What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Bacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi HikeBacon Ridge III, Crownsville, MD
Bacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi Hike
The 900+ acre Bacon Ridge Natural Area is a true natural treasure with expansive marshes, mature forests, and, at the center, its namesake creek, Bacon Ridge Branch. Located in Crownsville and the headwaters of the South River, Bacon Ridge Natural Area is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
Local folklore claims that the creek that runs through the heart of the natural area is named Bacon Ridge Branch because there was a hog farm in the center of the area over a century ago. Portions of the Bacon Ridge Natural Area were once part of the Crownsville Hospital property. The Crownsville Hospital opened in 1911 to serve African American patients needing psychiatric care. Additionally, Bacon Ridge includes the remains of the Charles S. Waters Mill. The mill race and many foundations are still visible. The County’s Cultural Resources Division has documented 16 discrete archaeological sites with intact evidence of prehistoric or Native American campsites, 18th, 19th, and 20th-century structural foundations, and artifact scatters within Bacon Ridge.
Our hike will cover much of Bacon Ridge. The main portion of the hike is a 6.5-mile double-loop trek with about 600 feet of elevation. Areas may be muddy, especially after a rain, so please wear appropriate boots. The hike will end where it began. For those who wish to join us for more, we will explore park areas for an additional 2 miles as an out and back, still returning to the original start and finish area.
Bring a snack or lunch which we will enjoy after the end of the first hike.
Please note there are no toilet facilities on this hike.
Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.03186, -76.61684
The Street address is 1350 Bacon Ridge Road, Crownsville, MD. The parking lot is on the right. Do not go past the sign that reads "Private Road. No Trail Access."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 to easy side of difficult
Distance: 6.5 or 8.5 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: 560 feet for the 6.5-mile hike, 860 feet for the 8.5-mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on this hike
Fees: No entrance 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 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. - 2-Night Backpacking AT in SNP North DistrictNeeds location$10.00
Backpackers currently participating in the PATC Backpacking 101 course are welcome to attend! This will be a great trip to test out what you learn.
- Details
- Rating: Moderate
- Pace: 2.25 – 2.50 mph
- Length: 18mi
- Splits: 3/10.5/3.5
- Elevation Gain: 2,280ft
- Maximum Group Size: 8 hikers
Description
Come join a lower mileage backpacking trip in the Northern District of Shenandoah National Park! Hopefully, we will bump into the early thru-hikers leaving the park and everyone is encouraged to bring Trail Magic to offer them (good snacks!). We will hike from Front Royal to Hogback Overlook which will cover about 18 miles of the AT. This is a 2-night trip, but the 1st and 3rd day will feature short hikes. Both nights will be spent at AT Shelters, which have water, privies and bear poles nearby.Notes
- Trip Cost: $10 for the backcountry camping permit.
- The PATC requires each hiker to sign a liability waiver, which will be available at the trailhead.
- Please check Meetup the night before. I will cancel a hike due to unsafe conditions.
- 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.
- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Club volunteers maintain over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, including 240 miles of AT (and the section we will hike!). For more information about PATC, please visit https://www.patc.net/
Hike Route & Info
This trip requires us to shuttle cars, so we will need to do that before & after. As we need extra cars for the shuttling, carpooling isn’t being suggested for this trip.Meeting Times & Location
Friday at 2:00pm- Meet at the small parking lot 0.2-mile South of Hogback Overlook, GPS 38.761328, -78.281828 (Skyline Drive Mile Marker ~19.4). We will sign the PATC waiver and then head to the beginning of the hike in Front Royal.
- Combine into as few cars as possible and drive to the AT Parking lot on Remount Rd (Rt 522), Front Royal, GPS: 38.877974, -78.150654
- Hike 3 miles (pretty much all uphill as we need to get up to the ridge) from Front Royal to Tom Floyd Shelter, AT Mile 969.2, Elevation 1943ft
Saturday
- Hike from Tom Floyd Shelter to Gravel Springs Shelter, AT Mile 958.7, Elevation 2481ft. About 10.5 miles.
Sunday
- Hike from Gravel Springs Shelter to Hogback Overlook, 3.3 miles.
- Retrieve cars.
- Get home early for Father’s Day.
NOTES
- Shenandoah National Park requires a permit for overnight camping in the backcountry. I will take care of securing the permit, so we only need to pay a single processing fee but need everyone to chip in for it.
- Backpackers are welcome to sleep in the AT shelters. If thru-hikers are present, it is encouraged to offer them the space as they have earned it more than us. They are first come, first served, though, so everyone is welcome.
- All registrations for this event will begin in Waitlist. Once I have received your permit payment and verified that you have the equipment and no-how for backpacking, I will move you to “Going”. Please note that in the very unlikely event that the trip is cancelled due to unsafe weather, as the permit fee is non-refundable, so the fee will not be returned.
- Everyone is responsible for all their own gear and food. If you want to share with another participant, that is great, but please coordinate offline.
- Both campsites will have springs nearby. On Friday, we will pass the spring on the hike in, so it will be easiest to grab it then and carry it the final ¼ mile. Make certain to have enough storage for it to save a trip back.
- Meals to bring: Friday Dinner through Sunday Breakfast. Please bring a cold lunch to enjoy on the trail on Saturday.
- No pets.
Things not to Forget:
- Rain Gear (great for wind, too)
- Headlamp
- Coffee
- Battery to charge devices
- REI 10 Essentials (always good to check)
- Water purification of choice
Questions
David M (“Square Feet”) is leading this hike and is one of PATC’s certified Hike Leaders, a member of PATC Trail Patrol, and the Backpacking Committee Chair. David is certified in Wilderness First Aid and has been hiking, backpacking, and a Scout Leader since the 1980’s. David’s goal is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, so if you have any questions or need assistance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out! - June's PATC Women's hikeCool Spring Preserve, Charles Town, WV
This month June's PATC Women's hike we will be meeting up at Cool Spring Preserves and walking the trails at the preserves.
Cool Spring Nature Preserve consists of 74 acres of forest, meadow and marsh in southern Jefferson County, West Virginia. Bullskin Run, a major stream with significant historical value, borders one side of the preserve. Cool Spring is designated as a “birding hotspot.” In Spring 2020, the entire preserve was placed under a conservation easement with the West Virginia Land Trust. In 2024, we were able to purchase an additional 11 acres, protecting even more of the sensitive Bullskin Run and Marl Marsh.
We have 1.7 miles of easy, mowed walking trails, a natural amphitheater, an outdoor classroom, a nature playground, and a gazebo with a nature journal station. The preserve is used for summer camps, children’s programs, adult workshops, and bird walks.
We also have a children’s nature playspace. Elements include an ‘eagles nest’, a large log to climb in and on top of, rocks to climb and logs to balance on, as well as benches for picnics and rest.
Group Size: 12 hikers
Time to Meet: Please meet 15-20 minutes prior to hike start for introductions and liability waiver sign in.
Meeting Location/Parking: We will meet at the Nature center right next to the parking lot:1469 Lloyd Road Charles Town WV, 25414
Facilities: No restroom is available at the trailhead.
Admission: Free
Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for comments and questions. The hike leader is Kristine Villatoro.
Cancellation: In the event that the hike needs to be cancelled, hikers will be notified through comments on this posting. Please check Meetup for updates the evening before the hike.
What to Bring: Water at least two liters, emergency contact information, personal first aid kit and medications, snacks/meal, sunscreen/protection from weather, insect repellant, trekking poles if you use them (highly recommended for hikes with water crossings), sturdy hiking footwear.
After hike rehydration: TBD
Notes: Please leave pets at home. Thanks!
