About us
PATC hikes are an opportunity to understand the club and its important trail maintenance work. You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us, but we hope you will consider joining after getting to know us. Come join us on the trails!
(PATC hikes are conducted by trained hike leaders. The hikes offer various levels of difficulty and distance).
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ABOUT PATC
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.
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ABOUT THE HIKE PROGRAM
The first stated purpose of PATC is "to support and encourage the ... proper recreational use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and other trails". This is done partly through the sponsorship of hikes on trails in PATC's area and on other trails.
The club has a wide-ranging hiking program which includes local area hikes and excursions into other geographical areas. Hikes can range from short, close-in day hikes to extended excursions. Hikes can be for physical conditioning, social interaction, nature walks, history lessons, to reach a viewpoint, or any of a number of purposes. The club encourages a wide variety of hikes, and provides training and support to hike leaders.
Upcoming events
10
National Trails Day Hike: Shenandoah National Park Dickey Ridge Loop
Shenandoah National Park, 3655 US Hwy 211 E, Luray, VA, USJoin PATC for a hike to celebrate National Trails Day in Shenandoah National Park. Members of the PATC Trail Patrol will lead a curated hike through the historic trails surrounding the Dickey Ridge Visitor's Center in the North District of Shenandoah National Park. Enter the park at the North Entrance in Front Royal and proceed to Dickey Ridge Visitors Center (17065 Skyline Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630) Meet at the PATC information table behind the Visitor's Center at 10:00 AM.
Fee: SNP requires a $15.00 per person or $30 per vehicle entrance fee unless you have an SNP park pass, or national park pass.
Hike Leader: Scott Schroth
Hike Name: Dickey Hill Loop
Start/End Time: 1000-1300
Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1050ft
Route: Start from Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, follow the Sneed Farm Loop trail clockwise, then the Fox Hollow trail counter-clockwise, and return to Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.Route:
Trail Map Links:
NPS - https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/DickeyRidgeArea_RoadTrail.pdf
Gaia - https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=14.3/-78.2005/38.8716&knownRouteId=12254Notes:
RSVP here by 6 pm the evening before. If you need to cancel, please change your RSVP by 6 pm to allow others to move off the waiting list. (Canceling after 6 pm may result in being designated a "no show" which may affect your ability to sign up for future PATC hikes.)
Use Meetup Comments for routine questions and comments, and to arrange carpools. Call hike leader Scott at 703-582-1195 if urgent. Note there may be spotty cell service in the park, so the leader may not receive last-minute calls or messages.
Consider becoming a member of PATC to both enjoy the trails and support their maintenance: https://www.patc.net12 attendees
Lorton Meadowoods 7.9 Mi
Meadow Wood Park, Mustang TrailHead Lot, 10702 Harley Rd., Lorton, VA, USThis moderate 7.9 mile hike begins at the Mustang Trailhead parking lot in the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area in Fairfax County, VA. Gather in the Mustang Trailhead parking lot near the intersection of Gunston Rd and Harley Rd on Mason Neck section of Lorton. Enjoy a walk through the rolling hills of both sides of the Meadowood Special Recreation Area. We will start on the Mustang Loop and traverse the Meadowood Connector, Turkey Meadow Loop Wood Thrush Loop, Whitetail Ridge and Thompson Creek Loop trails. Although we walk through a few fields, the majority of the hike will be shaded. The hike is along a series of trails with some rocks and roots, so please wear appropriate footwear.
Please make sure to bring water to drink!
And consider sunscreen and insect repellent.
We will pass restrooms about halfway through the hike.
Time to meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Contact information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions.
The hike leader is Bob 703-731-9983 Call or text if urgent.
Directions to the trailhead:.
The address: 10702 Harley Rd, Lorton, VA 22079.
The GPS coordinates: 38.66841306340515, -77.18805182170375
Elevation Gain: 580 ft.
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hourCancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting
Notes:
PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. DO NOT SHOW UP UNREGISTERED!
If YOUR PLANS CHANGE, UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT.
SIGNING OUT AFTER NOON WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW," AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES.
IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST, PLEASE CHECK YOUR STATUS AFTER 4:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE "GOING" LIST. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST AND NO LONGER WISH TO ATTEND, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT CONFIRMED, OTHERWISE YOU MAY BE MARKED AS A NO SHOW.
-A well-trained, leashed Fido is welcome on this hike.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here..5 attendees
Little Bennett: A 9-mile Moderate Hike
Little Bennett Regional Park - Kingsley Parking Area, 24758 Clarksburg Rd, Clarksburg, MD, USLittle Bennett: A 9-mile Moderate Hike
SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES."This hike is only 20 miles from D.C. and about a 50-minute drive from Baltimore so is most convenient for many of our hikers!
Just a little northwest of Washington, Little Bennett Regional Park is a superlative hiking venue. It’s Montgomery County’s largest park, covering almost 3,650 acres (a small piece also juts into Frederick County). A park since 1975, it has the county’s largest expanse of continuous woodland, splendid scenery, much wildlife, a trail network, and few human users.
This hike is a 9-mile tour, with about 750 feet of elevation change. The trails west of Little Bennett Creek are quite well signposted and in good shape. Most of these trails are off-limits to bikers and horse riders. Those in the more rugged eastern area are twice as hilly.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa (410-610-6254). Call or text as needed.
Directions to Trailhead:
We meet at the Kingley parking lot in Little Bennett Park. The best address to use in your GPS is 24472 Clarksburg Road, Clarksburg, MD. However, the Kingsley parking lot is a little north of that address. Look for the sign that says Kingsley Parking Lot. The Pin location is correct.
Use the GPS Coordinates if you can: 39.266022, -77.280568Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 750 feet
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There is a portable toilet about 1 mile into the hike
Fees: no feesCancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.Notes:
PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. SHOULD YOUR PLANS CHANGE, KINDLY UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND BECAUSE MEETUP MOVES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY TO THE GOING LIST ONCE A SPOT OPENS.SIGNING OUT AFTER 6:00 PM WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW," AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES LED BY THIS ORGANIZER.
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.30 attendees
Past events
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