What we’re about
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 were 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 (4+)
See all- Trillium Trail – Manassas Gap Shelter (Rating: C)University Boulevard - Gainesville Park & Ride, Gainesville, VA
You 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.
The purpose of this short hike is to view the Trillium flowers and the other spring flowers that are now blooming. The hike is 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of 950 feet and includes the Trillium Trail (a loop) and an out and back to the Manassas Gap Shelter.
There is a very small stream crossing. I plan to hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph when moving.
The Trillium Trail loop supposedly contains “one of the most outstanding trillium displays in Virginia and perhaps in the eastern United States.” Although there are no guarantees, you should see lots of trillium, mayapple, wild geranium, yellow and purple violets, and other wildflowers along the trail.
Hike route: We will take the Trico Tower Trail down to the AT, take the AT south to the Manassas Gap Shelter, have a snack break, and then return by taking take the AT north past the Trico Tower Trail junction to the Trico fire road and back up to the Trillium Trail Trailhead.
Carpools: Meet at the University BLVD Park and Ride at GPS coordinates: 38.798678, -77.585926 no later than 7:15 AM.
The leader will be at the carpool location but neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
Please note that the carpool entrance is off University Blvd; it is not off Route 29.
NOTE: I have a light colored (“silver”) Subaru Outback and I park at the far end of the lot away from the commuter parking and I will plan to leave the lot at 7:15 AM.
Driving Time to trail head. It is about a 36 mile / 40-minute drive from the University BLVD lot to the hike starting point at the trillium trail trailhead at 5050 Freezeland Road (GPS Coordinates: 38.953658, -78.027136). I strongly suggest relying on the GPS coordinates instead of the address.
Those meeting at the trillium trail trailhead should plan to be there no later than 8:15 AM. The trailhead parking lot is very small so please try to make best use of the available space.
Dogs are permitted in accordance with the NVHC pet policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Fees
- Attendees do not have to pay any fees.
- Suggested carpool fee is $5.00.
Leader: Jim Hollis (703-927-7189.. use text)
- Mount Marshall via the Appalachian Trail (Rating: A)Centreville Park and Ride, Centreville, VA
You 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 a 9 mile out and back hike along the Appalachian Trail with a 1,700 foot elevation gain in the Shenandoa National Park. We'll go out about 4.5 miles to a neat viewpoint, have lunch/snack, and then return the way we came.
Speed: Our pace will vary from 2.5 to 3.0 mph. The trail is well maintained and not very rocky.
GPS Coordinates for trailhead: 38.80719, -78.18102
Entry to Shenandoa National Park costs $30.00 per car unless you have a park pass.
Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
For those wishing to carpool, the suggested carpool location is at the Centerville P&R. The driving time from there to the trailhead is about 1 hour. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7:30 AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 7:30 AM.
Hike leader will not be at the carpool location.
Please arrive at the trailhead before 9:00 AM so we can get everyone signed in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00 AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $7.
PLEASE NOTE: Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
- Hold a Wild Bird (Rating: D)Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, VA
You 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.
(Attend a bird banding for 1 to 1.5 hours and do a moderately paced nature hike for roughly six, flat miles on dirt trails with gobs of stops for birds & beasts.)
Rare bird-banding opportunity by the federally licensed banders for the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife refuge and a roughly 6-mile birding and nature hike afterward. First, we'll attend a migratory bird banding where we can hold a wild bird to release it after the experts have banded it. Even if there aren't enough birds to go around, we'll still learn why sunshine-yellow warblers and other perching migratory and resident birds are banded and how they capture them and band their teensy legs for science. After the banding, we'll hike roughly 6 miles (total) at a moderate pace (2.5-3 mph) with many stops on some of the 642-acre refuge's flat, dirt trails along Occoquan and Belmont bays, pausing for discoveries, such as nesting bald eagles, nest-building ospreys, nesting sunflower-yellow prothonotary warblers, uncommon spotted turtles, wildflowers, fungi, and slinky snakes.
RSVPs WILL OPEN APRIL 29 AT NOON: Since we can only bring 9 people without getting a federal permit, RSVPs will open two days before the hike so that: (1) We are largely sure the weather will cooperate since the banding can not be held in rain or high wind, and (2) We request that members ONLY sign up if you are 99.9999% sure you can attend. Thanks for understanding. If you are on the waitlist, please be prepared to attend at the last minute in case someone wins a free flight to the moon and can't attend. ;)
OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES: Adults only. No pets even allowed in your car at this special refuge. Tip: learn "slo-mo" & burst modes on your iPhone before the hike so you can photograph your fellow hikers cradling and then releasing wild birds! Our end time of 2 pm is approximate. We'll likely end earlier, depending on discoveries during our hike.
MEET: 8 a.m. at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 14050 Dawson Beach Rd., Woodbridge, VA. Copy these GPS coordinates into Google Maps ( 38.644642, -77.244276 ) or click here for directions: https://goo.gl/maps/S1eA3aHXRCUDX5S88
https://goo.gl/maps/S1eA3aHXRCUDX5S88We will likely end before 2 PM but it depends how many times we stop along the way and how long we stay at the bird banding so that is for planning purposes. 
BRING: Sense of humor, sense of awe, water, lunch, full-charged cell phone with optional iNaturalist app, optional camera and/or binoculars, sunblock, hand wipes (for banding), and dress for the weather. BUG SPRAY IS RECOMMENDED because the refuge is known for breeding a lot of ticks!
RESTROOMS: 1/4 mile from start, at banding, and at end. (Biobreaks in woods in between).
OBNWR HOTSPOT ON eBIRD:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L718641OBNWR BROCHURE & MAP:
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/FINAL_OccoquanGenBrochure2018_0.pdfFREE WARBLER VISUAL IDENTIFICATION GUIDES:
http://www.thewarblerguide.com/downloads.html - Potomac Heritage Trail Goose Creek Loudoun County (Rating: C)Bles Park, Ashburn, VA
You 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 out and back 9.5 miles hike along the Potomac Heritage Trail in the Ashburn area of Loudoun County with a 150' elevation gain. We will begin at Bles Park and follow the Potomac River north to Goose Creek and then along Goose Creek to Riverside Parkway. We'll hike by some ruins of the Coose Creek and Little River Canal locks and a Mill. Thanks to Ed for the cover photo.
Background History: In 1849, construction began on a system of locks and dams to render the Goose Creek navigable up to three large mills in the Loudoun Valley. By 1845, the Goose Creek and Little River Navigation Company canal system had been completed on Goose Creek to Ball's (Evergreen) Mill, 12 miles (19 km) upstream from the mouth. Though the lower portion of the canal saw significant usage, only one boat was ever known to have traveled the whole stretch, and by 1857 the canal was put out of business by the completion of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad to Leesburg. Most of the locks and dams were destroyed by the Union Army during the Civil War.
We hike at a pace of 2.5 to 3.0 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Meet at Bles Park @ 9:00am. GPS Coordinates: 39.068909, -77.449010. Restrooms are available at the Bles Park Trailhead
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leader: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-24-2024-fedf67d?u=i&sh=iypgzx