Chapter members, Jay and Emiko will lead an 11-mile hike, north along the Valley Trail, up to Boundary Bridge where we will break and have a snack. We will return along the West Ridge Trail (click here for a map). This is a longer vigorous hike; total estimated time is about 6 hours. There is…

Please join chapter member, Jim Doman, on April 6 at 9:30 am at the Monocacy Battlefield Visitor Center for a hike around the battlefield. Due to the battlefield being crisscrossed by I-270 and the Monocacy River the hike will be done in three segments of varying length for a total distance of just over 7…

The pilgrim shell ceremony is an age-old tradition that is practiced all over the world. Pilgrims will be presented with a scallop shell to wear on their backpack, identifying them to all they meet as fellow pilgrims. The shell ceremony is an annual Chapter event. This is an event for both aspiring pilgrims and veteran…

Please join chapter members Anna and Kevin Heaney on Saturday, June 10th in the Prince William Forest National Park for a 7.3 mile loop in the North Valley trail region starting at 9:00am. A packing discussion prior to the start at 8:30am. The hike will follow along 2 rivers in this loop, passing some beautiful…

Capital Area Chapter members Sharon and Tom Morris are leading a hike on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 9am at Sweet Run State Park (formerly Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship) on its inaugural weekend. The state park designation becomes official on Friday May 26th! This hike is 6.5 miles with 600 feet elevation gain.…

We will meet at the Pierce Mill Picnic Area (Grove 1 Picnic Area – the intersection of Tilden and Shoemaker Streets NW) and start hiking at 9am. No RSVP necessary. We are planning on an 11-mile hike north along the Valley Trail, up to Boundary Bridge where we will break and have a snack. We…

Join chapter coordinator Jim Larocco on March 25 for an 8-mile hike through Occoquan Regional Park and Laurel Hills. Great opportunity for first time pilgrims to bring and carry the gear you will use on the camino. There will be a gear talk and gear check starting at 8:30 am. The hike will start at…

The pilgrim shell ceremony is an age-old tradition that is practiced all over the world. Pilgrims will be presented with a scallop shell to wear on their backpack, identifying them to all they meet as fellow pilgrims. The shell ceremony is an annual Chapter event. If you are planning to walk the Camino for the…

The Capital Area Chapter will host its Annual Spanish Food & Wine Potluck. This is our annual gathering where we enjoy food and drink, share stories, and plan for the upcoming year. This event requires RSVP and is capped at 50 participants. Please email the Capital Area Chapter to RSVP.

Hike at the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge. The hike will be approximately 4 – 5 miles and we will explore several connecting trails. We will meet in the parking area near the visitor center. The trails include different surfaces including crushed stone, boardwalk and through fields with exposed roots/uneven surfaces. There are several wildlife observation…