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
20
Fountainhead Regional Park (Rating: B)
Location not specified yetYou 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.
Overview: This is an 8.5-mile hike with about 800 feet of elevation gain. The pace will be about 2.0 - 2.5 miles per hour.
This hike is in the “northern / southeastern” portion of the Fountainhead Regional Park. There are porta-potties / restroom facilities by the main parking lot where we meet.
Important Note: The trail could be muddy in places and there are sections in which there is no discernible trail which may require us to navigate by going from blaze to blaze in heavily wooded areas which always makes this hike interesting. There are no significant stream crossings.
Meetup: We will meet at the main parking lot at GPS 38.724916, -77.329928 no later than 8:30 AM.
Fees: There is no park entrance fee.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy.
Leader: Jim Hollis (703-927-7189… please use text)
41 attendees
Billy Goat B & C Trails, C&O Towpath - (Rating: C)
Billy Goat Trail Section C, Naval Surface Warfare Center 38.972500, -77.200000, Carderock, MD, 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.
8 miles with 450 feet elevation gain.
Let's hike Billy Goat C and the recently reopened Billy Goat B trail which has been closed for several years. One of my favorite sections, I'm glad it's back!
Let's recognize the Juneteenth holiday with beautiful hike along the scenic C&O Canal National Historical Park towpath. This trek will include a hike on Billy Goat B & C trails with great views of the Potomac River, as well as a bit of the Gold Mine trail and Burma Road. This route includes a very scenic section of the towpath.
Description:
We'll start our hike on Billy Goat C trail and hike until we connect with the C&O Canal towpath. We'll hike to Anglers Inn area for a break before we connect with Burma Road and a portion of the Gold Mine trail. After that, we're back on the towpath where we will connect to the Billy Goat B trail. After completing Billy Goat B, we'll then connect back to the towpath and return to the trailhead parking.Note: Billy Goat B and C each have a stream crossing which are fairly easily crossed by stone stepping.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots on both Billy Goat B & C.
Restrooms are available at the Carderock Picnic Area parking lot where we start as well as at Anglers Inn parking. Hiking poles may be useful if you normally use them. Recommend sunscreen and insect repellent.Trailhead:
We will meet in the Carderock Picnic Grounds parking lot in Carderock Recreation Area.
Please plan on being there at 8:45am so we can get everyone signed in and start the hike on time.Dogs are welcome.
Dog Policy https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyThere are no fees.
Map of Hiking Trails at Great Falls, Maryland:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/Great-Falls-Hiking-Map.pdfDirections to Carderock Picnic Grounds Parking at Carderock Recreation Area:
From I-495, take the exit for Clara Barton Pkwy, continue on the Pkwy until you see the exit for Carderock near the Naval Surface Warfare Center. After exiting at Carderock, you will pass under the towpath tunnel. Turn left after going under the towpath tunnel and continue into the picnic grounds parking lot.
The parking lot is also labeled with signage as Parking Lot 1.
GPS 38.97122, -77.19874Any questions, please message me here or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
32 attendees
Water's Edge - Potomac River Scenic Urban Loop (Rating: B)
Columbia Island Marina, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, 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.
10-mile loop with 413 feet elevation gain.
Description:
From Columbia Island Marina, we will connect to the Mount Vernon trail and hike to Theodore Roosevelt Island where we will do a short loop on the island and view the TR Memorial.After that, we'll cross the Potomac River on Key Bridge and take a short detour to climb up the nearby Exorcist Stairs. We will then proceed downstream along the Georgetown Waterfront Park to the Kennedy Center to admire the view from the terrace deck. We will also take our lunch break here. After the break we will hike to the Lincoln Memorial and also check out the renovated Reflection Pond. After that, we recross the Potomac on the Arlington Memorial Bridge and reconnect to the Mt Vernon trail returning to our starting point.
Pace: 2.5 mph
Bring: Adequate hydration, also snack/lunch, and comfortable hiking/walking shoes. Recommend sunscreen.
Dogs: Dogs will not be allowed on this hike.
We'll meet in the parking lot of the Columbia Island Marina, GW Parkway, Arlington, VA. GPS 38.87544, -77.04896
NOTE:
The hike starts at 9:00am, please arrive a few minutes early so we can get folks signed in and ready to hike on time. Restrooms are available at the marina and several locations along the way.Rehydration: Yes, Island Time Bar & Grill
Any questions please contact me at 202-528-0456. If you text, please include your name.
55 attendees
Hemlock Overlook (Rating: C)
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, 13220 Yates Ford Road, Clifton, 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.
8 miles with an elevation gain of 804 feet along a very well-maintained shaded forest trail. For every 400 ft of elevation it counts as a mile. This hike is a C+/B- hike.
Description: Hemlock Overlook Regional Park has network of walking and equestrian trails in majestic, mature forest near the Bull Run, just outside the historic town of Clifton. Some of the oldest trees in the region provide a wonderful shade canopy. The National Old-Growth Forest Network recently added the park as an important site.
We will encounter varied terrain including steep hills and rocky sections.Pace: The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
Bring: adequate water/hydration as there are no facilities until the end of the hike, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes and hiking poles if you use them.
Fee: None
Dogs: Dogs are not welcome. NVHC Dog Policy
Weather: weather for this location is HERE.
Where to Meet: 13220 Yates Ford Road, Clifton VA 20124 -- gravel parking at the end of the road, right side.
In the event this area is full, additional parking is available a little earlier on Yates Ford Road across from Paradise Springs Winery.
GPS Coordinates: 38.767165, -77.403358
LINK (Apple Maps)POST-HIKE FELLOWSHIP: Paradis Springs Winery
20 attendees
Past events
4854
