What we’re about
PATC hikes are an opportunity to understand the club and its important trail maintenance work. You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us, but we hope you will consider joining after getting to know us. Come join us on the trails!
(PATC hikes are conducted by trained hike leaders. The hikes offer various levels of difficulty and distance).
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ABOUT PATC
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.
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ABOUT THE HIKE PROGRAM
The first stated purpose of PATC is "to support and encourage the ... proper recreational use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and other trails". This is done partly through the sponsorship of hikes on trails in PATC's area and on other trails.
The club has a wide-ranging hiking program which includes local area hikes and excursions into other geographical areas. Hikes can range from short, close-in day hikes to extended excursions. Hikes can be for physical conditioning, social interaction, nature walks, history lessons, to reach a viewpoint, or any of a number of purposes. The club encourages a wide variety of hikes, and provides training and support to hike leaders.
Upcoming events
9
Bacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi Hike
Bacon Ridge III, 1350 Bacon Ridge Road, Crownsville, MD, USBacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi Hike
The 900+ acre Bacon Ridge Natural Area is a true natural treasure with expansive marshes, mature forests, and, at the center, its namesake creek, Bacon Ridge Branch. Located in Crownsville and the headwaters of the South River, Bacon Ridge Natural Area is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
Local folklore claims that the creek that runs through the heart of the natural area is named Bacon Ridge Branch because there was a hog farm in the center of the area over a century ago. Portions of the Bacon Ridge Natural Area were once part of the Crownsville Hospital property. The Crownsville Hospital opened in 1911 to serve African American patients needing psychiatric care. Additionally, Bacon Ridge includes the remains of the Charles S. Waters Mill. The mill race and many foundations are still visible. The County’s Cultural Resources Division has documented 16 discrete archaeological sites with intact evidence of prehistoric or Native American campsites, 18th, 19th, and 20th-century structural foundations, and artifact scatters within Bacon Ridge.
Our hike will cover much of Bacon Ridge. The main portion of the hike is a 6.5-mile double-loop trek with about 600 feet of elevation. Areas may be muddy, especially after a rain, so please wear appropriate boots. The hike will end where it began. For those who wish to join us for more, we will explore park areas for an additional 2 miles as an out and back, still returning to the original start and finish area.
Bring a snack or lunch which we will enjoy after the end of the first hike.
Please note there are no toilet facilities on this hike.
Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.03186, -76.61684
The Street address is 1350 Bacon Ridge Road, Crownsville, MD. The parking lot is on the right. Do not go past the sign that reads "Private Road. No Trail Access."
Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.
Details
Rating: Moderate to easy side of difficult
Distance: 6.5 or 8.5 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: 560 feet for the 6.5-mile hike, 860 feet for the 8.5-mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on this hike
Fees: No entrance fees
Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.
Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.
Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-If you change your mind and decide not to hike, sign out by 9:00 the night before so that those n the waitlist may join. If you sign out after 9:00, you will be flagged as a no show.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.12 attendees
Maxwell Hall Park: a 7.5 or 8.5 Moderate Hike, Your Choice
Safeway Prince Frederick, 80 West Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD, USMaxwell Hall Park: a 7.5 or 8.6 Moderate Hike, Your Choice
Maxwell Hall Park, in Charles County Maryland, spans 670 acres and offers roughly 14 miles of trails winding through a variety of habitats, including woods, fields, hedgerows, and marshes. Its rolling hills provide scenic views and direct access to the sandy beaches of the Patuxent River—the longest river entirely within Maryland. At this location, the Patuxent is a broad tidal estuary, drawing waterfowl and gulls in winter and hosting terns and wading birds in summer.
The park is primarily made up of second-growth hardwood forests, with older trees found in stream valleys and some planted conifers scattered throughout. Fields are leased to local farmers, so most are cultivated, though occasional shrubby fallow areas can be found. Marshy creek outlets dot the river’s edge, creating excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Across the river you will see the Chalk Point Generating Station, an important source of electricity for the region.
There are six main color-coded trails, all clearly marked and well-kept. We will touch four of them on the 7.5 mile hike and five of them on the 8.6 mile hike. Terrain varies from steep hills to gentler slopes, generally descending toward the river. Streams crisscross the park, with bridges over larger ones and wet crossings at smaller streams. Marshes of varying size are located throughout.
Bring a lunch or snack that we will have along the way.
The 7.5 mile hike will end around 1:30 and the 8.5 mile hike will end around 2:00.
A leashed, well-behaved fido is welcome on this hike.
Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 in the parking lot of the Safeway in Prince Frederick, which is at the intersection of Route 4 and W Dares Beach Road (see address and GPS coordinates below). We meet at the side of of the parking lot (by Route 4). We do NOT meet at Maxwell Hall Equestrian Center. We will leave promptly at 10:00 for the trailhead.
Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa (410-610-6254). Call or text as needed.
Directions to Trailhead:
We meet at the Safeway parking lot in Prince Frederick, MD. The street address is 80W Dares Beach Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678. The GPS Coordinates are 38.545971, -76.590564. We meet in the parking lot at the side of Route 4. From there we carpool to the trailhead. We do NOT meet at Maxwell Hall Equestrian Center.
Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 7.5 or 8.6 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 600 on the 7.5 mile hike and 625 feet on the 8.5 mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There is a portable toilet near the trailhead
Fees: no fees
Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.
Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.
Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.15 attendees
Tuscarora-Bear Wallow GWNF 5 Mi 900 Ft Moderate Hike
Location not specified yetHike begins 10 am (eastern)
Metup is being glitchy.
This 4.9 lollipop loop hike is in the George Washington National Forest. It starts from the Signal Knob parking area off Fort Valley Road near Front Royal, VA. We'll break mid-hike for snack/lunch. Elevation gain is about 900 feet. There are a few intermittent stream crossings depending on previous precipitation. Always good to be prepared for the possibility of wet feet. The trail is rocky in parts. Evergreen mountain laurel lines sections of this pretty trail. We typically hike about 2 mph. However, we leave no one behind and will move at a pace that is comfortable for all.
Hike Route: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/tuscarora-bear-wallow-gwnf-abdeb6f
Group Size: 20 hikers
Time to Meet: Please meet 15-20 minutes prior to hike start for introductions and liability waiver sign in. If you can't make the hike, please edit your RSVP by 6 pm the night before to open a spot for another hiker.
Meeting Location/Parking: We will meet at the Signal Knob parking lot, 11621 Fort Valley Rd, Fort Valley, VA 22652
Facilities: No restroom is available at the trailhead.
Admission: Free
Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for comments and questions. The hike leader is Lisa Peterson.
Cancellation: In the event that the hike needs to be cancelled, hikers will be notified through comments on this posting. Please check Meetup for updates the evening before the hike.
What to Bring: Water at least two liters, emergency contact information, personal first aid kit and medications, snacks/meal, sunscreen/protection from weather, insect repellant, trekking poles if you use them (highly recommended for hikes with water crossings), sturdy hiking footwear.
Please leave pets at home. Thanks!
Notes:
- RSVP to register for this hike. If your plans change, update your RSVP.
- To find out more about PATC, click here.
- Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.
Attendance is limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.
20 attendees
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