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
10
C&O Canal National Historic Park, Great Falls, MD- Fee Free Day (Rating: D)
C&O Canal - Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, 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.
5.5 miles with 200 feet elevation gain.
Fee Free Day!
Join us in celebrating Independence Day weekend for a nice hike along the scenic Potomac River and adjoining forests of C&O Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls, Maryland.
Description:
Beat the heat with an early and short hike.We'll start our hike with the Ford Mine Trail. Once completing that trail, we will then reconnect to the towpath and complete the River Trail which runs along the Potomac River. Both trails are in the forest canopy.
There are a few small stream crossings on Ford Mine trail that are easily crossed.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph but adjusted for conditions.
Bring:
Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots in the forest. Restrooms are open near the Tavern visitor center. May want to also bring some insect repellent.Meet:
We will meet on the sidewalk in front of the old refreshment snack bar on the right side of the parking lot before you get to the restrooms and Tavern visitor center. The snack bar is currently closed but it is under the tree canopy. Look for me by the fence anxiously awaiting your arrival.
Please plan on being there at 8:15am so we can get everyone signed in and start the hike on time.Dogs are welcome. Dog Policy https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Park Fee: Park Fees waived on Independence Day Weekend.
If you haven't hiked with me before, please provide your name, contact number and emergency contact number. You can text me the info or direct message me on Meetup. Do not post in comments.
Map of Hiking Trails at Great Falls, Maryland:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/Great-Falls-Hiking-Map.pdfDirections to Park:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
GPS: 39.00223, -77.24697Any questions, please message me on Meetup or text/call @202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.
43 attendees
Emerald Pond - Massanutten South (Rating : B)
Centreville Park and Ride, 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.
This 8.5 mile with 1,600 feet elevation gain in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. We begin at the now closed old Massanutten Visitor Center at New Market Gap and then utilize the Massanutten South and Bird Knob trails. A small pond about midway provides a pretty spot for lunch. We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph while moving.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Park Entry Fee: $0
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:30am. Suggested carpool fee is $10. The leader will be at the carpool location. GPS Coordinates: 38.836038, -77.455371. https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Driving time to trailhead from carpool location: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Arrive at the trailhead at 9:00am hike starts at 9:15am Meet at the old Massanutten Visitor Center (now closed) GPS Coordinates: 38.642621, -78.611218 https://goo.gl/maps/GFpkeLKNkshFMxv4A
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.
Alltrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/bird-knob-emerald-pond-shorter-version-da40657?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain. There is significant uphill in the first couple of miles. This hike has some steep uphill.
35 attendees
Bike Lane Brewery Reston to Colvin Run Mill (Rating: B)
The Bike Lane (new shop location), 11150 Sunset Hills Rd, 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 is an enjoyable hike with wooded trails and a brewery/cafe at the end. The hike is about 9.2-miles with 450 feet of elevation. We'll start at the Bike Lane Bicycle Shop and Brewery and hike through Lake Fairfax Park and the Colvin Run trail. The route will be a "lollipop" with a loop in Lake Fairfax and an "out and back" along Colvin Run to the Mill where we'll take our break.
This hike has a permit fee. I will need to collect $2.00 from everyone at the beginning of the hike. Small bills only please.
Colvin Run Mill is in Great Falls, Virginia. Built c. 1811, Colvin Run Mill is the sole surviving operational 19th-century water-powered mill in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and its restored mechanism is a nationally significant example of automated technologies pioneered in milling and later adopted across American industry. (Wikipedia)
You must be experienced with hikes of this length and elevation gain. We hike at a pace of approximately 2.5 mph while moving.
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leaders: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $2.00
Map for hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/kalxDAAu7vp12fnDBX2UPup938 attendees
Fraser Preserve - Potomac Heritage Trail (Rating: D)
Fraser Preserve, 239 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, 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 6.5 mile hike with 400 feet elevation gain starting in the Fraser Preserve and then following the Potomac Heritage Trail along the Potomac River to a lake where we will take a short break and then head back. Trails may be muddy. We hike at a 2.0-2.5 mph pace when moving.
Some parts of the trail may be overgrown and muddy and/or wet.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Parking at the trailhead is limited to about five cars, one of which must be available for the hike leader.
Please park on a neighborhood side street, Allenwood Lane, on the shoulder of the road with all wheels off the pavement and away from houses as much as possible. Allenwood Lane coordinates: 39.034742, -77.311543
https://goo.gl/maps/yn1986xbBAvxp3vZ9After parking there walk to Springvale Road turn left and keep walking about .2 miles to the trailhead where the leader will be.
Trail head GPS Coordinates: 39.03688, -77.30981 https://goo.gl/maps/abRDQreGvqf8EUja9
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Carpool Fee: $0.00
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
AllTrails Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/fraser-preserve-16ba721?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
23 attendees
Past events
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