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
30
Paw Paw Tunnel Maryland (Rating: A)
Dulles Town Center Park and Ride, 21000 Atlantic Blvd, Sterling, 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.
A scenic 12 mile hike with 1400’ elevation gain through the historic, 3118’ long Paw Paw Tunnel, on the C&O canal in Maryland. The hike includes:
• Tunnel bypass trail
• Abandoned old roads
• Abandoned Western Maryland railbed
• Some moderate bushwhacking ~ 1 mile
• Views of the Potomac River and Chessie RR from bluffs 500 feet above the Potomac
• Abandoned RR tunnel
• Finishing with a passage through the 3118’ long Paw Paw TunnelWe hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while moving.
Most will prefer a flashlight for the tunnel but that is not necessary.
No dogs permitted on this hike.
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-paw-paw-tunnel-trail-d846e38?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
Leaders: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
NVHC hiker Duncan Thompson will assist in guiding us through this route.
Carpools: Plan to arrive at the Dulles Town Center Park and Ride at 7:15am we will depart at7:30am. The leader will be at the carpool location. Suggested carpool fee is $12.
GPS Coordinates: 39.034079, -77.430102 https://goo.gl/maps/Lj1uBdayGR9GTS7VAMeet at the Paw Paw Tunnel trailhead at 9:15am hike starts at 9:30am, GPS coordinates: 39.544404, -78.460837 https://goo.gl/maps/9VyHScQuGirJRVhZ7
Driving time to trail head from the carpool location: 1 hour 40 minutes.
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.
18 attendees
State of Virginia Arboretum/Blandy Experimental Farm (Rating: D)
Gainesville Park and Ride, Virginia, 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.
5.5 miles with approximately 200 feet elevation gain.
This hike will be completely up to mother nature but,
experience a 300 hundred tree Gingko grove which should be approaching or at peak during this time.Description:
The State Arboretum of Virginia stands in the central 172 acres of Blandy Experimental Farm, and surrounds the historic Quarters building. Come explore the labelled tree and shrub collections that date back the early 1930’s from all over the world. Wandering through these remarkable plantings makes you feel as if you’re travelling through a foreign forest. Walk through the largest Conifer collection in the Southeast. Stand under our many towering Virginia State Champion trees. Browse America’s largest boxwood library and stroll down a Cedar of Lebanon Allee.
There will be plenty of opportunities for photos!Hiking Pace:
About 2.0 mph, to take in the sights.There are restrooms near the parking area.
Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Bring:
Water/hydration, snacks, and comfortable walking shoes.CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, meet at University Blvd - Gainesville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 8am to arrive at the trailhead in time to get signed in and start hiking at 9am.
A new Sheetz has opened in the Park & Ride, this would be a good meeting point. New Stable Way, directly across from the Sheetz store.
GPS 38.801119, -77.589532Neither 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: $5.00 per rider. Driving time from Gainesville Park & Ride to State Arboretum of Virginia is about 40 minutes.
Please DM me if you plan on meeting at the Gainesville Park & Ride. Don't message if you plan on driving directly to the trailhead.
Attendees are encouraged to contact one another to arrange an alternate car pool location that works for them.If you are driving directly to the Arboretum, please be there a few minutes before 9am so we can get everyone signed in.
Please note: The hike starts at the parking lot at the Arboretum at 9am. If you plan on carpooling from Gainesville Park & Ride, plan to leave there at 8:00am.
Parking:
If entering Blandy from Route 50, simply follow the paved road to the information kiosk and main parking area on the right. If that area is full, extra parking is available in the grassy field marked 'visitor and bus parking'. NOTE: We will not be parking near the Gingko Grove, we will walk to the Gingko Grove from the main parking area. GPS 39.06441, -78.06426
Blandy address is 400 Blandy Farm Way, Boyd, VAFee: No fee
Click here to get driving directions from your address to Blandy Experimental Farm.
Optional rehydration TBD.
Any questions, please message me here or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
43 attendees
Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park ( Rating:D)
Edwards Landing Park, 901 Powhatan Court Northeast, Leesburg, 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 ~5mile hike with an elevation gain of 600' on various trails in the Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/balls-bluff-battlefield in Leesburg, VA. We will stop half way for a short snack break. We hike at a pace of 2.5 mph while moving.This is the site of one of the largest Civil War engagements in Loudoun County. Major sites at Ball's Bluff include a cemetery, which is the third smallest national cemetery in the United States. Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park also features an interpretive trail, signage and an amazing view of the bluff itself, overlooking the Potomac River.
We will start Edwards Landing Park.Leader: Nancy 703-346-3218 (C)
Rating: D
Meet: 9:00am at Edwards Landing Park. GPS coordinates: 39.120075, -77.524277
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JnfJ9EURn4Z9GURC7Dogs are not permitted on this.
Carpool Fee: N/A
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
11 attendees
Bike Lane Brewery Hike - Shorter (Rating: C)
The Bike Lane, 11150 Sunset Hills Road, 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 hike runs at 8.2 miles and 380 feet elevation. We will start at the Bike Lane Brewing &Café, at 11150 Sunset Hills, Reston VA 20190, at 9.00 am. From there we will follow the W&OD trail to Sunrise Valley Avenue. There we take a left and walk for half a mile through a residential area, then hitting the Difficult Run trail on Brittenford Drive. After about a mile, the Difficult Run trail merges with the Cross County Trail. Before reaching Route 7, we will take a left turn into Carpers Farm. After crossing Carpers Farm, we get back on the Colvin Run Mill Park trail, where we will have a break (no restrooms). After the break we will hike through Colvin Run Mill Park, all the time staying close to Colvin Run. The final part of the hike takes us through Lake Fairfax Park, and then ……. back to the Bike Lane Brewery, where we can rehydrate with noble liquids, maybe sitting outside.
Most of the surface is easy going, but there are some rocky parts, especially towards the end. There are two river crossings, one on well-spaced concrete pillars and one on large and well-spaced boulders. Please make sure that you take enough supplies and that you are prepared for the weather, whatever it will be.
Pace: 2½ mph when moving.
Leader: Willem Janssen, 202-280-4397 and Steve Frith, 703-629-0174
Rating: C
Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/map-october-18-2024-7aa685b
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Trailhead: We will start at the parking lot at 11150 Sunset Hills, Reston, VA 20190
Coordinates: 38.948128, -77.330420
25 attendees
Past events
5048
