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
19
Catlett Mountain Loop (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.
Hike Description: This is a "lollipop" hike, about 10 miles long with an elevation gain of 2,050 feet, in the Shenandoah National Park. It begins from the Old Rag Parking Area Upper Lot (the one designated for buses/trailers). From the upper lot we'll walk on the road to the Nicholson Hollow trailhead, and quickly come upon 2 water crossings (with large rocks to hop they shouldn't be difficult). We follow Nicholson Hollow Trail along the Hughes River for about 2 miles until we reach the intersection with Hannah Run Trail, where we will turn right and continue a gentle ascent. After about 1.7 miles, we will make a short descent to cross Hannah Run, followed by a short but very steep climb up to the ridge. At the top of the ridge, the Hannah Run Trail will wind through a plateau on Catlett Mountain for about a half mile and will turn right onto the Catlett Mountain Trail, which we will follow as it descends into a hollow, past a campsite and creek, and gently climb to the intersection of the Hazel Mountain Trail, where we'll turn right. We will then follow it for about a half mile to the intersection of the Hot-Short Mountain Trail, where we will turn right and descend somewhat steeply for about 2 miles back to the Nicholson Hollow Trail, where we'll turn left and follow it back to the parking area.
Leader: Randy Wood (703-475-8334)
Rating: A
Pace: Between 2.5 and 3 mph
Pets: No dogs on this hike as there are numerous stream crossings.
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride in time to depart no later than 7:30am. Suggested carpool fee is $8. The leader will not be at the carpool location. Driving time to trail head from the carpool location is about 75 minutes. Feel free to post a comment if you can offer a ride or need a ride.
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy. Centreville, VA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/b2UHNkwWYnMyR52d6
GPS Coordinates: 38.83613014358188, -77.45523134440845Trailhead: Old Rag Parking (Upper Lot designated for buses/trailers)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BCzG3Nd236YSjQ3t5Hike Start Time: 9AM
Park Entry Fee: $30 or National Park Pass
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.
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.
9 attendees
Beaverdam Reservoir Park- Loudoun County (Rating: C)
Beaverdam Reservoir Park, 22211 Water Vis Dr,, 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 is a 7.75 mile hike with 250 feet of elevation gain around Beaverdam Reservoir in the Brambleton/Ashburn area of Loudoun County. At the halfway point we will stop for a snack break. Trails may be muddy.
GPS Coordinates for Reservoir Park: 39.003061, -77.535332
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EUJMVEAaVHP7gwA5A
Meet at the parking lot near the Visitor Center.Google Maps may try to take you into the park on Alford Rd, do not go that way you cannot get in that way as it is gated. From the main road you need to turn where the sign says NRPA then continue straight in past the ballfield parking lot until you see the entrance sign to Reservoir Park, then follow to Visitor Center.
We hike at a pace of 2.5 to 3.0 mph while moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy.
https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyLeader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
AllTrails Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-may-5-2025-72cad9e?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
37 attendees
Manassas Gap to Whiskey Hollow Shelter (Rating: A+; **Fast**)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USREQUIRED: 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 a morning workout. The hike is about 14.0 miles with 2900 feet elevation gain in TWM. We start from AT at Rt 55, go through Thompson Wildlife Management Area toward the Whiskey Hollow shelter.
We hike at a pace of 3+ mph when moving. This is considered a fast hike. You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, elevation gain and speed.Leaders: Xiaobin 857-408-1070
The hike leaders will meet at the trailhead at 8:00AM.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 45 minutes. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7:15AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 7:15AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $5.
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: Parking area off 55 and Tucker Ln in Linden at 8:00AM
GPS Coordinates: 38.91129532513492, -78.05302182206734 https://goo.gl/maps/at1tsgKKYyhLNWP3A
Park Entry Fee: $0Rating: A+
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Hiking Map: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13dk7CIigQaiLI_ql-ZMB0jpug5wt4A1H/view?usp=sharing
2 attendees
Elizabeth Furnace to Strasburg Reservoir (Rating: A)
Elizabeth Furnace, Fort Valley Road (Route 678), Fort Valley, 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 a hike starting at Elizabeth Furnace and following the Tuscarora Tr over Green Mountain and looping around Strasburg reservoir before retracing out steps back to the cars. Lunch will be at the reservoir.
Need to Know Information:
*Hike Starts: 9:00 AM (Please arrive a 8:45AM to sign in)
*Distance: 11.2 miles
*Elevation gain: 2,300 feet elevation gain
*Pace: Moderate Pace of 2.0-2.5 mph when moving.
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.
*TRAILHEAD Location: 38.927862, -78.329459 https://maps.app.goo.gl/NpwkXiwRrW2JzsNw9 Elizabeth Furnace recreation area rear parking lot
*Park Entrance Fee N/A
*CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, feel free to use the comment section to organize.
*AllTrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/elizabeth-furnace-to-strasburg-reservoir-60ad838Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
*Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leaders: Becky M. 703-229-9699 and David C. 571-643-389720 attendees
Past events
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