbcao4mCWC96Meet at the Mount Marshall Trailhead at 8:45am. GPS Coordinates: 38.7478506,-78.1940236
https://goo.gl/maps/VvgSpAddeyUPJXCy9Neither 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.
Park Entry Fee: $0.
Map for hike: Big Devils Stairs on AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-14687c8?u=i&sh=rr7xq6Driving time to trail head: 1 hour 15 minutes
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain.
19 attendees
Past events
5066
