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
18
Appalachian Trail In Northern MD (Rating: C / B)
High Rock Trailhead Parking - MD AT, Pen Mar High Rock Road, Smithsburg, MD, USDisclaimer
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.Hike description
The C version of the hike is 6.6 miles and ends when we return from tha Appalachian Trail to the High Rock Trailhead Parking Area. It has 1250 feet of elevation gain.The optional B version of this hike will then continue down to the left of the parking area, connect again to the Appalachian Trail and descend down a rocky / boulder-filled hillside followed by a return climb back up to the parking area, for an additional 1.3 miles and 560 feet of elevation gain (total 7.9 miles and 1810 feet).
We’ll start at the High Rock Trailhead Parking Area off of Pen Mar High Rock Road in Smithsburg, MD, hike south on the Appalachian Trail, take a side route to see the Raven Rock Shelter and camping area, continue south to cross Raven Rock Road and reach the trail’s closest point to Buzzard Knob, and then we'll hike back to the parking area. The views on this hike are at the beginning and end, at the High Rock cliff next to where we'll park.
There is a semi-private primitive toilet at the Raven Rock Shelter. You will likely need to have your own supplies.
We’ll hike at a 2.0 to 2.5 mph pace when moving, although we may move slower on the B hillside portion.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy.
Leader: Ron Krifcher 703-856-7557 (C)
No park entry fee.
Meet
Meet at 8:30 am at the High Rock Trailhead Parking Area off of Pen Mar High Rock Road in Smithsburg, MD. GPS Coordinates: 39.695181, -77.523330.Carpools
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 a carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk. Feel free to arrange a carpool in the comment section below. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.Alltrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-94613c8?u=i&sh=r3znix
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain to join this hike.
12 attendees
Leesylvania State Park (Rating: D)
2001 Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge, 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.
6-mile hike with 470 feet of elevation gain.
Join us at Leesylvania State Park to look for wineberries and enjoy a short hike (unless you just want to eat berries).
Description: We will hike Lee's Woods trail looking for the wineberries while passing by historic sites and a great bluff overlook of the Potomac River and the Neabsco Creek areas.
We will then walk along the shore of the Potomac River until reaching the forest area of Bushy Point and Powell’s Creek where we will pause for a snack break.
There are several rolling hills but they are short and spread out.The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
There are restrooms adjacent to the parking area. Lunch/snack break about halfway through.
Bring:
Sufficient water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and good hiking shoes. . Most of the hike will be in the forest canopy. Recommend insect repellent and sunscreen. There are no stream crossings.Fee: The park fee is $10 unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass or an REI receipt from a participating Virginia REI. You may want to bring cash in case the contact station is not staffed. If the contact station is not staffed, place your fee or REI receipt in the envelope, tear off the tab and hang that from your rearview mirror.
Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Meet at the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to sign in and get ready to hike at 9:00am.
Leesylvania State Park: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/leesylvania
Trail Guide: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-leesylvania.pdf
Meeting Place Instructions: We are meeting at the far end of the parking lot past the visitor center (about 2.5 miles after entering the park). Coordinates 38.590687,-77.249670
Optional post-hike rehydration tbd.
Any questions, please message me here or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
22 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.
This is a relatively flat five-mile hike with two short hills, elevation gain is 50 feet. Hiking pace while moving is about 2-2.5 miles an hour. Part of the trail is paved. Sneakers or hiking boots, can be some mud on the trail. Bring water and, if you like, a snack. Great hike for a beginning hiker. We stop midway for a snack. Please arrive a few minutes early to take attendance.
No park entry fee.Hike leader:
Anita DeAngelis 507-990-6055No dogs permitted on this hike.
DETAILS/DIRECTIONS: We will start near the first ballfield as you enter Wakefield Park, which is the first left (following a service road) after you drive off of Braddock Road into Wakefield Park. We will meet just off the parking lot for the ball fields, on the left side. Restrooms at this parking lot should be open. There also are restrooms 1/4 mile further down the park road at the Audrey Moore Recreation Center. We will walk to and around Lake Accotink with a stop about halfway at the marina where there are restrooms and water sources. Good place for a snack, if you want to bring one.
GPS Coordinates: 38.814247, -77.224871
8 attendees
Budweiser Clydesdales at Frying Pan Farm Park (Rating: D)
Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, 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.
The famous BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES are here! They'll be staying at Frying Pan Farm for a few weeks and performing in DC's July 4th parade. Frying Pan is the oldest working farm in Fairfax County featuring pigs, lambs, cows, horses, chickens and turkeys. The meeting house c. 1791 was used for town meetings and religious services, a Civil War Hospital and is on the National Historic Register. Another fun fact: for over a decade the Thanksgiving turkeys granted presidential pardons were sent to Frying Pan Park in Herndon to live on in peace. Frying Pan is also home to Spirit Equestrian Therapeutic Riding. *Please note that although there's a very good chance, there's no guarantee that we will see the horses outside. They do have windows in the barn where they're staying.
We will walk through the farm to see the animals, take the nature trails behind the farm with a small waterfall, then walk on neighborhood trails to Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park.
HIKE: 5 mile flat loop hike on dirt and paved trails with some neighborhood sidewalks and street crossings at the light. There is a pylon water crossing. Pace is 2.5-3 mph while moving. Please make sure you are comfortable with this moderate to brisk pace.
MEET: Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon. Please arrive by 8:15am at the Visitor Center parking lot so we can check everyone in and start hiking at 8:30am. If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide your full name, cell phone number and emergency contact number. You can message me on Meetup or text me at my cell phone listed below. This will save time getting folks signed in.
FEES: Please bring $2 in small bills. The park now charges a $30 group fee for 12 people and up. If we have under 12, there's no fee.
RESTROOMS: There are restrooms behind the Visitor Center that should be open before our hike. There are additional restrooms near the Carousel on the other side of the farm.
DOGS: No dogs please due to visiting farm animals
LEADER: Kris N. 618-623-2484
29 attendees
Past events
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