Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club cover photo

Sun, 17 Nov 2024, 9:00 am ESTMarys Rock Hike
East Falls Church Metro Station, Arlington, VA
Marys Rock provides some of the most spectacular sweeping vistas in Shenandoah National Park.

Marys Rock via Pinnacle Picnic Grounds (Moderate):
This out & back route starts at the Pinnacle Picnic Grounds and follows the Appalachian Trail to the summit. In total, you will hike 7.5 miles and ascend 1,100 feet along this route.

Meet by 8:50 a.m. to form our carpools in the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Please answer the RSVP questions so the event hosts can organize the carpools. We will depart promptly at 9:00 a.m.

On the way home, we will stop for drinks and/or dinner at Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen (RPK).

WHAT TO BRING:

Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes

Sunscreen

A minimum of 2 liters of water and lunch. (We’ll make a pit stop at Sheetz on the way to the trailhead, where you can buy made-to-order sandwiches for lunch.)

$5 Adventuring Trip Fee (Exact Change/Digital Preferred)

$12 Carpool fee for your driver

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: A post-hike change of shirt, shoes, and socks

NOTE: Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.
14 attendees+9
Sat, 23 Nov 2024, 8:30 am ESTMount Vernon Trail Hike with Birds and Boats
Huntington Station, Alexandria, VA
Come enjoy a late fall day with an easy hike and gently rolling hills along the popular and scenic Mount Vernon Trail. Our hike closely follows the Potomac River as we meander north towards Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

We will start our hike at Riverside Park, located a few miles north of Mount Vernon. Riverside Park is often a great place to spot migrating spring birds along the Potomac River. Across the river in Maryland, sits Fort Washington, built in 1808 to defend the river approach to Washington, DC. And… we may even see some cool boats sailing on the Potomac River, too!

Our easy 9-mile one-way hike is transit-centered. We plan to use the Fairfax Connector bus to arrive at our hike’s starting location at Riverside Park. The park is a short 20 minute bus ride from the Huntington Metro Station.

Upon our arrival in Old Town Alexandria, we will grab a bite to eat and other refreshments at a local establishment. A short walk will bring us to the King Street Metro Station around 3 pm. The length of our hike will be about 9 miles, all of it on paved trails.

The Gear:
Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, appropriate weather gear, and comfortable walking shoes.

Cost:
$5 Adventuring trip fee (cash) plus $2 for Fairfax Connector Bus (bus fare can be cash or SmartTrip)

Meet at Huntington Metro Station at 8:30 am near the fare gate by the station attendant's kiosk at the North Entrance (closest to Huntington Ave). This entrance is best found by exiting towards the rear of your arriving train and taking the escalator down to street level. Please be prompt as we need to make the 9:05 am departure of the Fairfax Connector Bus Route 101.
8 attendees+3
Sun, 1 Dec 2024, 12:00 pm ESTDupont to Silver Spring Hike via Rock Creek Park
Dupont Circle Metro Station - South Exit (above ground) - by Panera Bread, Washington, DC
Close out your Thanksgiving Weekend with this scenic and invigorating excursion. Starting from the south entrance of the Dupont Circle Metro Station, we’ll walk along P Street west to the Rock Creek Park Trail, where we will proceed northbound. Bathrooms/water will be available at Peirce Mill. We will then continue northbound on Beach Drive (closed to cars/pedestrians & bicycles only) to West Beach Drive and then onward to North Portal Drive, near the northernmost tip of the District. At 16th Street we will walk into Montgomery County and take Colesville Road to 2nd Avenue in Silver Spring. After we finish around 4 p.m., we’ll grab beers/pub food at the Silver Branch Lagerhaus & Biergarten (at 8401 Georgia Avenue - corner of 2nd Avenue). We'll take the Red Line from the Silver Spring Metro to head home.

Bring beverages, snacks, and comfortable hiking shoes; we'll be on paved surfaces the entire way. The total length of this one-way hike is about 9.5 miles, with a very moderate elevation gain (1 to 2% slopes).

Trip Fee: $5; exact change is appreciated - Venmo pay option on the Sunday of the trip - trip leader will pay for financially challenged Adventurers.

NOTE: Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release. Note that everyone must RSVP on their own behalf.
4 attendees
Sat, 7 Dec 2024, 8:00 am ESTKennedy Peak
East Falls Church Metro Station, Arlington, VA
Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

This is a 9-mile circuit hike in the George Washington National Forest with around 1,500 feet of elevation gain.

We will start the hike in the parking lot of the Stephens trail off Route 675 from Fort Valley Drive (route 678) past Front Royal, Virginia. The hike will start on the Stephens Trail and then connect to the Massanutten Trail close to the ridgeline overlooking the Shenandoah River.

Once we arrive on the Massanutten Trail, we will hike out towards the observation tower in about one mile, have lunch, and then return to the car using the Massanutten trail.

This definitely is not a hike where we will race through it because safety is a concern and making sure our fellow hikers enjoy the experience is important.

Pace 2-2.5 mph if this speed is not conducive to your hiking level, please know that I do not hike any slower or faster than this pace so please consider another hike. I also take frequent stops and breaks going up hills.

PLEASE PRINT OUT ANY MAPS THAT YOU THINK YOU MAY NEED AS I DO NOT PROVIDE COPIES OF MAPS. ALL THE LINKS AND COORDINATES YOU WILL NEED ARE BELOW.

http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/KennedyPeak/
Meet by 8:00 a.m. to form our carpools in the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Please answer the RSVP questions so the event host can organize the carpool. We will depart promptly at 8:15 a.m.
Note: Smart phones will not give you the complete map and will end at the Sheetz! You can plot the coordinate below.

We will stop at the Sheetz at 5315 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169 on your way the distance is about 204 miles round trip to the parking lot.

Here is a link from the parking area to the trailhead.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CTpZMNPfSVvJqMDL7

If you are meeting us at the trailhead, please be there by 10:00 am.
The GPS coordinates to the trailhead are 38.72761, -78.51611
We will have lunch at the top at the Observation Tower also if you would like additional information on the hike here is a link that should help you.

On the way home, there will be an optional stop for drinks and/or dinner at Woodstock Brewhouse. 123 E Court St, Woodstock, VA 22664

Leader: Devon A Stoney (202) 702-4500 (Emergency Use Only)
Adventuring fee: $5.00 cash or venom
Driver fee: 204 miles round trip x .30 = $61.20 per driver divided by total car passengers including the driver. Bring cash.
Shared Park Entry Fee: $0

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: A post-hike change of shirt, shoes, and socks
3 attendees
Sat, 7 Dec 2024, 10:00 am ESTMVT Plane Spotting Hike Redux
Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA
Come enjoy a day on the Mount Vernon Trail, one of the premier trails in Northern Virginia.

10 Miles: The full version of this hike will take us just over ten miles and will include a chance to spot planes at Gravelly Point, see the Abington Plantation ruins at National Airport, and explore Old Town Alexandria.

5 Miles: This shorter version will finish at the Abington Plantation ruins, adjacent to National Airport, skipping Old Town Alexandria.

Both hikes feature a unique view of a few popular DC landmarks from across the river. For those wishing to continue all the way to Alexandria, post-hike refreshments are on the itinerary. At the end of the hike, The King Street Metro Station is a short walk from Old Town.

The Gear:
Bring water, bring a lunch, and appropriate weather gear.

Cost
$5 Adventuring trip fee

Logistics:
We will meet at the Rosslyn Metro station at 10 am outside the fare gates.

NEW: Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.
15 attendees+10
Sat, 14 Dec 2024, 8:15 am ESTSignal Knob
East Falls Church Metro Station, Arlington, VA
Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

The Signal Knob Loop is a steep and strenuous 10.2-mile hike with 2400 feet of elevation gain at the northern end of Massanutten Mountain near Strasburg, VA. We'll enjoy outstanding views of Fort Valley, Shenandoah Valley and Great North Mountain as we proceed to the site of an important Union and Confederate signal outpost during the Civil War.

This is not a beginner's hike, nor is it suitable for dogs.

Pace 2-2.5 mph if this speed is not conducive to your hiking level, please know that I do not hike any slower or faster than this pace so please consider another hike. I also take frequent stops and breaks going up hills.

PLEASE PRINT OUT ANY MAPS THAT YOU THINK YOU MAY NEED AS I DO NOT PROVIDE COPIES OF MAPS. ALL THE LINKS AND COORDINATES YOU WILL NEED ARE BELOW.

http://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/SignalKnob/

Meet by 8:15 a.m. to form our carpools in the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Please answer the RSVP questions so the event host can organize the carpool. We will depart promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Note: Smart phones will not give you the complete map and will end at the Sheetz! You can plot the coordinate below.

We will stop at the Sheetz, 15315 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169 on your way the distance is about 145 miles round trip to the parking lot.

Here is a link from the parking area to the trailhead.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCFcj3YZ798KRU7J9

If you are meeting us at the trailhead, please be there by 9:45 am.

The GPS coordinates to the trailhead are Signal Knob parking area on 678/Fort Valley Rd. 38.93498, -78.31996

Leader: Devon A Stoney (202) 702-4500 (Emergency Use Only)
Adventuring fee: $5.00 cash or venom
Driver fee: 145 miles round trip x .30 = $43.50 per driver dived by total car passengers including the driver. Bring cash.
Shared Park Entry Fee: $0

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: A post-hike change of shirt, shoes, and socks
1 attendee
Sat, 21 Dec 2024, 8:15 am ESTDunkan and Strikler Knobs
East Falls Church Metro Station, Arlington, VA
Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

This strenuous hike in the George Washington National Forest involves a a rock scramble or two, along with great views of the Massanutten Range and the Shenandoah Valley from the overlooks at Strickler Knob and Duncan Knob. The 10-mile circuit hike with approximately 2,100 feet of elevation gain is for experienced hikers only. This is not a beginner's hike, nor is it suitable for dogs.

Pace 2-2.5 mph if this speed is not conducive to your hiking level, please know that I do not hike any slower or faster than this pace so please consider another hike. I also take frequent stops and breaks going up hills.

PLEASE PRINT OUT ANY MAPS THAT YOU THINK YOU MAY NEED AS I DO NOT PROVIDE COPIES OF MAPS. ALL THE LINKS AND COORDINATES YOU WILL NEED ARE BELOW.
Here is a link to where we will hike but not the direction we will hike the opposite way. It is still helpful. http://www.midatlantichikes.com/stricklerknob.htm

Meet by 8:15 a.m. to form our carpools in the East Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride lot. Please answer the RSVP questions so the event host can organize the carpool. We will depart promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Note: Smart phones will not give you the complete map and will end at the Sheetz! You can plot the coordinate below.

We will stop at the Sheetz at Sheetz, 15315 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169 on your way the distance is about 224 miles round trip to the parking lot.

Here is a link from the parking area to the trailhead.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EgKzWiT2ApGURGW7A

If you are meeting us at the trailhead, please be there by 10:30 am.
The GPS coordinates to the trailhead 38.66285, -78.59838

Leader: Devon A Stoney (202) 702-4500 (Emergency Use Only)
Adventuring fee: $5.00 cash or venom
Driver fee: 224 miles round trip x .30 = $67.20 per driver dived by total car passengers including the driver. Bring cash.
Shared Park Entry Fee: $0

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: A post-hike change of shirt, shoes, and socks
3 attendees
Sun, 29 Dec 2024, 11:00 am ESTThe Great Cookie Hike
Wisconsin Avenue & Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD
Please click here to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.

As the creator of the Great Cookie Hike I am back and this year we will have bigger and better cookies :-)

One of Adventuring's cherished Holiday traditions is what we call The Great Cookie Hike, held between Christmas and New Year's, as we stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) from Bethesda to the Georgetown waterfront. Everyone is asked to bring a batch of cookies (store-bought or home-made) that can be passed around to share at lunchtime.

The total length of this easy one-way hike is about 8 miles, all of it level or downhill. We'll meet at 11 a.m. on Sunday the 29th, at the top of the stairs for the Bethesda Metro Station at Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. We'll lunch about an hour later at a convenient spot on the CCT that has plenty of seating. Soon after lunch we'll leave Maryland and enter the District of Columbia via a long downhill stretch towards the C&O Canal. Once we've leveled out on the Canal Towpath, we'll stop at Fletcher's Cove for a restroom break. Our final leg takes us down to the CCT terminus on the Georgetown Waterfront near Key Bridge. Optional refreshments follow at an eatery/watering hole TBD.

Bring water, snacks, comfortable walking shoes, $5 for the Adventuring trip fee, and whatever you need if you want to get back to our Bethesda starting point by Metrobus or Metrorail.

Optional meeting for drinks and food and Dupont Italian Kitchen at 1637 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202
22 attendees+17
Sat, 3 May 2025, 12:00 am EDTUtah's Grand Staircase/Escalante NM and Capitol Reef NP (May 2025)
Needs location
Canyons and Slickrock: Hiking Escalante and Capitol Reef May 3-10, 2025

RSVP Prerequisites
(1) At the time of RSVP, participants must have already completed at least five Adventuring events (hikes and/or social gatherings) in the past year

(2) Must be fit enough for moderately strenuous hiking. We will have one day of 15 miles, mostly level, and other days could be up to 5-10 miles with moderate (maybe a 1,000' or two) elevation gain.

(3) A $200 deposit will be required to secure your spot on the trip

Trip Details
We’ll spend six days hiking the stunning scenery of the gorgeous heart of "canyon country", in this remote and uncrowded part of Utah. Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument (where we'll spend four days) spans a vast landscape full of beautiful canyons of every size, shape and color, from twisting slot canyons to big river canyons. Capitol Reef National Park (two days) is an amazing assemblage of multicolored domes, ridges and cliffs of sandstone ("slickrock").

We’ll all stay in a big house together, sharing the cooking and kitchen duty, and riding to our hikes each day in the group cars. We’ll spend four nights in Escalante, UT and three in Teasdale, UT (near Capitol Reef). Couples will have their own rooms. Singles will have their own beds, which may be in shared rooms, sometimes in bunks.

Participants will share equally in the cost of the lodging, rental cars and gas, shared food and drink, and any other group costs. Estimated at $800-1,000 each, all-in, for the week, plus participants will be responsible for their own travel costs to Salt Lake City and back.

Limited to 9-12 participants
10 attendees+5
Sat, 2 Aug 2025, 12:00 am EDTGlacier NP and Waterton Lakes (Canada) NP (August 2025)
Needs location
Hiking the Northern Rockies (Glacier/Waterton Lakes): August 2 - 9, 2025

RSVP Prerequisites
(1) At the time of RSVP, participants must have already completed at least five Adventuring events (hikes and/or social gatherings) in the past year

(2) Must be fit enough for moderately strenuous hiking (our hikes could range up to 8-14 miles, with several thousand feet of elevation gain)

(3) A $200 deposit will be required to secure your spot on the trip

Trip Details
The mountain scenery of Glacier/Waterton Lakes is about as majestic as you're ever going to see. We'll be straddling the continental divide up at the Canadian border, hiking and staying on both sides of the border. The two national parks are contiguous. We'll have six days of hiking through forests, meadows, and mountains, along rushing streams to waterfalls, alpine lakes, and glaciers, with wildflowers and hopefully lots of wildlife, including grizzly bears, preferably at a distance.

We’ll all stay in a big house together, sharing the cooking and kitchen duty, and riding to our hikes each day in the group cars. We’ll spend three nights in Kalispell, MT (access to west side of Glacier) and four in Mountain View, Alberta (access to east side of Glacier and Waterton Lakes). Couples will have their own rooms. Singles will have their own beds, which may be in shared rooms, sometimes in bunks.

Participants will share equally in the cost of the lodging, the rental cars and gas, the shared groceries and beverages, and any other group costs. Estimated at $1,000-1,300 each, all-in, for the week, plus participants will be responsible for their own travel costs to Kalispell and back.

Limited to 9-12 participants. You must have a passport for the border crossings.
10 attendees+5

Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club