Trails

We will hike at Sky Meadows State Park, 5.2 miles with an elevation gain of 1000’. The pace for this hike is suitable for beginners and families, at 1.4-1.9 mph, with slower options available as needed. Parts of the trail are rocky and uphill; we will stop often. The hike is referred to as a lollipop. We will meet at the Visitor Center parking lot and hike to the Boston Mill Road Trail. We will take the North Ridge Trail to the Appalachian Trail and then the Ambassador White House Trail. We will return on the North Ridge Trail and Boston Mill Road Trail. **DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:** Physical Address: 11012 Edmonds Ln., Delaplane, VA 20144 The park is less than two miles south of Paris, VA via U.S. Route 50 to Route 17 South, or seven miles north of I-66, Exit 23 on Route 17 North. The park’s main entrance is on Rt. 710/Edmonds Lane. Park in the lot at the visitor center. Sue's vehicle is a white Toyota Corolla. **RESTROOM**: Onsite at the visitor center. **THINGS TO BRING:** You will need a Virginia State Park Pass or pay a $10 fee to access the park. Dress in layers, bring water, snacks, a first aid kit, hiking poles, and pack extra socks. Hiking Guides: [https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/patc-mentoring-hike-sky-meadows-d06f64a](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/patc-mentoring-hike-sky-meadows-d06f64a) [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-skymeadows.pdf](https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-skymeadows.pdf) **Notes:** * Participants are required to sign a PATC HIKE SIGNUP SHEET AND LIABILITY form. * RSVP to register for this hike. If your plans change, update your RSVP. * To find out more about PATC, [click here](https://www.patc.net/). * Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, [click here](https://www.patc.net/membership). Please check the night before for any updates. A hike will be cancelled due to weather conditions and Virginia Department of Transportation travel alerts. Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under the age of 18 to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present. Please leave your canine companions at home. Thanks!

🌿 **James River State Park – 7 Mile Moderate Hike** 🥾 Join us for a scenic and energizing \~7-mile hike through **James River State Park**, one of Virginia’s hidden gems! This route combines river views, forest trails, and a rewarding overlook—perfect for anyone looking for a solid, moderate hike without extreme elevation. ### 📍 Where: James River State Park (meet at Visitor Center parking area) ### 🥾 The Plan: We’ll follow a loop combining the **Cabell Trail, Dixon Trail, and Tye River Overlook**: * 🌲 Peaceful forest hiking * 🌊 Occasional views of the James & Tye Rivers * ⛰️ A moderate climb up to the scenic overlook (our main reward!) ### 📏 Details: * Distance: \~6.5–7 miles * Difficulty: Moderate (some hills, steady pace) * Time: \~3 hours (with breaks) Whether you're looking to get some miles in, enjoy nature, or meet fellow hikers, this is a great way to spend a few hours outdoors. 👉 RSVP if you’re in—looking forward to hitting the trail! Meet at Visitor Center: 37.6306, -78.8127

Join us for a refreshing late-spring hike through one of the most beautiful parks in the DMV! We’ll explore the scenic Crystal Rock and Black Hill Trails, with peaceful lake views, shaded paths, and a mix of terrains including charming boardwalk sections. 🌄 What to Expect ~5.2 miles moderate hike (2–3 hours at a comfortable pace) Beautiful views of Little Seneca Lake Opportunities to relax, connect, and enjoy nature together A supportive and social group atmosphere 🧺 Lunch After the hike we will share a picnic with other AMC hikers and paddlers 🚗 Transportation Please comment: If you need a ride If you can offer a ride (much appreciated!) We’ll coordinate carpools in the comments. 🚣‍♂️ Optional: Kayaking For those interested, you can stay after the hike to enjoy kayaking on the lake. Please coordinate with your drivers in advance if you plan to stay longer. 📝 What to Bring Comfortable walking shoes Water (at least 1–1.5L recommended) Sun protection (hat, sunscreen) Light layers Looking forward to a beautiful day outdoors with you all 🌿

In order to officially secure your spot on this event and to receive the details email of where to exactly park and meet with us you must register on our site by clicking the link below. https://www.trailboundproject.com/service-page/guided-hike-secret-view?referral=service_list_widget Our events typically fill up at 24 people for guided hikes! You won't see the attendees here on meetup as registrations are on our site but we wanted to let you know that we typically see large outings for all of our events! This guided hike has a nominal non-refundable $20 registration fee to secure your spot. The Secret View hike is a short out-and-back 2.5-mile hike with 450' of elevation up and down in a less popular part of Sterling Forest State Park in NY. We named it the Secret View hike because it is a very little-known view only accessible via unmarked trails. The view technically has a name, but you'll need to join us on the hike to find out what it is! The only hikers who visit it are locals who are... well... in the know! It's an easy-to-moderate hike that we'll take at a leisurely pace. We park at the trailhead near a medium-sized beautiful lake and head off on one of the park's unmarked woods roads. After taking in the interesting sights and features along this flat section, we turn onto another unmarked trail to head up to the small ridge. At the summit of this unnamed peak in New York, we find ourselves looking out at an incredible 180-degree view of the forests and peaks of New Jersey without any evidence of civilization. Since it's a short hike, we'll take our time resting, chatting, and enjoying the view at the top before we head back down. The parking and hike details are emailed after registration.

The 44.4-mile Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD), one of suburban Washington, D.C.’s most popular rail-­trails, is a fantastic link between the state’s rural and historical past and the nation’s capital. The trail is paved and exceptionally well marked, with mileposts every 0.5 mile and interpretive signs telling the story of the people and places along the rail line. The first 10 miles of the W&OD trail, stretching from Purcellville (western endpoint) to the historic town of Leesburg, travel through the rolling hills of Virginia Piedmont farmland. Horses graze, cornfields flourish, and trail crowds thin out somewhat. As the trail continues, it passes through Sterling and Ashburn, which features a year-round trailside barbecue restaurant. The town of Herndon features an old caboose, as well as a trailside train depot, used as a visitor center. The wooded trail surroundings feel a bit more suburban as the path continues through to the communities of Reston and Vienna. In Vienna, there is yet another caboose and train depot. From west to east, the elevation gradually declines. The leafier suburbs quickly become more urban, as the W&OD Trail makes its way towards its eastern terminus in the unincorporated community of Shirlington in Arlington. This will be a two-day ride. On Wednesday (5/27), we'll ride west from Sterling to Purcellville for 21 miles, have lunch along the way, and ride back to Sterling. Total distance of 42 miles. On Thursday (5/28), we'll ride east from Sterling to Shirlington for 23 miles, have lunch along the way, and ride back to Sterling. Total distance of 46 miles. These two rides are optional. You can choose to do just one or both. Disclaimer: GetHiking Charlottesville Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were riding alone. With your RSVP, you agree with this disclaimer. Weather: TBD Notes: 1\. This is a no drop ride\. Pace is 10\-14 mph\. At each crossing on the trail that's controlled by a stop sign or light\, we will stop and consolidate the group on the other side of the trail\. 2\. Reference guide: https://www\.traillink\.com/trail/washington\-and\-old\-dominion\-railroad\-regional\-park\-\(wod\)/\. 2\. Mandatory equipment: helmet\, repair kit/spare tube/pump\. 3\. Suggested trip equipment: warm\-weather gear\, cash\, cell phone\, ID/car keys\, sunglasses\, snack/drink\, cable lock\. Leave change of clothes and water \(for rinsing\) in your vehicle\. 4\. A tentative itinerary or cancellation notice will be posted 3\-5 days before the ride\.

We meet on Sundays at 8 a.m. for training runs on some of DC's best trails, including Rock Creek Park and the surrounding area. We typically meet at either Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, or Roosevelt Island, depending on the route. Details of the weekly schedule can be found here: https://new.vhtrc.org/runs/sip We hope you can join us for a run! All paces and levels of trail experience are welcome for these runs, which range in distance from 6 to 9 miles.