What we’re about
SCPRO is a special activities section of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter that organizes hikes and other events for the general public on behalf of the Sierra Club's Washington, DC chapter and the close-in groups of the Maryland and Virginia Chapters. No Sierra Club membership is necessary to participate. We welcome all people on a variety of outdoor adventures, nature walks, conservation outings, and exploration of our natural and regional history.
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Events Calendar
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Paint Branch Trail (ODH Training Hike 2)Herbert Wells Ice Rink, College Park, MD
The venue for this week’s ODH training hike has been changed from Kent Island to Paint Branch Trail due to poor weather and ground conditions. (Whew!)
You can branch out on this hike using the paved Paint Branch Hiker/Biker Trail that follows the southern portion of Paint Branch, a tributary of NE Branch that flows into the Potomac River. This route through Prince George's County suburbs includes many points of interest: the world's oldest (established 1909) continuously operating airport, beautiful Lake Artemesia, the main campus of the University of Maryland, sensitive wetlands, and part of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.
Trivia: The first mile-high flight by a powered airplane, the first powered airplane flight with a female (piloted by Wilbur Wright!), and the first controlled helicopter flight all took place at College Park Airport.
For this out-and-back hike, you can walk at your own pace to about 4.5 miles for a total of 9 miles or turn around sooner if you want to do a shorter distance. Your finish time will depend on your walking speed, but it should not be later than about 12:30 pm.
NB: Be sure to check here before leaving for any late changes due to weather.
Maps: A two-page map of the route is posted in the photos section below. You can also use this Google Map to follow the route on your phone as you walk or load this GPX track into whatever navigation/trail app you use.
Photo albums of previous versions of this hike: Paint Branch Trail.
Leaders: Mike Darzi & Fran Le Bouleix.
WEAR/BRING
Much of the route is exposed and can be windy, so be sure to bundle up and bring rain gear if there is any chance of precipitation. It is likely that there will be some ice on the route so hiking boots are highly recommended for ankle support. Don't forget to bring water (1 quart) and snacks too.TRAILHEAD
We'll meet at 9:45 am in the parking lot of the Herbert Wells Ice Rink (5211 Campus Dr, College Park, MD). The exact location is at bit.ly/WellsIceRink or coordinates 38.976124, -76.921846. The trailhead is also 0.5 miles from the College Park Metro station, going east along Campus Dr.ONE DAY HIKE
Although open to all, this training hike is part of a series of Saturday training hikes leading up to the One Day Hike (ODH)—100 or 50 km along the C&O Canal—on May. 3, 2025. See SCPRO’s Meetup page for other training hikes as they are posted. If you would like to support the ODH, see volunteering opportunities and/or contact Mike Darzi (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com). For official updates regarding training hikes, registration, and other information, join the ODH discussion group by sending a blank email to onedayhike+subscribe@groups.io.SCPRO DONATION:
A voluntary $2.00 donation per event is appreciated. You may donate via PayPal by sending money to ECommerce@SierraPotomac.org using “For friends and family” as payment type, or in cash at the event.You may join the Sierra Club by clicking "JOIN" on the Virginia Chapter's website.
- Hike from Columbia Id. around the National Mall and Return, DC (ODH Training #3)Columbia Island Marina, Arlington, VA
This is an easy out-and-back, go-at-your-own pace hike of up to 9 miles between Columbia Island and the eastern portion of the National Mall, passing a number of monuments and public buildings along the way, including (but not limited to) the Jefferson Memorial, George Mason Memorial, FDR Memorial, MLK Memorial, DC WWI Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, WWI Memorial, Washington Monument, White House, National Archives, US Capitol, the various Smithsonian museums, and the National Gallery of Art. Although we won’t be stopping at these sites, we encourage you to return at future dates of your choosing to explore at your leisure the ones that interest you.
Directions: Meet 9:30am at the Columbia Island Marina parking lot, off the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia, opposite the Pentagon.
Dress for the weather--layers of clothing, a hat or headband (covering the ears), gloves or mittens recommended. Bring water (two quarts), snacks & lunch (there is no designated lunch stop).
Sierra Club requires all participants to sign a liability waiver form, but you may sign at the meeting place.
A $2.00 donation per person is appreciated to help defray expenses of our all-volunteer program.
ODH: Although open to all, this hike is part of a series of Saturday training hikes leading up to the One Day Hike (ODH)—100 or 50 km along the C&O Canal—on May 3, 2025. See SCPRO’s Meetup page for other training hikes as they are posted. If you would like to support the ODH, see volunteering opportunities and/or contact Mike Darzi (mike.darzi@gmail.com). For official updates regarding training hikes, registration, and other information, join the ODH discussion group by sending a blank email to onedayhike+subscribe@groups.io.
If you are not already, become a Sierra Club member by clicking "join" on the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter web site: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia (You don't need to be a member to participate.)
Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, Novahiker@cox.net & Vicky Hsu, Hhueichi@gmail.com . - Saturday Jan. 25: Capital Crescent hike Fletchers & Bethesda, MD (ODH Training)4940 Canal Rd NW, Washington, DC
Out-and-back, go-at-your-own-pace hike of 10.2 miles on former right-of-way of historic railroad through lovely wooded sections of Northwest DC, with optional indoor lunch stop in Bethesda, MD. Total of 350 feet of elevation climbed on a few hills, at your own pace. https://www.cctrail.org/points_of_interest
Level: Moderate
10 miles: Allow min. 4 hours for this hike.Meet at Fletcher's Boat House - 4940 Canal Rd, NW
We meet by 9:30 am on the first/upper parking lot for registration.
If there is no room in the first parking lot when you enter, proceed through the tunnel under the canal to a much larger parking lot, then walk back up the stairs/bridge to the meeting point.
There are bathrooms there.Dress in warm layers, bring (hot) water, snacks and or lunch and anything you might need for balance and to stay warm.
Leaders: Rob Anderson 202-258-1010 and Bob Mathis 240-858-9341
ONE DAY HIKE
Although open to all, this hike is part of a series of Saturday training hikes leading up to the One Day Hike (ODH)—100 or 50 km along the C&O Canal—on May. 3, 2025. See SCPRO’s Meetup page for other training hikes as they are posted. If you would like to support the ODH, see volunteering opportunities and/or contact Mike Darzi (mike.darzi@gmail.com). For official updates regarding training hikes, registration, and other information, join the ODH discussion group by sending a blank email to onedayhike+subscribe@groups.io.SCPRO DONATION:
A voluntary $2.00 donation per event is appreciated. You may donate via PayPal by sending money to ECommerce@SierraPotomac.org using “For friends and family” as payment type, or in cash at the event.You may join the Sierra Club by clicking "JOIN" on the Virginia Chapter's website.
