What we’re about
“Not all who wander are lost.”
--J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Riddle of Strider”
For 90 years, the Wanderbirds Hiking Club has been leading adventurous souls into the mountains, forests and valleys of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania every Sunday all year long. Our day hikes are suitable for hikers of every age, shape, size and hiking level, whether experienced or beginning.
Wanderbirds travel to our hikes by either Metro, carpool, or chartered bus, and sometimes simply meet at a trailhead. For every hike, we provide experienced hike leaders, red arrow trail markers and trail maps for a “moderate” (7-10 miles) and “long” (10-13 miles) hike, plus social time with post-hike refreshments. Most of the time, both easier and more challenging hikes can be arranged. Bus hikes start by picking up hikers near 17th & K Streets (Farragut Square) in downtown DC; a second stop varies between Vienna and Grosvenor metro stations, depending on the hike destination.
*** Find the complete quarter's hiking schedule by going to www.wanderbirds.org ***
Upcoming events
5
- $5.00
American Chestnut Land Trust
Location not specified yet(Trailhead hike) American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT), (Trailhead hike) (11/30/25).
Happy post Thanksgiving weekend! Come explore the American Chestnut Land Trust )(ACLT) a privately run local conservancy in Calvert County MD. This hike will feature ACLT Northern trails. For more about the ACLT and all the cool things they do, check out their website https://www.acltweb.org/.
For Park Trailmap 5ef86e_c1e697a683234d2ea23286a5e1657a5c.pdf
For details on the “heritage trail” seePCHT Home | pcheritagetrail and for the location of some of the signage see PCHT Sign Locations June 2025
Monitor weather for Prince Frederick MD .
Trailhead address 676 Double Oak, Prince Frederick MD
Right now, with the vegetation is down and some of the views of the Parkers Creek and the Bay are visible. As always, the raft is ready to find out if you are Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn… as well taking a short detour from the trails to a small stretch of beach by the Chesapeake Bay.
Our Route --This hike will start at the Double Oak Trailheads and start on the Horse Swamp portion of the PF2Bay, taking a detour thru a maize field and a field road, passing some old barns to a small stretch of beach along the Chesapeake Bay, then returning to the Horse Swamp Trail and returning to the trailhead. Next we will take the scenic Parkers Creek Trail featuring the some of the signs from the “heritage trail” history project, to the raft. At the raft, find out if you are Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn… before returning to the Parker’s Creek Trail and ascending back to the parking area. Here hikers have the option of returning directly to the parking area for moderate hike, or a longer hike by taking PF2Bay, Holly Hill and Griffin Meadow.
NOTE: They do allow hunting in the ACLT, so please wear bright colors that do not blend in. For the most part we will be on regular trails where this is less of an issue, but best to be colorful!
Moderate hike – 7.7-8 mi, 900 elev
Long hike – 10.4 mi, 1200 elev
FIRST-TIME HIKERS
If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep a 2-mph pace. New hikers are required to first complete a moderate hike.
Liability Waiver: Many of our hikes take place in remote wilderness areas where cell phone service is not available. Any person participating in any Club activity is responsible for their own safety, health and welfare, and must assume all risks and liabilities related to all Club activities. The Club, its hike leaders, hike sweeps, officers, and other representatives are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damage to persons, children, pets, and/or property, arising from any trips or activities of the Club. You are responsible for bringing enough water, food, and first aid supplies, including those for your personal medical conditions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel and receive a full bus hike refund, less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup before NOON on the Friday before the hike. If you change your RSVP after noon on the Friday before the hike, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellations to Metro/carpool/trailhead hikes will not issue a financial refund, but hiker must change their Meetup RSVP to NO so that leaders do not wait for them at the trailhead.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Anyone experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness should not attend the event.
MORE DETAILS -- SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE14 attendees - $33.00
Hike: Potomac Heritage Trail, VA
17th Street Northwest & K Street Northwest, Washington, DC, US(Bus Hike) The Potomac Heritage Trail provides views of the Potomac that are especially extensive after the leaves have fallen. Long hikers will start at Algonkian Regional Park. Moderate hikers will start at Seneca Park off of Seneca Rd. All hikers will follow the Potomac Heritage trail east to Great Falls National Park. At GFNP there is a visitor center and overlooks of the falls. Est.: 11 miles, 700' elevation and 8 miles, 500' elevation. PHT Maps. Fare: $33.
FIRST-TIME HIKERS
If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep a 2-mph pace. New hikers are required to first complete a moderate hike.
Liability Waiver: Many of our hikes take place in remote wilderness areas where cell phone service is not available. Any person participating in any Club activity is responsible for their own safety, health and welfare, and must assume all risks and liabilities related to all Club activities. The Club, its hike leaders, hike sweeps, officers, and other representatives are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damage to persons, children, pets, and/or property, arising from any trips or activities of the Club. You are responsible for bringing enough water, food, and first aid supplies, including those for your personal medical conditions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel and receive a full bus hike refund, less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup before NOON on the Friday before the hike. If you change your RSVP after noon on the Friday before the hike, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellations to Metro/carpool/trailhead hikes will not issue a financial refund, but hiker must change their Meetup RSVP to NO so that leaders do not wait for them at the trailhead.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Anyone experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness should not attend the event.
MORE DETAILS -- SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE6 attendees - $5.00
Hike: Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Sugarloaf Mountain, 7901 Comus Road, Dickerson, MD, US(Trailhead hike) Both hikes will start by going to the Summit via the Green Trail. Moderate hikers will descend on the Red trail to the Northern Peaks trail. Long hikers will descend on the Red trail to the Mountain Loop trail until they reach the Blue and White trails. The hikes will rejoin at the Blue trail then do a loop consisting of Blue, Purple, Yellow, Blue and take the stairs to West View Parking area. Est.: 9.5 miles, 2100' and 8 miles, 1700'.
Hike fee: $5. This fee covers the Sugarloaf Mountain Map provided by Wanderbirds and other expenses. This is in addition to the voluntary donation to Stronghold Incorporated of $5 or more paid when entering the property.
Meeting place: Picnic shelter (see picture above) at the Sugarloaf West View Parking Lot, Sugar Loaf Mt. Dr., Dickerson, MD.
Time: 9:30 AM
FIRST-TIME HIKERS
If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep a 2-mph pace. New hikers are required to first complete a moderate hike.
Liability Waiver: Many of our hikes take place in remote wilderness areas where cell phone service is not available. Any person participating in any Club activity is responsible for their own safety, health and welfare, and must assume all risks and liabilities related to all Club activities. The Club, its hike leaders, hike sweeps, officers, and other representatives are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damage to persons, children, pets, and/or property, arising from any trips or activities of the Club. You are responsible for bringing enough water, food, and first aid supplies, including those for your personal medical conditions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel and receive a full bus hike refund, less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup before NOON on the Friday before the hike. If you change your RSVP after noon on the Friday before the hike, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellations to Metro/carpool/trailhead hikes will not issue a financial refund, but hiker must change their Meetup RSVP to NO so that leaders do not wait for them at the trailhead.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Anyone experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness should not attend the event.
MORE DETAILS -- SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE8 attendees - $5.00
Hike: Glover – Archbold and Palisades Parks, DC
Tenleytown Metro (West side entrance), 4501 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, dc, US(Trailhead hike) You can be assured of a good hike, and a convenient, in-town opportunity to enjoy nature before the frenzy of Christmas day. From Tenleytown Metro, we’ll head south through deeply wooded Glover-Archbold and Palisades Parks up to the C&O Canal Towpath. The moderate hike continues along the towpath towards town and ends at the Rosslyn Metro station. Long hikers backtrack to the Whitehaven Parkway (a woodsy trail, not a highway) and continue along that trail to end at Woodley Park Metro. Est.: 9.5 miles, 1000' and 7.5 miles, 500'. Hike fee: $5.
Meeting place: Tenleytown Metro,
4501 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC
Meeting time: 9:00 AM
FIRST-TIME HIKERS
If you're a first-time hiker with us, please notify the leaders in advance so they can make sure you have the info you need. Hikers must be able to keep a 2-mph pace. New hikers are required to first complete a moderate hike.
Liability Waiver: Many of our hikes take place in remote wilderness areas where cell phone service is not available. Any person participating in any Club activity is responsible for their own safety, health and welfare, and must assume all risks and liabilities related to all Club activities. The Club, its hike leaders, hike sweeps, officers, and other representatives are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damage to persons, children, pets, and/or property, arising from any trips or activities of the Club. You are responsible for bringing enough water, food, and first aid supplies, including those for your personal medical conditions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
To cancel and receive a full bus hike refund, less a $5 processing fee, you must change your RSVP to "No" on Meetup before NOON on the Friday before the hike. If you change your RSVP after noon on the Friday before the hike, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellations to Metro/carpool/trailhead hikes will not issue a financial refund, but hiker must change their Meetup RSVP to NO so that leaders do not wait for them at the trailhead.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Anyone experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness should not attend the event.
MORE DETAILS -- SEE THE FAQS ON OUR WEBSITE5 attendees
Past events
140
