Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group
Wildcat Mountain Natural Area! An Easy Side of Strenuous 5.5 Miles with Optional Post Hike Visit to Barrel Oak Winery
Wildcat Mountain is located on the western flanks of the Blue Ridge foothills between about 500 and 1,200 feet above sea level. The Wildcat Mountain Natural Area is a small gem of a sanctuary that owes its existence and splendor to nature, a generous family, happenstance, and the Nature Conservancy. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, much of the 655-acre area was cleared as hardwood forests gave way to subsistence farmlands and woodlots. But that trend was gradually reversed as the surrounding region endured first the Civil War and then the Great Depression. Farming and Logging ended in the 1940's, and, as humans left, plants and animals slowly reclaimed the land. In the 1960's, the Arundel family donated the land. There are a variety of wildflowers and the area is also home to deer, foxes, bobcats and smaller mammals, and bears.
Transition Hike
This is a 5.5-mile hike that will allow you to see if you are ready to move to more Strenuous level hiking. The first 1/2 mile is a steep uphill climb up the mountain. The elevation climb is 544 feet. NOTE: Due to the area at the top of the first hill (the one with one 500 feet of elevation gain in 0.5 mi) being closed in order to allow it to “regenerate”, it is not included in today's hike plan. However, there will be plenty of the rolling hills. The area at the top o the hill is expected to open by next summer or whenever the land has recovered enough to accommodate hiking. Thank you for understanding the change in a portion of the route for our hike plan.
Trail Information
Nearby City: Marshall, VA
Length: 5.5 miles
Trail Type: Two Loops in a figure eight pattern
Skill Level: Easy-Side-of-Strenuous
Season: Year-round
Scenery: Hilly woodlands, with some farmland views in winter
Exposure: Shady; less so in winter
Trail Surface: Mostly dirt or dirt and gravel, some grass; rocky, rooty, muddy in places. There are several minor stream crossings.
Facilities: There are no facilities or port-o-potties, so adjust your time for making arrangements prior to the hike.
Elevation Gain: There is a gain of 544 Feet in the first 1/2 mile. Then it is rolling hills, some up, some down. NOTE: Due to the area at the top of the first hill (the one with one 500 feet of elevation gain in 0.5 mi) being closed in order to allow it to “regenerate”, it is not included in today's hike plan. However, there will be plenty of the rolling hills. The area at the top of the hill is expected to open by next summer or whenever the land has recovered enough to accommodate hiking. Thank you for understanding the change in a portion of the route for our hike plan.
Maps: USGS Marshall
Access: Open daily, dawn to dusk.
Park Entry Fee
There is no park entrance fee.
Gear Suggestions
Click Here for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.
Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine. Click Here to view the forecast for the area where we will be hiking.
Hike Pace
The goal for this hike is to maintain an average moving pace of ~ 2.5 mph. This speed is frequently used in popular hiking publications to represent the pace of an average hiker. We welcome you to please sign up for another hike if you know that this is not a comfortable pace for you. We strive to offer a variety of hikes and pace options so we can always have something for everyone no matter their interest and ability.
Our RSVP and Group Etiquette
Click Here to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.
Carpool Suggestions and Information
Note that you are responsible for knowing how to get from carpool locations to the venue. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is not responsible for transportation to and from events or carpools. Suggested carpool times and places are provided as a courtesy because many members are either new to the area or unfamiliar with a particular hike or venues location. Please use the 'Comments' section below, or reach out via e-mail to make arrangements for carpooling needs and offerings.
Baltimore Area Carpool Suggestion - Savage Station
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore area, people can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Savage Station location.
DC Area Carpool Suggestion - Centreville
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, people can arrange to meet at the Centreville Park and Ride. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Centreville Park and Ride location.
(Metro) VA East Area Carpool Suggestion - Vienna/Fairfax Area METRO Station
To carpool or caravan from Vienna/Fairfax area, people can arrange to meet at the Fairfax Area METRO Station. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station location.
If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, please post your location and needs in the comment section below. Click Here for a list of suggested carpool locations complete with directions and other details including other carpool information. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment — by just offering a ride!
Post Hike Get Together at The Barrel Oak Winery with Live Music!
This stunning winery offers lots of seating both outside and inside. Looking for a fun post hike activity to continue the camaraderie and good times from the trail? Look no further and join us to cozy in at Barrel Oak Winery (BOW) with your new and familiar faces from the hike! There are plenty of tables both inside and outside of the winery. However, they cannot be moved so if we have a very large group, we may not be able all to sit together as one big group (this has yet to happen but it could so I wanted to provide full disclosure). The winery also offers some great food for sale (often has food trucks on the weekends during entertainment). However, my favorite experience is to enjoy either a potluck or bring-your-own picnic to enjoy out on the lawn. From their website “We make about 24,000 gallons of wine right here on our property. Our best-kept secret is that you can take a self-guided tour of our downstairs production area if you’d like. We highly recommend it!” Click Here to check out the Barrel Oak Winery website.
Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions to Where We Meet for this Hike
Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 10:45-10:55 a.m.
The Hike is at 11:00 a.m.
Carpool Time from Savage Station — 8:45 a.m.
Carpool Time from Centreville Park and Ride — 10:00a.m.
Carpool Time from Vienna/Fairfax Metro — 9:45 a.m.
Please remember we are a volunteer supported organization that values fellowship and camaraderie while practicing good hike etiquette and Leave No Trace principles. Our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer as leaders for Mid-Atlantic Hiking Groups volunteer leadership team. Hikes also have a volunteer “sweeper” to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. MAHG volunteers and members are very supportive, encouraging, with a focus on safety while enjoying the excellent camaraderie and benefiting from the many health benefits of hiking and unplugging from the stress of day-to-day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of MAHGs core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to the organization's mission. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a volunteer supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, and donations ARE tax deductible. Tax ID: 47-5141831.
Fido is Not Allowed on this Hike Due to the Nature Conservancy Nationwide Policy Prohibiting Pets on All Preserves
Let’s have good times out on the trails and see you there!
Mike:
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• Donations to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group are Tax Deductible: Tax ID 47-5141831. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charitable organization.
• Click Here to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.
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, VA - USA
Sunday, February 5 at 11:00 AM
1
Price: 2.00 USD
https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/events/236036109/