POPUMC Hiking Group
On 08/02/2022 I pulled a muscle in my back.
I had originally injured this muscle on a hike in January, 2020.
I slipped on a piece of ice during that hike, my leg shifted rapidly about two
inches to the left. Suddenly, I was in imense pain. This pain got less over
time. I believe that this re-injury was a result of massive exertion over the
previous few days on my part.
That Tuesday night I was in imense pain. I could not get up out of a chair
without help. And any sudden move sent spasms of pain up the left side of
my back between my butt and my shoulder. It was so bad that I would
momentarilly black out. So I took ibuprofin, applied topical medication and
used a hot water bottle that night.
As of 08/06/2022 the pain is still there but much less in
intensity. I have been doing stretching exercises and have walked the quarter mile trail around our property and felt OK afterwards. I will start off doing
some easy hikes for awhile and work up to more moderate ones.
So please keep coming out for our hikes in the interim.
The
Prince of Peace United Methodist Church or POPUMC
Hiking Group was started in
January, 2018. We do day hikes the first Saturday of each month along with
New Years Day and occasional Wednesdays. The benefits of hiking include:
- Improvement in general health.
- Meet new people.
- See new places.
Below are over 90 suggested day hikes that are between 2 and 5
miles, roughly within an hour of POPUMC and are mostly easy to moderate in
terms of difficulty. We're open to suggestions and alternative hikes as well
as additional hike leaders. We'll also try to avoid areas where hunting is
allowed for safety's sake. Our Saturday hikes are at 8:00 AM between the
months of April and September and at 9:00 AM between the months of October and
March. Our New Years Day hike starts at 1:00 PM and the Wednesday hike start
times are at the discretion of the hike leader. We will meet at the
POPUMC parking lot at one of the above times and then travel to a given hike.
All are welcome to join us on these hikes.
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If you want to subscribe to our monthly email
newsletter, please send me email requesting to get onto the list:
mikecalabrese@aol.com .
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We are now doing Wednesday hikes! These hikes are 2 to 5 miles, within an
hour of POPUMC and are usually announced two or 3 days ahead of time. If you
are off on Wednesdays, retired or just want to play hooky from work, please
contact Mike at the above email address for details.
Widewater State Park,
101 Widewater State Park RD, Stafford, VA 22554, 540-288-1400.
24.2 miles from POPUMC. One of Virginia's newest state parks,
I've selected a nice, easy loop which comes in at around 2.75 to 3 miles. You
can view a map of this loop
Here.
There is a $10 entrance fee to this park (annual pass available).
Saturday, September 3, 2022 @ 8:00 AM ♠
Conway Robinson State Forest,
Lee HWY, Gainesville, VA 20155, 434-977-6555. 16.1 miles from POPUMC.
We'll do an easy 3.1 mile loop trail on this one.
We need a hike leader for this hike as I will be out of town
that weekend. If no one steps up to lead this hike, it will be a "self
service" hike. You just show up and do it on your own.
Saturday, October 1, 2022 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
07/07/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
First Choice Hike.
The first person that contacts me with a hike suggestion that is 2-5 miles,
within an hour of POPUMC and is moderate, that is the hike that we will do.
Saturday, November 5, 2022 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
Huntley Meadows Park,
3701 Lockheed BLVD, Alexandria, VA 22306, 703-768-2525. 23 miles from POPUMC.
This is an urban wetlands with about 2.4 miles of trails that include
boardwalks.
Saturday, December 3, 2022@ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
01/14/2021 Recon of This Hike
Occoquan Regional Park,
9751 Ox RD, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-690-2121. 10.9 miles from POPUMC. The 1.8 mile loop along the river
and along the road is easy. The .7 mile blue trail loop is moderate to
strenous. The total is 2.5 and moderate. If you have small kids I would
recommend the 1.8 mile loop only. They are either dirt/gravel or asphalt.
There is no entrance fee to this park.
Monday, January 1, 2023 @ 1:00 PM *
12/27/2021 Trip Log of this Hike
Roosevelt Island,
Potomac River, MD. 30.8 miles from POPUMC. About 3 miles of trails. I grew up less than 10 miles
from here but I never hiked here.
Saturday, January 7, 2023 @ 9:00
AM (Note later start time), *
Meadowood Special Recreation & Management Area,
10406 Gunston RD, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-339-8473. 15.2 miles from POPUMC.
There is an equestrian loop at this park that we haven't done.
Saturday, February 4, 2023 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
This Trail needs to be Reconned
08/03/2019 Trip Log of The Hiker/Biker Loop
Leesylvania State Park,
2001 Daniel K Ludwig DR, Woodbridge, VA 22191, 703-730-8205. 11.2 miles from
POPUMC. 2 loop trails there. 1.3 and 1.96 miles as well as a few miles of the
Potomac Heritage Trail. Entrance fee of $10 per car.
Saturday, March 4, 2023 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
09/01/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
Bristow Station Battlefield Heritage Park Loop Trail
and
Brentsville Courthouse Loop Trail,
10708 Bristow RD, Bristow, VA 20136. 11.8 miles from POPUMC. A 2.5 mile loop
trail and, as an added bonus, a 1 mile loop trail up the street behind
Brentsville Courthouse.
Saturday, April 1, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
10/06/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
Nokesville Park,
12560 Aden RD, Nokesville, VA 20181, 703-792-7060. 14.5 miles from POPUMC.
2.5 mile loop trail around this park.
Saturday, May 6, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
11/03/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
Silver Lake Park,
16198 Silver Lake RD, Haymarket, VA 20169, 703-792-7060. 22 miles from POPUMC.
Nice 4 mile loop trail here.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
12/02/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
Andrew Leitch Park,
5301 Dale BLVD, Dale City, VA 22193, 703-792-7060. 1.9 miles from POPUMC.
This is the closest hiking trail to POP. You can either do a loop trail of
about 2 miles or a 3.5 mile linear hike between Princedale DR and either
Mapledale, Lindendale or Roundtree DR and stage a vehicle at each end. This
may be part of the future
Neabsco Greenway
Saturday, July 1, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
03/03/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
01/01/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Leopold's Preserve,
Throughfare RD, Haymarket, VA 20169. 20.7 miles from POPUMC. Another 4 mile
loop trail around a development but in the woods.
Saturday, August 5, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
01/05/2019 Trip Log of This Hike *
First Choice Hike.
The first person that contacts me with a hike suggestion that is 2-5 miles,
within an hour of POPUMC and is moderate, that is the hike that we will do.
Saturday, September 2, 2023 @ 8:00 AM
Four Mile Run
and
W&OD Trail Loop,
Arlington, VA. 27.2 miles from POPUMC. The Four Mile Run and W&OD Trails
run on opposite sides of Four Mile Run for a good stretch in Arlington, VA.
We should be able to carve out a 4-5 mile loop along these 2 trails.
Saturday, October 7, 2023 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
Broad Run Trail,
Bristow, VA 20136, 703-792-7060. 13.5 miles from POPUMC. This time we will do
a 4.5 mile linear hike that starts at the Hunting Cove CT cul-de-sac off of
Linton Hall RD and hike all the way to VA28 near Sowder Village SQ. (As of
10/26/2020 the bridge over Rocky Branch was out. If it isn't replaced by hike
time we'll have to probably start at Sudley Manor DR.) This trail will
eventually go from Doves Landing Park to Rollins Ford RD near Vint Hill RD.
Saturday, November 4, 2023 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
02/02/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
05/25/2020 Recon of This Trail (1st Attempt)
06/01/2020 Recon of This Trail (2nd Attempt)
09/02/2020 Recon of the western end of This Trail
02/23/2022 Recon of Broad Run Trail between Sudley Manor DR and VA28 in Bristow, VA
Vint Hill Loop Trail,
Kennedy RD, Warrenton, VA 22186. 19.3 miles from POPUMC.
I used to walk this 3.5 mile loop trail when I worked at Vint Hill. We could
stretch it to 5 miles if everyone agrees. Remnants of
the former military base are still present.
Saturday, December 2, 2023 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
12/08/2021 Recon of This Trail
2024 will be my final year doing these hikes. We will be doing some
repeats of hikes that we have done in the past as well as a couple new
hikes during 2024
Bull Run Occoquan Trail,
7700 Bull Run Dr, Centreville, VA 20121. 703-631-0550. 17.7 miles from
POPUMC. We'll start at the western terminus within Bull Run Regional Park
and hike to VA28. Only 1.7 miles. There is a $10.00 per vehicle fee to this
park (which may increase in 2022). This trail is rated easy to moderate.
Monday, January 1, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
Warrenton Branch Greenway and Extensions,
800 Waterloo RD, Warrenton, VA 22186, 540-349-2520. 31 miles from POPUMC. An
easy 3.6 miles between downtown Warrenton and Laurel Ridge (formerly Lord
Fairfax) Community College Warrenton Campus.
Saturday, January 6, 2024 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
08/25/2020 Recon of This Trail
09/16/2021 Recon of This Trail
03/02/2022 Recon of This Trail
First Choice Hike.
The first person that contacts me with a hike suggestion that is 2-5 miles,
within an hour of POPUMC and is moderate, that is the hike that we will do.
Saturday,
February 3, 2024 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time),
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge,
13950 Dawson Beach RD, Woodbridge, VA 22191, 703-490-4979.
10.1 miles from POPUMC. A former government facility that did electromagnetic
pulse testing, this pristine environment hosts many migrating birds. 4 miles
of trails, $2.00 per vehicle admission fee.
Saturday, March 2, 2024 @
9:00 AM (Note later start time) *
03/02/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Crows Nest Natural Area Preserve,
81 Raven RD, Stafford, VA 22554, 804-786-7951. 28.8 miles from POPUMC.
There are about 8 miles of trails here.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
07/15/2022 Recon of This Hike
Cub Run Stream Valley Trail,
12055 Government Center PKWY, Fairfax, VA 22035, 703-324-8702. 22.6 miles from
POPUMC. A 3.1 mile linear hike between Compton RD just W of the I66 and Sully
Park DR near Deer Pond RD. We will hike the Cub Run South and Cub Run East
Trails. There are still other trails in this area for future hikes.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
02/05/2019 Recon of This Trail
04/06/2022 Recon of This Trail
There is another trail Closure on the Cub Run South Trail between Compton RD and US29 due to power line work. No ETC given.
C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area,
Summerduck, VA 22742. 36.2 miles from POPUMC. This one is mostly dirt
roads but is nice hiking when it is not hunting season. Access permit required.
Saturday, June 1, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
Cross County Trail,
12055 Government Center PKWY, Fairfax, VA 22035, 703-324-8702. Between 9.9 and
37.7 miles from POPUMC. A 40 mile trail bisecting Fairfax County from north to
south. We'll either do a new section or one that we've reconned. Whatever
the participants want to do.
Saturday, July 6, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
*
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
02/16/2022 Recon of This Hike
04/13/2022- Recon of CCT between FFX CTY PKY and Pohick RD
5/11/2022- Recon of CCT between Lake Accotink and FFX CTY PKWY
Mason Neck State Park,
7301 High Point RD, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-339-2385. 19 miles from POPUMC.
7 miles of trails here. $10 entrance fee per vehicle.
Saturday, August 3, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
*
04/06/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve,
17405 Beverly Mill DR, Haymarket, VA 20137, 703-753-2631. 22.3 miles from
POPUMC. Nice views, old structures and various loops
that we can tackle. Sorry, but no dogs allowed on these trails.
Saturday,
September 7, 2024 @ 8:00 AM *
05/04/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Motts Run Reservoir Recreation Area,
6600 River Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, 540-786-8989. 35.8 miles from
POPUMC. We have a choice here of either a 7 mile loop around the reservoir and
a 2 mile access trail for a total of 9 miles or a series of loops on the north
side of the reservoir that range between .2 and 2.6 miles each that can total
6.1 miles or less. Your choice.
Saturday, October 5, 2024 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time),
The Reservoir and Access Trail need to be Reconned
Pohick Bay Regional Park,
6501 Pohick Bay DR, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-339-6104. 16.4 miles from POPUMC.
We'll do the 2 mile blue trail and the 1 mile white trail here here. $8.00
entrance fee per vehicle.
Saturday, November 2, 2024 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time) *
06/01/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Potomac Heritage Trail,
1614 Aerie Lane McLean, VA 22101 571-436-7801. Between 8.4 and 15.4 miles from
POPUMC. We'll do either the 5.5 mile section of the PHT through
Prince William Forest Park, VA
or another section within Prince William County, VA.
01/19/2022 Recon of the PWFP PHT Section
Saturday, December 7, 2024 @ 9:00 AM (Note later start time)
I'm removing the dates for all hikes after 12/31/2024. We can move them around
easier that way.
W&OD Trail,
21293 Smiths Switch RD, Ashburn, VA 20147, 703-729-0596. Between 30.8 and 45.6
miles from POPUMC. We'll do a 3 to 7 mile section somewhere on this trail.
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
Bull Run / Occoquan Trail,
5400 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, 703-352-5900. 12.2 miles from
POPUMC. We'll do about 5 miles from VA28 to the Popes Head Creek Trail
within Hemlock Overlook Regional Park.
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
Appalachian Trail,
799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, 304-535-6331. 62 miles from POPUMC. This one will be
either 6 or 8.2 miles depending on where we leave a vehicle. From US522 near
Front Royal, VA to either VA638 or VA55 near Linden, VA. This is a
strenous hike. *
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
Fairfax Cross County Trail,
VA. We'll do another section of this trail TBD.
*
Click/Tap Here
for a distance calculator.
04/13/2022- Recon of CCT between FFX CTY PKY and Pohick RD
C&O Canal Toepath Trail,
MD. 52 miles from POPUMC. We'll
do either a 3 mile up, 3 mile back or a 2 mile up, 2 mile back headed west
from Point of Rocks. *
Click/Tap Here for a distance calculator.
06/25/2020 Recon of This Hike
Tuscarora Trail
in VA and/or WV. Between 71 and 84 miles from POPUMC. We'll do another section of this trail TBD.
Click/Tap Here for a distance calculator.
Burke Lake Park,
7315 Ox RD, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, 703-323-6600. 15.8 miles from POPUMC.
A 4.7 mile loop around the lake. There is a $10.00 vehicle entrance fee to
this park.
07/06/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Cannon Branch (Union) Earthwork Fort,
10611 Gateway BLVD, Manassas, VA 20110 and
Mayfield (Confererate) Earthwork Fort,
8401 Quarry RD, Manassas, VA 20110. Between 9.6 and 9.7 miles from POPUMC.
We'll be touring two civil war forts. About a half mile walk at each site.
09/07/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Blue Trail at Fountainhead Regional Park,
10875 Hampton Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, 703-250-9124. We can do either
the BROT or the Blue Blazed Horse/Hiking Trail. Your choice.
Click/Tap here for a Distance Calculator
for the BROT.
The Blue Blazed Horse/Hiking Trail is about 3,5 miles and is rated moderate to
strenous.
*
03/30/2022 Recon of Blue Blazed Horse/Hiker Trail
07/02/2022 Trip Log of Blue Blazed Horse/Hiker Trail
Appalachian Trail,
799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, 304-535-6331. 80 miles from POPUMC. In Northern
Virginia, we'll start where the AT leaves SNP at Compton Gap, then hike all
downhill for about 4.5 miles. I've rated this one strenous because you have
to descend over Possum Rest.
Click/Tap Here for a distance calculator.
Whitney State Forest,
Lees Ridge RD, Warrenton, VA 22186, 703-347-6358. 32.4 miles from POPUMC. Over 7 miles of trails. We
can do a 3.5 mile loop here. I will check the status of hunting in this park
before we go. Located south of Warrenton, VA. *
10/05/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Billy Goat Trail,
C&O Canal NHP, 11710 Macarthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854,
301-767-3714. 45.1 miles from POPUMC. A total of 4.75 miles. Section A,
1.75 miles is strenous; Section B, 1.4 miles is moderate to strenous; Section
C, 1.6 miles is easy to moderate. *
Great Falls Park,
9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102, 703-757-3101. 43.7 miles from POPUMC.
About
13 miles of trails here. I'm sure that we can carve out a nice 5 mile route.
$20 entrance fee or NPS Pass required to enter this park as of
04/07/2021.
Mount Vernon Trail,
George Washington Memorial Parkway c/o Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA 22101,
703-289-2500. Between 23.6 and 27.9 miles from POPUMC. This one is about 18 miles long. We can probably do a 7.4 mile
linear hike from Belle Haven Park to Mount Vernon if we stage a vehicle at
each end. Or we can do a 6.8 mile up and back from Fort Hunt Park. Or we could
do a 3.4 mile one way hike from Fort Hunt Park to Mount Vernon if we stage a
vehicle at each end. Your choice.
Wakefield Park,
8100 Braddock RD, Annandale, VA 22003, 703-321-7081. 6.3
miles of trails here including the
Cross County Trail .
I'm going to have to re-recon this one as the CCT between VA 236 and
Braddock RD is only about 1.5 miles.
04/13/2022- Recon of CCT between FFX CTY PKY and Pohick RD
The trail along Accotink Creek and parallel to the Fairfax CCT within Wakefield Park will be closed for sewer work. No ETC given. The Fairfax CCT will remain open during this project.
C.M. Crockett Park,
10066 Rogues RD, Midland, VA 22728, 540-422-8870. About 2 miles of trails.
$7.00 per vehicle entrance fee. Added bonus:
John Marshall Park
A 1.3 mile hike close by.
11/02/2019 Trip Log of this hike
Sky Meadows State Park,
10112 Edmonds LA, Delaplane, VA 20144, 540-592-3556. We do either the
4.5 mile Lost Mountain loop or the shortest route from the visitor center to
the AT. $10.00 per vehicle admission fee. Both of these hikes are moderate to
strenous.
12/07/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Gilbert's Corner Regional Park,
23557 Watson RD, Leesburg, VA 20175, 703-327-9777. Currently about
1.5 miles of trails but will be expanded in the future.
12/28/2019 Recon of This Park
South Run District Park,
7550 Reservation DR, Springfield, VA 22153, 703-866-0566. A nice 4.3
mile mostly loop trail along the South Run Stream Valley near the South Run
REC Center and Lake Mercer.
01/04/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve,
21085 The Woods RD, Leesburg, VA 20175, 703-777-0343. 36.8 miles from
POPUMC. 695 acres along Goose Creek in Loudoun County. Lots of short trails
that can be combined.
02/01/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
Sweet Run State Park,
11661 Harpers Ferry RD, Purcellville, VA 20132, 540-668-7640. 58 miles from
POPUMC. Formerly Blue
Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, 900+ acre
preserve, lots of trails. This time we will hike the westernmost trails like
the Wood Thrush Trail and the Legacy Loop. The new web site for this park is:
Here.
03/07/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, 21293 Smiths Switch RD,
Ashburn, VA 20147, 703-729-0596. 45 miles long from Arlington to
Purcellville, VA. We will do the westernmost 5.5 or 5.6 miles. We'll
need 2 vehicles for a one way hike here.
Click/Tap Here for a distance calculator.
Lake Ridge/Occoquan Greenway Trail,
14420 Bristow RD, Manassas, VA 20112, 703-792-7060. A
7 mile linear trail that goes from Lake Ridge Marina to the Town of
Occoquan, VA. We will do half of this one from Lake Ridge Marina to Oakwood
DR, a distance of about 3.8 miles. The western half of this trail, which we
will be hiking, is rated moderate. The eastern half is definitely strenous.
This trail is dirt/gravel, concrete and/or asphalt.
04/01/2019 Trip Log of This Hike
Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail,
12055 Government Center PKWY, Fairfax, VA 22035, 703-324-8702. A 3.4 mile
linear hike between Ellanor C Lawrence Park and the Fairfax County PKWY near
Fair Lakes PKWY.
01/12/2022 Recon of This Hike
Connector Trail between Lake Ridge Park and PWC Government Center, VA.
I finally got this one reconned. It is about 3.75 miles and is rated
moderate. More info to follow.
08/10/2020 Recon of This Hike
02/02/2022 Lake Ridge Park to PWC Govt. CTR Trail, VA Recon
Green Circle Trail,
1001 East Cork ST, Winchester, VA 22601, 540-662-4946. Basically a
6 to 12 mile walking tour of Winchester, VA. We can probably cut it down
lengthwise. More info to follow.
This Trail needs to be Reconned
Third Winchester Battlefield,
541 Redbud Road, Winchester, VA 22603 540-740-4545. A 4 mile hike in an
historic area.
11/17/2007 Trip Log of This Hike
Connector Trail between Silver Lake and James S. Long Parks.
A 2 mile up, 2 mile back hike along a stretch of trail that will be part of
the future Catharpin Greenway 9 mile trail.
07/04/2020 Trip Log of this Hike
Lake Accotink Park,
7500 Accotink Park RD, Springfield, VA 22150, 703-569-3464. A very nice 3.8
mile hike around the lake. The rating is easy to moderate.
08/01/2020 Trip Log of this Hike
Fredericksburg Quarry,
1200 Wicklow DR, Fredericksburg, VA. 22401, 540-372-1086 or
540-408-4952. This area straddles both sides of I95 just south of the
Rappahannock River within Fredericksburg. We can probably get at least 3 hikes
out of this area.
11/29/2020 Recon of This Hike
Claude Moore Park,
21544 Old Vestal's Gap Road, Sterling, VA 20164, 571-258-3700. About 10 miles
of trails in this park. We'll do the 3.3 mile blue blazed Scout Trail. This
hike is rated easy to moderate.
09/05/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
Lake Fairfax Park,
1400 Lake Fairfax DR, Reston, VA 20190, 703-471-5414. A lot of trails, not
a lot of documentation. The perimeter trail is about 4 miles and is rated easy
to moderate.
10/03/2020 Trip Log of this Hike
Dickey Ridge Trail,
Mile Post 4.6, Shenandoah National Park, VA, 3655 US-211, Luray, VA 22835,
540-999-3500. This could be a one way 4.8 mile or an up and back 9.6 mile hike
at the north end of Skyline DR.
Shenandoah River/Andy Guest State Park,
350 Daughters of Stars Drive, Bentonville, VA 22610, 540-622-6840. I met Andy
Guest back in the 1970's. He was a Virginia state delegate. His family
donated the land that later became this park. He died of cancer in 2001. We
could do either the 3.2 mile Allen's Mountain loop or the 5.4 mile Bear Bottom
Loop.
Sugarland Run Trail,
12055 Government Center PKWY, Fairfax, VA 22035, 703-324-8702. 31.4 miles from
POPUMC. This is an
easy to moderate 4.4 mile linear asphalt trail that starts at the W&OD
Trail in Reston, VA and ends at Dranesville RD near historic Dranesville, VA.
07/20/2021 Recon of This Hike
Hastings->Winters Branch->
Wellington Trail,
9501 Dean Park LA, Manassas, VA 20110, 703-257-8200.
This is a 3.8 mile loop trail that starts at the Giant/Wellington RD shopping
Center, then proceeds clockwise on Hastings DR 1.8 miles, Winters Branch for
.9 miles and then Wellington RD back to the Giant for 1.1 miles. Total
distance is 3.8 miles. This hike is rated easy to moderate.
11/07/2020 Trip Log of this Hike
Prince William Forest Park,
18170 Park Entrance RD, Triangle, VA 22172, 703-221-7181. This time we'll do
a 2.7 mile loop consisting of the Farms to Forest and Farms to Forest
Extention trails. There is an entrance fee of $10.00 per car to enter this
park. This one is rated moderate to strenous.
12/06/2020 Trip Log of LLT/SVT/PMR/PMT/NVT/LLT Hike
06/04/2022 Trip Log of This Hike
Little Bull Run Spur Trail,
14488 Bristow RD, Manassas, VA 20112, 703-792-7060. This is a proposed
trail that is supposed to run from the north end of the quarry in Silver Lake
Park, turn onto Catharpin RD and end up at the intersection of Catharpin RD
and Catharpin Creek near Haymarket, VA. It's only about 20% complete as of
12/30/2020. Hopefully, it will be complete before we get to this one.
12/27/2020 Recon of This Hike
George Helwig Memorial Park,
14420 Bristow RD, Manassas, VA 20112, 703-792-7060. This one
is only a mile but we could do it twice to make 2 miles and/or include the
perimeter of the park to make it 3 miles.
01/01/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge,
High Point and Gunston RDS, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-490-4979. We'll probably do
either the Great Marsh trail or some other combination of trails.
01/02/2021 Trip Log of the Woodmarsh Trail Hike
Long Branch Stream Valley Trail,
4439 Glenn Rose ST, Fairfax, VA. 22032, 703-324-8702. This is an
easy to moderate 2.75 mile linear trail that runs from the intersection of
Wakefield Chapel RD and Braddock RD and proceeds in a northwest direction to
Olley LA. This trail is rated moderate.
04/27/2022 Recon of This Hike
Manassas National Battlefield Park,
12521 Lee HWY, Manassas, VA 20109,
703-361-1339. Over 40 miles of hiking trails. Route to be determined.
04/08/2018 Trip Log of The Battle of First Manassas Hike
02/06/2021 Trip Log of the Battle of Second Manassas Loop Trail
Blooms Park,
9701 Manassas DR, Manassas Park, VA 20111, 703-335-8872. A former
golf course, this park was opened in September, 2019. About 3.4 miles of
asphalt trail. This is a moderate to strenous hike.
01/22/2020 Recon of This Hike
03/06/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park,
5040 Walney RD, Chantilly, VA 20151, 703-631-0013. About 4 miles of trails.
Rated easy to moderate. We can do a loop here that is about
3 miles.
♠ ¤
04/03/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Locust Shade Park,
4701 Locust Shade DR, Triangle, VA 22172, 703-792-7060.
There are new trails here so the hike route is TBA.
05/05/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
05/01/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Whites Mill / Woods of Warrenton Trail,
Warrenton, VA. This is a 5 mile linear trail on
the southeast side of Warrenton, VA. There is parking either at the current
north end at the cul-de-sac along Comfort Inn DR or at the current south end at
the dead end of Academy Hill Extended. This trail is either finely crushed
stone or asphalt. It is part of a long range plan to build a circular trail
around Warrenton, VA.
10/14/2020 Video Recon of Whites Mill Trail
03/25/2022 Recon of Woods of Warrenton Trail Extension
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk,
Woodbridge, VA. This 1 mile boardwalk is part of the new Neabsco
Regional Park as well as part of the
Potomac Herritage Trail
It connects Rippon Lodge Park and Julie
Metz Wetlands. We will do a 3.5 mile loop consisting of the boardwalk,
looping around Rippon
Lodge and then taking the boardwalk back to our vehicles.
01/01/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
06/05/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Merrimac Farm WMA,
15014 Deepwood LA, Nokesville, VA 20181, 703-499-4954. Two 1 mile
trails here that form a nice loop hike. 301 acres. Each hiker will need
either a VA DWR access permit, fishing, hunting or trapping license or a
Virginia boat registration to get in. You need to purchase the access permit
in advance for 07/03/2021 as there is no cell service at the park. You must
have one of the above credentials in order to do this hike.
Click/Tap Here
to purchase an access permit for this hike.
♠
07/03/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Curtis Memorial Park,
58 Jesse Curtis LA, Hartwood, VA 22406, 540-658-5114. There is a good
orange blazed 3.1 mile loop trail here. This is a moderate hike.
Directions to this park are as follows: Aden RD from Independent Hill, VA;
take a left onto Fleetwood; After about 5 miles take a left onto Brent Town,
You are now on VA612 and will remain so until you get to the park. In 7 miles
take a right onto VA612 which initially is Aquia RD for about 500 feet, left on
Tackets Mill for about 2 miles, right on Heflin for about 2 miles. Then, take
a right onto Poplar and then an immediate left onto Hartwood, which remains
VA612. Travel time is only about 45-50 minutes as opposed to 1 to 1.5 hours
traveling VA28 to US17 or I95 to US17 from Manassas, VA.
♠
05/19/2020 Recon of This Hike
08/07/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Riverside Preserve,
8150 Leeds Manor RD, Marshall, VA 20115. This preserve opened in early 2019
and is one of the only public access points to the Rappahannock River in
Fauquier County, VA. A nice 3.2 mile series of loop trails here. This one is
rated moderate to strenous.
01/11/2020 Recon of This Park
09/04/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
James S. Long Regional Park,
4603 James Madison HWY, Haymarket, VA 20169, 703-792-7060. We'll
do a 4 mile loop trail around the perimeter of this park. Rated moderate to
strenous.
♠
06/06/2020 Trip Log of This Hike
10/02/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Rady Park / WARF Trail System,
800 Waterloo RD, Warrenton, VA 20186, 540-349-2520. A series of loops
surrounding the Warrenton Aquatic & Recreation Facility. We have three
options to do this trail. I found a way to get from nearby Rady Park to
the WARF so we'll meet at the WARF and, if everyone agrees, shuttle a vehicle
to Rady Park, hike from Rady to the WARF and do the loop trails there for a
total of 3.6 miles. Those that want to stay at the WARF can hike the 2 miles
of trails there. If we are really feeling ambicious, we can hike back to Rady
for a total of 5.2 miles. Your choice. This trail is rated easy.
¤
12/19/2020 Recon of This Hike
09/16/2021 Recon of This Hike
11/06/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Laurel Hill Park,
8320 Laurel Crest DR, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-324-8702. On the site of the
former DC Prison at Lorton, this park has open meadows and numerous trails to
hike. I think we'll do a 4.0 mile loop that starts and ends at the Dairy RD
trail crossing that is to the north and just south of Lorton and Furnace RDS.
I verified
with Fairfax County Parks that there is no hunting here in December. This
trail is rated moderate to strenous.
♠
11/13/2020 Recon of This Hike
12/04/2021 Trip Log of This Hike
Stafford Civil War Park,
400 Mt. Hope Church RD, Stafford, VA 22554, 540-685-4872. And
Government Island Park,
191 Coal Landing RD, Stafford, VA 22554. About 1.5 miles of trail at each
park. They are less than 8 miles apart.
01/23/2019 Recon of Stafford Civil War Park, VA
06/29/2022 Recon of Both Parks
Valley View Park,
11930 Valley View DR, Nokesville, VA 20181, 703-792-7060. An easy 2.0 mile
loop through the woods around the ball fields.
08/04/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
Holmes Run Trail,
Between Columbia PK, Baileys Crossroads, VA and Eisenhower AVE, Alexandria, VA.
This is a 5.2 mile linear 'urban' hike that goes through areas that some of us
grew up in.
01/03/2021 Recon of This Hike
04/11/2021- Holmes Run Trail Closures with Detours due to flood damage. ETC Fall 2024.
Doves Landing Park,
9307 Doves LA, Manassas, VA 20112, 703-792-7060 . They have added new trails
here and have expanded others so we'll do the new orange trail loop
which is about 2.6 miles. This is an easy to moderate hike on dirt trails,
some of which may be muddy.
02/03/2018 Trip Log of This Hike
06/24/2021 Recon of New Trails at This Park
02/05/2022 Trip Log of the orange trail at This Park
Giles Run / Lorton Valley Loop Trail
8941 Ox RD, VA123, Lorton, VA. This trail starts behind the Giant Food store,
travels along Giles Run, skirts around either Herron Pond or Mist Lake, then
will either loop around to Silverbrook RD to Lee Alan RD and then return to
the Giant via the Giles Run Trail for about 4 miles or return via VA123 Ox RD
for about 5 miles. This trail is rated moderate.
¤
09/23/2021 Recon of This Hike
03/05/2022 Trip Log of This Hike
Bull Run Regional Park,
7700 Bull Run DR, Centreville, VA 20121,
703-631-0550. There is the
White Perimeter Trail,
Yellow Trail, the Bluebell Trail as well as the western terminus of the Bull
Run Occoquan Trail. Doing a counterclockwise loop consisting of the BROT
for .4 miles->Bluebell for 1.5 miles->Perimeter for 2.5 miles should get us a
nice 4.2 mile loop. There is an $8.00 per vehicle entrance fee to this
park on weekends. These trails are rated easy to moderate.
They are dirt based and tend to be muddy.
04/21/2022 Recon of This Trail
Blue Ridge Tunnel, Afton, VA.
This would be an all day trip as it takes about 2.5 hours to get to one of the
2 trailheads, then about 3 hours to do the 4.5 mile out and back through the
tunnel. If we stage a vehicle at each end the travel time will be longer but
the distance in the tunnel will only be about 2.3 miles one way and about 1.5
hours to do the tunnel. Travel time back to Manassas will be about 2.5 hours so
count on spending about 8 hours total time to do this hike.
♠
Scotts Run Nature Preserve,
7400 Georgetown PK, McLean, VA 22102, 703-759-9018. This one may
stretch our 1 hour from POPUMC rule but there are nice views, a waterfall as
well as a nice 3.1 mile loop trail here. If the lot is full here we can try
nearby Great Falls or Riverbend Park. This trail is rated moderate to
strenous.
♠
Riverbend Park,
8700 Potomac Hills ST, Great Falls, VA 22066, 703-759-9018.
Nice views along the Potomac River. You can also access Great Falls Park
from this one. There is a nice 3.5 mile loop here.
This trail is rated moderate. No entrance fee
. ♠
06/08/2022 Recon of This Park
Powells Creek Area, Potomac Heritage Trail,
Dumfries, VA, 703-792-7060.
According to Prince William County Parks, Rec & Tourism, if this ever gets
built, it will rival the boardwalk at Neabsco Regional Park. There are some
trails here now that we could explore.
Franklin Regional Park,
17501 Franklin Park DR, Purcellville, VA 20132, 540-338-7603. 52.2 miles from
POPUMC. They have a
3.5 mile perimeter trail here that looks interesting. This trail is rated
easy to moderate.
*
09/22/2020 Recon of This Hike
Maryland Heights Trail,
613-699 Harpers Ferry Rd, Knoxville, MD 21758 MD, 304-535-6029. 62.4 miles
from POPUMC. Our first adventure in MD! A difficult but very scenic and
historic 4.5 or 6.5 mile trail overlooking Harpers Ferry, WV. Allow 3-4 hours
for this hike as well as about 2.5 hours total travel time. Note that this
trail has been closed a number of times due to Bald Eagle nesting so we will
verify that this one is open before the hike.
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park,
12619 Yates Ford RD, Clifton, VA, 703-250-9124. 11.2 miles from POPUMC. We'll
be doing a 3.8 mile loop that incorporates some of their
trails as well as the Bull Run Occoquan Trail. Note that this is a moderate
to strenous hike. I'm thinking of doing this one counterclockwise as the up at
the end will be easier. There is no entrance fee to this park. Parking is
very limited here. If we get to this park and there are no additional parking
spots we can either do a linear hike on the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail (BROT) or
I read about a nice trail in Clifton that is close by. Hopefully, this won't be an issue.
Paradise Springs Winery
is right across the street.
03/20/2020 Images from This Park
02/09/2022 Recon of This Trail
* = Georeferenced map of this hike available on
hikingproject.com .
♠ = Georeferenced map of this hike available on
alltrails.com .
¤ = Georeferenced map of this hike available on
Google Maps .
€ = Georeferenced map of this hike available on
Avenza Maps .
We will start at the top of the list and go down the list the first Saturday
of each month and new years day. Suggestions for additional hikes are welcome.
If you would like to lead an occasional hike, please let me know. We will be
needing a new hike leader for this group in 2025 as I will be retiring from it
at that time. If you are interested in doing any of these hikes and getting
on a mailing list announcing these hikes, please email me at
mikecalabrese@aol.com .
This schedule is subject to change. In case of inclement
weather (snow, thunder storms, heavy rain, temps below freezing for the high
or above 95 degrees) or other unusual situations, hikes are subject to
cancellation. Watch this space for announcements.
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Updated: 08/12/2022 13:52:42
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