49th Annual New Year's Day Hike on C&O Canal Towpath (easy)

Hikers (and non) will continue a long tradition (since 1975) by gathering in Georgetown on January 1 to kick off a new year of hiking! Come join old and new friends in ushering in the New Year, while working off some of the holiday cheer that's starting to show. Leashed pets are also welcome.

Photos of previous happy New Years: 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

THE HIKE:
We’ll walk 5.1 miles along the C&O Canal Towpath to the Little Falls Pump Station, and back. You can walk at your own pace and turn around sooner (or later) if you want to do less (or more) than 10.1 miles. A handout (to download or print) for the hike is posted as a photo below.

LEADERS:
Frank Wodarczyk, Paul Elliot, Gabriele Ludwig, & Mike Darzi.

WHAT TO BRING:
Bring snacks or a bag lunch, and water. Dress warmly in layers and wear rain/snow gear or bring an umbrella if there is a chance of precipitation. Feel free to bring leftover holidays treats to share.

WHEN & WHERE:
We’ll meet at 10 am on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, south of M Street. There is a small plaza in front of the Pinstripes Bistro (1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC) that is next to and above the C&O Canal. If there is no crowd there, start one. Note that street parking is conveniently free on New Year’s Day.

LUNCH:
If you are so inclined, you may also join some of us for après-hike fare at Pinstripes Bistro (where we start and finish the hike) starting at 1:30-1:45 pm.

SCPRO DONATION:
A voluntary $2.00 donation per event or a $5.00 annual donation is requested using PayPal. (If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can create one by clicking “Sign Up” on the PayPal page.) Send to [email protected] using “For friends and family” as payment type.

You may join the Sierra Club by clicking "JOIN" on the website of the Virginia Chapter.