PATC Hikes & Events

Prince William Forest Park: Laurel Loop Area: A 12 Mile Hike

Roughly a hundred miles inland from Virginia’s coast, the landscape undergoes a striking transformation—a geologic boundary known as the fall line cleaves the soft sands of the coastal plain from the bedrock of the Piedmont. This seam stitches together millennia of geological activity.

Prince William Forest Park, a small but storied national park nestled in Prince William County, straddles this ancient divide. Its very existence is intertwined with the fall line, woven together by the labor of tobacco farmers and pyrite miners who once frequented the nearby port town of Dumfries. Today, the park still shows subtle remnants of a bygone era .
This hike encompasses multiple routes—a circuit that follows both the South and North Forks of Quantico Creek, threading through wetlands, forests, meadows, and beside the park’s signature cascade.

The trail begins at the visitor center, and heads south, through a patchwork of wetland and beaver pond along South Quantico Creek. Boardwalks and footbridges ease passage across soggy ground, and glimpses of beaver dams hidden in the waterways.

Next, the path rises into the hardwood forest. Emerging from the woods, the trail skirts a meadow then dips again toward the creek and a view of the cascades. The falls themselves, though modest in scale, are a delight. Now passing a site of significance, the remains of pyrite mine. From there, it's back to the trailhead along North and South Quantico Creek.

Overall, the hikes are over moderate, sometimes steep hills and valleys with beautiful views. Bring a snack or lunch to enjoy with the group.

Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.

Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions.

The hike Leaders are Tim; 202-744-0289 and Christa; 410-610-6254. Call or text as needed.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 8:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00

Directions to Trailhead:
The address is 18170 Park Entrance Rd, Triangle, VA 22172. Follow the directions to the visitors center parking lot.
The GPS Coordinates are 38.55995, -77.34711

This park is a national park, so annual national park passes are accepted. The park fee is $20 per single-passenger vehicle (fewer than 14 passengers) or motorcycle, valid for seven consecutive days. The park does not accept cash.

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: miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,000 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Toilets can be found near the visitors center.
A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!

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.

Woodstock, MD a 7 or 10.5 mile hike

In the heart of Maryland, Patapsco Valley State Park stands as a testament to the enduring beauty and ecological diversity of the region. Among its many trails, the Thru, Chevrolet, Joe's, and Quarry Trail Loop offers an interesting hike, drawing outdoor enthusiasts to Woodstock—a community steeped in both history and natural wonders.

The hike sets out on a trail alongside of the Patapsco river, on a well-maintained dirt and leaf litter trail, though after rain, muddy sections can arise, so sturdy boots are recommended. We then move inland through the forest, at one point passing by an old relic of a 1956 Chevy. Later in the hike, we pass by an old granite quarry, a reminder of the region’s industrial past. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these granite quarries supplied building material for Baltimore and beyond. From there, we return to the trailhead passing by faint remnants of Woodstock College, a Jesuit seminary established in 1869. Some of the original campus buildings remain and are now used as a Job Corps Center. These buildings are not visible on the hike.

For those who want more, we will hike another 3.5 miles past the old train station (now the Woodstock Inn), along the Patapsco river, the train line and up into the backwoods of Woodstock.

Overall, the hikes are over moderate, sometimes steep hills and valleys with beautiful views.

At the end of the first hike, you can bring a snack or lunch to enjoy with the group before heading home or joining the second part of the hike.

The 7-mile hike will end around 1:30 and the 10.5-mile hike will end around 3:15 PM.

IMPORTANT: Park in designated parking spots only because some parking spaces are reserved for the Inn and towing IS enforced. If the main lot is full, there is additional parking across the street. Look for designated spots.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead:
1415 Woodstock Rd · Woodstock, MD. This is ACROSS THE STREET from The Woodstock Inn, 1415 Woodstock Road, Woodstock, MD. Park in designated parking spots only because some parking spaces are reserved for the Inn and towing IS enforced.

The GPS coordinates are 39.331021, -76.870569

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
Distance: 10.5 miles (7 miles for the first part, 3.5 for the second)
Elevation Gain: 900 feet (545 and 355 feet respectively)
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on this hike.
Fees: There are no entrance fees on this hike.

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.