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
Winter Eye Candy (Rating: C)
Carderock parking Lot 2, Carderock Road, 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.
Despite weather in the low 20s on Sunday, it's just TOO DROP-DEAD STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL to miss hiking in the snow. Especially since snow seldom hangs around so long in DC. We'll hike 6ish miles on the flat (but still slippery, snow-covered, and risky) C&O Canal Towpath from the Carderock Recreation Area to just past Great Falls Tavern. We'll hike at a moderate 3 mph pace. (Slower in some areas if necessary.) Please do NOT attend if you can't safely and happily keep up with the group since the weather and towpath conditions are special challenges. We'll stop along the way for selfies by the frozen canal and the partially frozen Potomac River.
MEET: Carderock Recreation Area (First available parking outside the Beltway for the C&O Canal) 11:30 am. GPS: 38.976127, -77.205495
Meet by the closed bathroom building in the northernmost parking lot. Our end time is 3 pm. We'll likely finish earlier but the end time depends on how many stops we want to make and how long we dawdle at the Great Falls Tavern and elsewhere. We'll also walk out on Olmstead Island for a view of Great Falls if conditions permit.BRING: MANDATORY ICE CLEATS MUST BE WORN AND OTHER WINTER CLOTHING IS ALSO REQUIRED ON YOUR BODY AND/OR IN YOUR BACKPACK due to the temperature. THIS IS ALSO REQUIRED: water, two pairs of warm gloves, hat, scarf (or balaclava or gaiter), warm shoes (insulated and/or Gore-Tex or similar), one to two pairs of wool (or other) warm socks, and two pairs of pants or one pair of very warm pants. Layered jackets are also recommended and hand/toe warmers are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
PLEASE READ. YOU *WILL* BE GRADED ON THIS: ;)
1. Adults only. 2. No pets, unless your pet can self-propel on snowshoes or cross country skis.WEATHER: FRIGID! The National Weather Service predicts that it will be partly sunny and 23 (in the shade -- but we'll be in the sun a lot). The winds could reach around 17 mph with higher gusts. Most of the time we will be sheltered from a lot of the wind -- BUT THERE COULD BE FALLING BRANCHES so we have to be watchful and extra careful during our hike. (I scouted half of it Saturday and it didn't feel too bad.)
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.026619&lon=-77.203926
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.026619&lon=-77.203926
The canal and the towpath are completely covered with snow and ice. While it's beautiful, even with ice cleats, you could slip and/or your feet could hit a pocket under the snow. Please only attend if you can safely handle all those conditions.RESTROOMS: Porta potties at the start and middle. Restrooms at Great Falls Tavern.
C&O CANAL CONDITIONS: https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
C&O CANAL MAP:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/Great-Falls-Hiking-Map.pdf2 attendees
Potomac Heritage Trail - Loudoun County (Rating: D)
Bles Park, 44830 Riverside Pkwy, 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.
******You must have traction devices to be permitted on this hike.*****
An out and back 6.8 mile hike along the Potomac Heritage trail in the Ashburn area of Loudoun County. We will begin at Bles Park and follow the Potomac River north to Goose Creek and then return. Very little elevation gain. We hike at a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph when moving.
No dogs permitted on this hike,
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Meet at Bles Park @ 9:00am. GPS Coordinates: 39.068909, -77.449010
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9CBS11B7bKaPZHsb7
Do not turn in at the sign that says "Bles Park Trailhead and Kayak Launch". Continue on to the next entrance.AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/potomac-heritage-trail-loudoun-county-7-miles-51769da?u=i&sh=7cs7ov
33 attendees
Lake Fairfax Park and Bike Lane Brewery-Reston (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 is an enjoyable hike with the Lake, lots of graceful full growth trees and the fun of winding through multiple trails in this relatively compact Park. The Hike route is about 7 miles with 460 feet of elevation. The Hike route is a loop consisting primarily of dirt trails.
We will start at the Bike Lane Brewing &Café, at 11150 Sunset Hills, Reston VA 20190. The Bike Shop and Brewery is adjacent to Lake Fairfax Park and for those interested, we can enjoy a beer after the hike.You must be experienced with hikes of this length and elevation gain. We hike at a pace of approximately 2.5 -3.0 mph while moving.
Restrooms are available at the start point and at our break point during the hike.
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leader: Willem Janssen
Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-july-23-2025-ad7bdca?u=i&sh=iypgzx hi25 attendees
CCT — Rt 7 to W&OD (Rating: C)
Cross County Trail Access Point, Leigh Mill Rd., Herndon, 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.
Description:
This is a 7½ mile hike with ~200-feet of elevation gain on the Cross County Trail, from Rt 7 (near Colvin Mill Run) to the Washington and Old Dominion path and back. We will start on the Cross County Trail access road just north of route 7 near Colvin Run Mill.There are 2 stream crossings: one on rocks (see picture above when it was uncrossable, it should be lower and crossable on Friday) and the other on concrete pylons.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Harvey Haines
Rating: C
(7¼ mi + 200 ft/400ft/mi = 7¾ equiv. mi. C-hikes range from 7-10 mi)Trailhead Meeting Location: on the Cross County Trail spur road off Colvin Run Road just north of route 7. Please to plan to arrive by 8:45 to sign in. We leave promptly at 9:00.
GPS coordinates: 38.9676, -77.2890
If you cannot use GPS coordinates, the Best address for navigation is 9950 Colvin Run Rd, Great Falls, VA. This will take you to the sewage pump station close to the parking area.Maps:
A pdf map of this section of the CCT:
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/05eVzFBePshItlpjqZzE4Q6og#cct-9-difficult-run-stream-valley_8.44.46_AM
GAIA-GPS map of the trail:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=16.5/-77.2886/38.9675&pubLink=0Y1d9hd5ETqwNEf6N25zQAfz&waypointId=49d31966-239d-4bf3-a8df-7b1fb98e77c732 attendees
Past events
4677
