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
16
Firefly Foray (Rating: D)
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Alexandria, 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.
[Up to 6 mile fitness and nature hike.]
THIS IS A TWO-FER: First we'll start at the Belle Haven picnic area along the paved Mt. Vernon Trail and do a roughly 3.5-mile, moderately paced hike to Jones Point Lighthouse on the Potomac River. After we return to our starting point, we'll head to the Dyke Marsh Preserve and hike slower through the marina and then along the 3/4-mile dirt trail to the end of the boardwalk and back We'll hike at about 2.5 - 3 mph when moving along most of the hike -- but on our return through the preserve, we'll stroll SUPER SLOWLY and stop often to enjoy the bulk of the fireflies in near darkness -- from roughly 9:30 to 10ish p.m.
(NOTE: There is NO guarantee that we'll see fireflies but we likely will, according to a well-known naturalist.)
*MUST-READ* IMPORTANT NOTES: PARK CLOSES AT 10 P.M. but there is no gate and the trail is still open to commuters so we don't have to rush to get back to our cars. PRACTICE SAFETY WITH YOUR FLASHLIGHT SINCE WE'LL BE WALKING IN THE DARK! Adults only. Restrooms at start and at the lighthouse. STAY RIGHT ON THE MT. VERNON TRAIL due to the bike and pedestrian traffic for everyone's safety. Adults only. No pets, not even pet fireflies.
WEATHER:
Hike likely be postponed if there is rain. Weather forecast will be posted here on Thursday by 5 p.m.
https://www.weather.gov
https://www.weather.govMEET: 7 p.m. by the restrooms on the Mt. Vernon Trail near Dyke Marsh Preserve. (Belle Haven picnic area.) Copy these GPS coordinates into Google Maps: 38.780110, -77.052038
BRING: MANDATORY FLASHLIGHT (preferably with a RED LIGHT option or cellophane cover so it doesn't interfere with the fireflies) AND MANDATORY WATER, sense of awe, and sense of humor. Optional: bug spray or long pants for mosquitos, fully-charged cell phone, and/or camera. iPhones seem useless for the firefly photos but "real" cameras and some Samsung phones seem equipped to photograph them.
MT. VERNON TRAIL MAP:
https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/upload/Mt-Vernon-Trail-map-508-2021.pdfDYKE MARSH PRESERVE:
NPS: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/dykemarsh.htm
Friends group: https://www.fodm.orgDC BOUNDARY STONES: (We’ll see the first one marking the new District of Columbia. It will disappear someday.)
https://boundarystones.orgJONES POINT LIGHTHOUSE: (One of America's last rivertine lighthouses.)
https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/jonespointlighthouse.htmNORTHERN VIRGINIA FIREFLIES: https://www.audubonva.org/news/wildlife-sanctuary-almanac-2024-june
FIREFLY CONSERVATION & RESEARCH:
(I posted this so you can learn more about protecting fireflies. I used this organization's firefly photo but it is not connected to our event.)
https://www.firefly.org27 attendees
Devils Nose, WV (Rating: A)
Dulles Transit Center Park and Ride, XHG8+GGG, dulles, 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 9 mile hike with 1900’ of elevation gain In the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia. The hike will begin at Spruce Pine Hollow Park in West Virginia. We will take portions of the Tuscarora and Maverick Trails to the Devils Nose. From there we will make our way to a stream crossing and a beautiful creek side lunch spot and then return. Several miles of the hike will be on dirt roads. We hope to catch the rhododendrons in full bloom.
We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while moving.
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy.
Carpools: Meet at the Dulles Transit Park and Ride at 7:15am, carpools leave at 7:30am. GPS Coordinates: 38.976317, -77.433659, https://maps.app.goo.gl/5VB71QdWsy9KjGZi8. Go to the end of Pacific Blvd and turn left into the Park and Ride lot.
Suggested carpool fee is $10. **The leader will be at the carpool location.** Driving time to the trailhead from the carpool location ~1 hour 40 minutes.If you are meeting at the Spruce Pine Hollow Park be there at 9:00am, hike starts at 9:15am GPS coordinates: 39.63281, -78.10743
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rssm2uLkEagjfRfu9There is no real parking lot, just park in some dirt area.
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.
Driving time to trail head from the carpool location: 1 hour 30 minutes.
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-devils-nose-2016-06-22-feab05a?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
**You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.**
30 attendees
Burke Lake Hike (Rating: D) – Beginners Welcome
Burke Lake Entrance, 7201 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, Fairfax, VA, USMonday, June 22, 2026
9:00AM-11:30AM
Arrive 8:45AMYou 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.
BASICS: This hike is a good recovery from injury or beginning hike, though it will be at 2.5 mph. It is about 5 miles with little elevation change. Pace will be about 2.5 miles an hour when moving. This is a loop around the lake, so once you start you will need to complete the loop.
Please arrive by 8:45AM so we can all register and begin promptly at 9:00 AM.
There are restrooms a short distance from the parking lot at the marina.
Bring water and a snack. We will probably stop half way near the heron rookery. We’re not sure if there is still activity there or not but you may choose to bring binoculars just in case.DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the parking lot near the Marina. Enter the park at the Burke Lake Park Entrance on Ox Road (Route 123). If using a GPS to find the park, just key in "Burke Lake Park." After entering the park, go straight following the road as it curves right and goes into the marina parking lot. This will be the first parking lot (not counting some parking along the side of the road) that you come to. We will at the area soon after entering the parking lot. (GPS Coordinates: 38°45'36.2"N 77°18'09.0"W )
Sign in for hike at 8:45AM at the red Prius. Sharon will have the clipboard.
Leaders:
Joanne Arnold 571-213-0216
Sharon Morris 571-215-651725 attendees
Past events
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