What we’re about
The Potomac Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) was established in 1984. It is the southernmost of the 12 regional AMC chapters and has 3,000 members that live mainly in Maryland, northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, as well as eastern West Virginia.
Chapter activities include day-hiking, backpacking, paddling, biking, and social get-togethers. In addition, the Chapter organizes various conservation initiatives and workdays, engages in non-partisan conservation activism, and offers education and leadership opportunities. Most of our Chapter’s outings are open to the public.
Beginner or expert, the AMC Potomac Chapter has something for everyone. With activities that include hiking, biking, paddling, backpacking, and more. We're sure you will find something you love. Beyond just the trips, training, and conservation advocacy, we are a group that encourages community and camaraderie among its members. Open and welcoming to anyone with an interest in the outdoors, we hope that the shared knowledge and experiences between all of us will help you to grow within the outdoor community and create connections and friendships for a lifetime.
Chapter AMC members receive the award-winning “AMC Outdoors” magazine 10 times per year, chapter newsletters, and other AMC benefits including discounts at AMC facilities and events. You can find more information about the Potomac Chapter at https://www.outdoors.org/chapters/potomac and AMC at http://www.outdoors.org .
WHAT SETS US APART THE OTHER MEETUP GROUPS?
• Professionally trained volunteer leaders (https://www.outdoors.org/skills-leadership/leadership-skills/) means our trips are well organized, safe, AND fun!
• Activities are open to anyone, no membership dues are required, but your support helps (https://www.outdoors.org/get-involved).
• Your support helps us continue to protect more than 100,000 acres of land and 2,000 miles of trails (https://www.outdoors.org/conservation) under the care of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
While our Meetup showcases some of our best activities provided by the Chapter, they don't all make it to this page and often you will only see a small fraction of what is available! If you would like to see the full assortment of upcoming activities offered by the AMC Potomac Chapter, please click here: https://activities.outdoors.org/search/?view=7&grp=11 .
Also, if you would like to be part of our community and join in the conversation please consider following us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AMCPotomac/.
Let's get outdoors!!!
Lisa Novins
Chapter Chair
AMC Potomac Chapter
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Tuscarora Trail/Great North Mountain Two-Night BackpackWardensville, WV, Wardensville, WV
Watch spring emerge!
May 2-4 Backpacking. This is a moderately strenuous three day, two night backpack trip covering approximately 14 miles in a loop along the Virginia/West Virginia border in the George Washington National Forest (PATC Map F), and features a forested hike with streams and some great overlooks. (1-3/4 hours from DC)
We will meet at 2:00 Friday and hike about 4 miles to our first campsite along a stream. Second day has about a 5 mile hike to a campsite near an overlook -- then 3 more miles without packs to an even more dramatic overlook. Sunday is about a 2-1/2 mile hike downhill with multiple stream crossings.
Registration is required at the following link:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN0000013Aru2AE/act00013055 - Paddling Nassawango Creek on Maryland’s Eastern ShoreNassawango Road, Snow Hill, MD
Come and join us on Friday, May 9th as we paddle Nassawango Creek, surrounded by wetlands and forested shorelines of a largely undeveloped Eastern Shore tidal creek followed by a section of the Pocomoke River on our way to our take-out in Snow Hill. Our 4 mile paddle along this tidal water stretch of both Nassawango Creek and the Pocomoke River will take us from our launch site at the Nassawango Road to our take-out at Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, Maryland. This is a great trip for those with only limited paddling experience as well as long time paddlers.
You can bring your own canoe or kayak and our outfitter will trailer your watercraft to our launch site. You can also rent a canoe or kayak from Pocomoke River Canoe Company for the day (paddles and lifejackets included).
Registration is required. For more info sign up to participate in this paddling trip at https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000000xlED/act00012590.
- Paddling Trap Pond in Southern Delaware33587 Bald Cypress L, Laurel, DE
Come and join us on Friday May 30th as we paddle Trap Pond and experience cypress trees up close and personal, two wonderful paddling trails, wooded shorelines and marshes filled with turtles and birds. Located in a Delaware State Park of the same name, Trap Pond provides paddlers with a lot to see and experience, all within a safe place to paddle. In addition to experiencing much of what the pond has to offer, we will spend some time paddling among the cypress trees which take up much of the back third of the pond and paddle water trails which take up two feeder streams.
You can bring your own canoe or kayak or you can also rent a canoe or kayak from the State Park for the day (paddles and lifejackets included).
Registration is required. For more info, sign up to participate in this paddling trip at https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000000xlNt/act00012592.
- Paddling the South Fork Shenandoah River in Virginia’s Shenandoah ValleyBurners Ford, Bentonville, VA
Come and join us on Friday, June 6th as we paddle a beautiful section of South Fork Shenandoah River. Our 7.5 mile paddle along this free flowing river will take us from our launch site at Burners Ford to our take-out at Down River Canoe Company in Bentonville, Virginia. We will enjoy a river-based view of the passing scenery of the Shenandoah Valley as we paddle our way through the multitude of “S” curves which makes this river so unique. This is a great trip for those with only limited paddling experience as well as long time paddlers.
Canoes and kayaks are the desired watercraft for this paddling trip. You can bring your own canoe or kayak and our outfitter will trailer your watercraft to our launch site. You can also rent a canoe or kayak from Down River Canoe Company for the day (paddles and lifejackets included).
Registration is required, you can sign up to participate in this paddling trip at https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000000xlhF/act00012594.
