PATC Hikes & Events

Thursday Hike: Rock Creek Western Ridge, Northern Section; 6.6 or 9 Miles, your choice.

Enjoy this 6.6 or 9-mile loop trail in Rock Creek Park. The hike is generally considered a moderate route and takes an average of 3.5 hours to complete the first part and 1.5 hours for the second. The hike rambles through rolling hills that will make you feel far removed from city life. As this is a weekday hike, we will encounter relatively few others on the trails. We will pass by the site of a civil war fort, a "ford" crossing in use in years past, and the cabin of the “Poet of Rock Creek," Joaquin Miller. We also pass by a large community urban garden. There is a fun stream crossing, so feel free to bring a pole if you wish. After the hike, feel free to join us for a quick lunch.

The optional extended hike begins after the lunch. This 2.7-mile hike travels through the middle section of Rock creek through lesser used trails. There are some hills and a small stream crossing.

The 6.6 mile hike will end around 1:30 PM. The 9 mile hike will end around 2:30 PM.

The trails are open year-round and beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Toilets are available at the start and finish of the hike.

Please note. You must register by 9:00 PM the night before the hike. We also ask that if you sign up and decide not to attend, please sign out, by 9:00 PM the night before the hike. We often have a waiting list and signing out allows others to sign in. If you do not attend and have not signed out at least one hour before the hike begins, you will be considered a no-show.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead: We meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015.

The GPS coordinates are 38.96062, -77.05157

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.6 or 9 miles
Elevation Gain: 630 feet for the 6.6 mile hike, 909 for the 9-mile hike.
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour

Facilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead

Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation: 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.

Maximum number of hikers: 15

Notes:
-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.

This out-and-back moderately strenuous hike within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests includes mountain views, unique rocky terrain, and beautiful overlooks. We will hike on the Buzzard Rock Trail and turnaround after a break at the overlook. The hike is about 6.2 miles with approximately 1,387 feet of elevation and is known to be rocky.

Hike Route: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/overlook-via-buzzard-rock

Hiking Pace: We typically hike about 2 mph (faster on flat sections, slower on hilly / rocky sections); however, we leave no one behind and will move at a pace that is comfortable for all.

What to Bring: At least two liters of water, emergency contact information, personal first aid kit and medications, snacks/meal, sunscreen, insect repellant, trekking poles if you use them, sturdy hiking footwear.

Please leave pets at home.

Time to Meet: Please meet by 8:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00 am. If you can't make the hike, please cancel your RSVP by 6 pm the night before to allow others on the waiting list to join. There is often limited/no cell service in the area, so hike leaders may not receive messages the day of the hike.

Meeting Place: Google Map to Buzzard Rock Parking Area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/moycivj2XfMXLXgH9

Facilities: No bathrooms

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike leaders are Marc (571-422-5210) and Tim (202-744-0289). Call or text if needed.

Hike Details
-Rating: Moderate
-Distance: Approx. 6.2 miles
-Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,387 feet
-Pace: Average about 2.0 miles per hour
-Fees: N/A

Cancellation: 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:
-You must sign up by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance-free event.
-Please leave pets at home.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.
-Attendance is limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.

Maxwell Hall Park: a 7.5 or 8.6 Moderate Hike, Your Choice

Maxwell Hall Park, in Charles County Maryland, spans 670 acres and offers roughly 14 miles of trails winding through a variety of habitats, including woods, fields, hedgerows, and marshes. Its rolling hills provide scenic views and direct access to the sandy beaches of the Patuxent River—the longest river entirely within Maryland. At this location, the Patuxent is a broad tidal estuary, drawing waterfowl and gulls in winter and hosting terns and wading birds in summer.

The park is primarily made up of second-growth hardwood forests, with older trees found in stream valleys and some planted conifers scattered throughout. Fields are leased to local farmers, so most are cultivated, though occasional shrubby fallow areas can be found. Marshy creek outlets dot the river’s edge, creating excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Across the river you will see the Chalk Point Generating Station, an important source of electricity for the region.

There are six main color-coded trails, all clearly marked and well-kept. We will touch four of them on the 7.5 mile hike and five of them on the 8.6 mile hike. Terrain varies from steep hills to gentler slopes, generally descending toward the river. Streams crisscross the park, with bridges over larger ones and wet crossings at smaller streams. Marshes of varying size are located throughout.

Bring a lunch or snack that we will have along the way.

The 7.5 mile hike will end around 1:30 and the 8.5 mile hike will end around 2:00.

A leashed, well-behaved fido is welcome on this hike.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 in the parking lot of the Safeway in Prince Frederick, which is at the intersection of Route 4 and W Dares Beach Road (see address and GPS coordinates below). We meet at the side of of the parking lot (by Route 4). We do NOT meet at Maxwell Hall Equestrian Center. We will leave promptly at 10:00 for the trailhead.

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 Safeway parking lot in Prince Frederick, MD. The street address is 80W Dares Beach Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678. The GPS Coordinates are 38.545971, -76.590564. We meet in the parking lot at the side of Route 4. From there we carpool to the trailhead. We do NOT meet at Maxwell Hall Equestrian Center.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 7.5 or 8.6 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 600 on the 7.5 mile hike and 625 feet on the 8.5 mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There is a portable toilet near the trailhead
Fees: no fees

Cancellation:
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 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.