NOVA Trailblazers - 20s - 40s Backpacking and Hiking

IMPORTANT - READ
Monongahela National Forest limits groups to 10 people, so that is a hard limit for this trip. If you are not 100% committed please do NOT RSVP

## Trail Facts

• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Length: 16 Miles
• Duration: 2 Days
• Elevation Gain: 2,216 Feet
• Bear Canisters: Not Required
• Permits: Not Required
• Parking: Red Creek Trailhead
• Coordinates: 38.972729, -79.397824
• AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/dolly-sods-backpack-16-mi-24357dd

The Dolly Sods Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia and is part of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) and one of the most desirable trekking areas in the US.

Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and flora and fauna normally found much further north in Canada. A backpacking trip in this area will expose you to a very diverse and unique landscape with sphagnum bogs, grassy meadows lined by spruce trees, wind-carved boulders, and beautiful mountain vistas.

Note - this area can have very unpredictable weather. I've had everything from sunshine, to heavy rain, to even snow and hail as late as May. Pack accordingly.

Trail Details:
We will meet at The Vienna Metro station on Saturday morning at 8am and drive to the Red Creek Trailhead at the southern end of the Dolly Sods wilderness. The drive is about 3 hours - I will drive and am happy to have up to 3 others carpool with me.

When we arrive at the trailhead, we will hike about 6.3 miles to our campsite, stopping once to check out the the iconic Lion's Head on Breathed Mountain (pictured in the post). Should be an early day, so feel free to bring cards, adult beverages, or other items to pass the time. The second day, we will explore the rest of the park, which includes the rugged Dunkenbarger trail. The second day is about 9.4 miles back to the car. There are a ton of stream crossings on this trip - so expect to get wet and pack accordingly.

Essential Items:

• Tent
• Sleeping pad​
• Sleeping bag suitable for expected temperatures​
• Backpack (appropriate for overnight backpacking)​
• Backpacking stove with fuel​
• Pot, cup, dish, and utensils​
• Dehydrated meals​ and snacks
• Water bottles or hydration system (capacity for at least 2 liters)​
• Water filter or purification tablets​
• Headlamp with extra batteries​
• Rain gear
• Dry bags or pack cover​
• Warm clothing layers (non-cotton)
• Trowel for and toiletries for Leave No Trace compliance

Optional Items:

• Personal first aid kit​
• Map and compass or GPS device
• Power bank or external battery
• Trekking poles​
• Camp shoes
• Electrolyte supplements​
• Alcohol​
• Books, games, or other enterainment
• Gaiters​
• Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent​​

General meetup location: Vienna Metro Station - 8:00am
Time driving: 3 hr. each way
Google driving direction from Vienna metro:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KUW283UFEe5kJJnLA

CARPOOL: Don't forget if you want a ride or are willing to offer a ride – be a friend to the environment, save money, and make friends.

LIABILITY NOTICE:
Please remember that this group operates under the common adventurer model. We are a group of friends and volunteers organizing trips for fun and shared experience. Participants are expected to be familiar with best hiking practices and choose hikes that align with their physical abilities and experience. Organizers and members are not liable for any injuries, loss, or damage to persons or property arising from group activities. By attending this event, you agree to assume all risks associated with the activity.​

## Details

Rock Creek Park is a 1,755-acre wooded oasis in the heart of Washington, DC. Beyond the main block of land along Rock Creek, the park includes parcels scattered across northwest Washington. Archeology has brought many untold stories of this park's long and fascinating history to light. People lived on the land for thousands of years before the park was established in 1890 and, even then, dozens of people still lived within its boundaries. Archeologists found Native American camp sites dating between 2,500 BCE and 1,400 CE, colonial tenancies, nineteenth-century dwellings, and Civil War military artifacts. Rock Creek Park's archeological resources thus preserve significant points in Washington's regional history.

We will meet at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium at 11:00 AM and walk to the trailhead. Free parking is available at any of the numbered picnic areas, the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, and off of 16th Street near the Rock Creek Tennis Center. You are welcome to organize carpools in the comments section below. Please post a comment if you are willing to drive.

## Trail Facts

• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Length: 3.5 Miles
• Duration: 1-2 hrs
• Elevation Gain: 337 Feet
• Permits: None
• Parking: Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
• Dogs: Must be leashed and under control at all times.
• Trailhead Coordinates: 38.95869094449462, -77.04918954511426
• AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington-dc/boulder-bridge-loop

Trail Details:
We'll be doing the Boulder Bridge Hike. The trail is marked with pink blazes on posts for the entire loop. It starts at the White Horse Trail trailhead. It is generally considered an easy route. It is a popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. This area is closed to vehicular traffic from 7 AM on Saturdays to 7 PM on Sundays and holidays but on weekdays the route is shared with vehicles. The path is wide and well-cleared, but steep and uneven in the beginning and ending sections. The entrance can be a bit tricky to find - it is by the horse stable. This loop is a combination of established trails in Rock Creek Park.

LIABILITY NOTICE:
Please remember that this group operates under the common adventurer model. We are a group of friends and volunteers organizing trips for fun and shared experience. Participants are expected to be familiar with best hiking practices and choose hikes that align with their physical abilities and experience. Organizers and members are not liable for any injuries, loss, or damage to persons or property arising from group activities. By attending this event, you agree to assume all risks associated with the activity.​

Formerly known as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Sweet Run is Virginia's newest state park. Dedicated by the Governor in 2023, this 884-acre property located near Hillsboro, VA features 11 miles of hiking trails, views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and signs of the property's past use for subsistence farming.

We will meet at the Vienna South Metro Station at 8:00 AM and carpool to the trailhead. Drive time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Please post a comment below if you are willing to drive. Carpooling saves the environment and makes friends.

## Trail Facts

• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Length: 6.5 Miles
• Duration: 2-3 hrs
• Elevation Gain: 669 Feet
• Permits: You must purchase either a $10 daily parking pass or a Virginia State Parks Annual Pass. In either case the pass covers everyone in the same vehicle.
• Parking: Vienna South Metro Station
• Dogs: Must be leashed and under control at all times.
• Trailhead Coordinates: 39.29321437867547, -77.72592075461714
• AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-april-7-2025-991de29?u=i&sh=kucj8c

Trail Details:

At the trailhead we can take a look at the orchard on the property as well as the view of the mountains to the east. We will then begin our journey through Sweet Run State Park, which will take us through forests and fields and along Piney Run, Wortman Pond, and Gordon Pond. When we return to the trailhead you can check out the garden or embrace your inner child in the nature play area. :)

On the way back, I plan to stop at Quattro Goombas Winery and Craft Brewery in Aldie, VA. The address is 22860 James Monroe Hwy, Aldie, VA 20105.

LIABILITY NOTICE:
Please remember that this group operates under the common adventurer model. We are a group of friends and volunteers organizing trips for fun and shared experience. Participants are expected to be familiar with best hiking practices and choose hikes that align with their physical abilities and experience. Organizers and members are not liable for any injuries, loss, or damage to persons or property arising from group activities. By attending this event, you agree to assume all risks associated with the activity.​

Caledon State Park is a 2,500-acre property in King George County that has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. The park includes 16 miles of hiking trails and is home to old growth forests and American bald eagles. Given the low mileage and modest elevation gain, this backpacking trip is a great choice for those who are new to the sport or who are trying to get back into it.

We will meet on the sidewalk between the parking garage and the bus lane at the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station at 8:00 AM and carpool to the trailhead. Drive time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Please post a comment below if you are willing to drive. Carpooling saves the environment and makes friends.

## Trail Facts