Mid-Atlantic News

We're going leaf peeping in the eastern mountains of Virginia on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, we're just not exactly sure where yet. We'll either go to Shenandoah National Park or Sky Meadows State Park.

Click here for more information and to register.

Our first choice was Shenandoah, but as we feared, the US Government has shut down, throwing a curveball into our plans. Therefore, the exact location of this hike will be updated on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, (We will update the online registration page and will send an email to those have registered). 

If Shenandoah is re-opened, then we will hike a six-mile loop with 800 feet of elevation change that begins and ends at Elkwallow Wayside Picnic area. 

If Shenandoah is still closed as of noon, Oct 18th, then we will change our plans to hike a 4-mile loop with 570 feet of elevation change at Sky Meadows State Park, which is just a few miles north of the Shenandoah Front Royal entrance.  

We have deliberately chosen two options geographically near each other for the convenience of our members who live nearby or are willing to travel to the eastern Virginia mountains. 

Both parks have bathrooms, plenty of parking, and picnic areas, so bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after our hike. Both loops were chosen for their views of the autumn leaves.

We understand if one hike appeals more than the other, that you may cancel once the final location has been announced. We'll send an email to all those registered on Oct. 18th with updated information.

Registration closes on Monday, October 20.

Note: We are aware that park trails may indicate they are open during the shutdown, but the bathrooms will either be closed or not cleaned, and there will not be garbage pickup. In the past, this has made the parks very unpleasant to visit during shutdowns, so we will avoid Shenandoah if the government is still closed.  In fact, Skyline Drive is gated shut as of Oct. 1.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Women Outdoors members chose Becky Foreman, one of the co-regional contacts for the Mid-Atlantic Region, to receive the 2025 Jan Brown Memorial Scholarship Award in recognition of Becky’s outstanding service to Women Outdoors in several capacities.

In the past three years, Becky has led two international trips for Women Outdoors. In 2022, Becky organized a 10-day service trip to Peru followed by a trek to Machu Picchu.

Becky tripled the adventure quotient in July 2025 by coordinating an amazing trip to Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, and the Ecuador jungle aboard a riverboat on the Amazon. Her skills, knowledge and encouragement enabled several WO members to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

[Becky (on right) receives the Jan Brown Award from Kathleen.]

Becky always volunteers to help out at the Gathering wherever she’s needed. At Camp Scully in 2023 and 2024, Becky took on full kitchen responsibilities of menu planning, meal prep and service, and overall kitchen supervision.

Becky also serves as Co-RC of the Mid-Atlantic Region where without exception she makes everyone feel welcomed and supported. She is a great asset not only to the Mid-Atlantic Region but also to the entire Women Outdoors community.

Presented at the 2025 National Gathering, the scholarship award memorializes one of the Founding Mothers of Women Outdoors, our beloved Jan Brown. 

Jan was an historian and office manager whose contributions to Women Outdoors were vast: Jan tracked our organization's history and publications as well as kept a comprehensive annotated bibliography of books written by and about women's voyages and adventures.

As a world traveler who visited far-flung lands, Jan regaled us all with her marvelous photos and stories. In 2019, our 40th year, Women Outdoors established the Jan Brown Memorial Scholarship Award to pay tribute to Jan's countless contributions and her inspiring life. 

NOTE: The complete bibliography (169 pp) and the condensed version (40 pp) as well as an index (4 pp) to both bibliographies are available as PDFs to members of Women Outdoors. Login to your account and navigate to Resources and then click on Members Only from the drop-down menu.

Our fall planning meeting and potluck brunch will be on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Read on for more details.

Ever wonder how we come up with all of our activities for fun and adventure here in the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors? 

Well, it all starts with the time-honored tradition of the potluck brunch. Then we knock around ideas for outdoor escapades and such. Next we need a couple of members to volunteer to lead that venture and voila! We have an event to put on the calendar.

(There's also the prosaic part that involves actually setting up the online registration on the website and sending out an email to all WO Mid-Atlantic members and other interested women about the upcoming event, but that's what your friendly regional contacts are for.)

We are a completely volunteer organization and depend on our members for their energy and ideas. Is there an activity you'd like to see on the calendar that we haven't done in the past? A unique place you'd like us to explore? A hidden treasure in your neck of the woods? Something off the beaten path or outside the box? Come to the brunch and share your ideas with us!

We'll provide coffee and tea and ask you to bring a potluck dish to share.

IMPORTANT: The automatic confirmation email will contain the exact meeting location for the brunch (scroll all the way to the bottom of the email). 

Click on this link to register for the potluck brunch and planning meeting.

Registration closes on Saturday, September 13. 

We originally had this bike ride scheduled for July 30, but a heat index of 100-105 dissuaded us from doing it then. We've rescheduled it for Wednesday, September 24, 2025, when the weather should be much more accommodating.

We liked the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail so much when we did it in March that we're taking a second bite of the apple, only this time we'll head north on the rail trail instead of south and we'll stop for lunch at the halfway point before heading back.  

The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, sometimes referred to as the North Central Railroad (NCR) Trail, is quite popular so we're going to do the ride on a weekday - Wednesday, September 24.

For this pleasant 21-mile ride, we'll meet in White Hall, MD, and bike 10.5 miles north to New Freedom, PA, and then stop for lunch at Paesano's. Paesano’s, which means friends from the same town and country, specializes in pizza, stromboli, subs, salads and delicious desserts. After lunch we'll bike the 10.5 miles back to White Hall, albeit more slowly, possibly much more slowly.

As this is a rail trail, there is only a very slight grade and the trail surface is crushed stone. Gravel, hybrid, e-bikes or mountain bikes are recommended, although road bikes should suffice. Bring a helmet (required), bike gloves (optional), a bike lock, plenty of water and some snacks.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link to register for the bike ride.

Registration will close on Monday, September 22. 

We liked the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail so much when we did it in March that we're taking a second bite of the apple, only this time we'll head north on the rail trail instead of south and we'll stop for lunch at the halfway point before heading back.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, we're biking to lunch on this pleasant 21-mile ride on the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, sometimes referred to as the North Central Railroad (NCR) Trail.

We'll meet in White Hall, MD, and bike 10.5 miles north to New Freedom, PA, and enjoy lunch at Paesano's. Paesano’s, which means friends from the same town and country, specializes in pizza, stromboli, subs, salads and delicious desserts. After lunch we'll bike the 10.5 miles back to White Hall, albeit more slowly.

As this is a rail trail, there is only a very slight grade and the trail surface is crushed stone. Gravel, hybrid, or mountain bikes are recommended, although road bikes should suffice. Bring a helmet (required), bike gloves (optional), plenty of water and some snacks.

The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail is quite popular so this time we're going to do the ride on a weekday - Wednesday, July 30.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link to register for Bike to Lunch on the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail.

Registration will close on Monday, July 28. Please note, we need a minimum of four women for the bike ride to be a go. 

Join your Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic friends as we celebrate our 16th anniversary of outdoor fun and friendship with a hike and potluck picnic at Gambrill State Park in Frederick County, MD on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Get out your hiking boots and join us at 10:00 a.m. for a moderate ~4 mile hike along the ridge of Catoctin Mountain and under the canopy of a mature hardwood forest. Enjoy views of South Mountain and the Monocacy River watershed as well as structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

After the hike, we'll gather at one of the shelters for a potluck picnic. We'll fire up the grill for burgers and hot dogs. BYOburger, hot dog, not dog, veggie burger or grillable item of your choice as well as a side dish or dessert to share. 

Also bring your own mess kit, utensils and trash bag to carry out your trash and recyclables. Gambrill State Park is a trash-free park.

FYI - There are electrical outlets at the picnic shelter if you need to plug something in.

Not up for a hike? Join us around 12:00 p.m. for just the potluck picnic. When you register, just select the button saying you'll be there only for the picnic.

Sorry, no doggies at this event.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link for more information and to register. 

Registration will close on Thursday, June 12th.

Bring:

• Cash for entry fee: $3/vehicle for MD residents; $5/vehicle all other states
  
• Snacks and water for the hike
• Hat, sun block, insect repellent
• Something to grill for yourself
• Side dish or dessert to share with everyone
  
• Water or other non-alcoholic beverage (we don't have an alcohol permit)
  
• Mess kit or your own plate(s), bowl, napkin and utensils
  
• Trash bag - Gambrill State Park is trash free. Everyone must take their trash and recycling home with them.
  
• Optional: camp chair, hiking poles

We're heading out for a wildflower hike at Prince William Forest Park on Saturday, April 19, the first day of National Park Week and we're going to show some love for our National Park Service employees while we're at it.

Please think of ways we can show our appreciation to our hard working Prince William Forest Park Rangers and other park employees. Maybe some home baked goodies? Chocolate? Popcorn? A handwritten thank you note? A song or a poem? Flowers? Brainstorm away!

Our spring wildflower hikes are a beloved tradition with Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic and we are in great hopes of seeing many of these little beauties at Prince William Forest Park, one of Northern Virginia's best kept secrets.

Plan on a moderate hike of about six miles. We'll trek through the woods and along a stream in search of Virginia bluebells and other spring wildflowers. We'll find a spot along the way for a picnic lunch. Sorry, no doggies on this hike.

NOTE: Prince William Forest Park usually charges a $20/vehicle entry fee, but the fee will be waived on Saturday, April 19 in celebration of the first day of National Park Week.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link for more information and to register for the Spring Wildflower Hike on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Registration will close at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025.

Yay, camping!

We're heading to Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA on May 16-18, 2025, for a weekend of outdoor adventure including hiking and boating.

We camped at Codorus in 2023 and loved it so much we're heading back.

We have lots of options for outdoor fun! There are several hiking trails in the park as well as a designated mountain bike trail area and a disc golf course. In addition, Codorus State Park is home to Lake Marburg, a popular fishing and boating destination with 26 miles of shoreline.

You can bring your own boat or rent from AOS Marina on the lakeshore. In addition to kayaks and canoes, small fishing boats and large pontoon boats are available to rent. We rented a pontoon boat in 2023 and had a blast!

Doggies are welcome to come on this camping trip. You must reserve one of the designated pet friendly campsites in loops B or C for you and your doggie.

The camping cost is $24/night (non-electric), $31/night (electric), $26/night (pet site, non-electric), $33 (pet site, electric), $45-47 full hook-up plus a $6.50 reservation fee, plus $5 more per night for non-Pennsylvania residents.

This overnight event is for Women Outdoors members only. If you would like to come on the camping trip and are not yet a member, please click on this Join Us link to become a member of Women Outdoors. Once you've joined Women Outdoors you'll be able to register for the camping trip.

It's a three-step process to register for this camping trip:

1) Register with Women Outdoors first by clicking on this link. As soon as you complete your Women Outdoors registration, you will receive an automatic email with the exact location where the trip leaders and others will be camping.

2) Reserve your campsite at Codorus State Park through Reserve America or Pennsylvania State Parks. (See the campground map.)

3) Once you have a campsite reserved, please send an email to MidAtlantic@womenoutdoors.org and Becky@womenoutdoors.org to let us know which site you have.

Everyone must agree to the Women Outdoors Assumption of Risk statement during the registration process.

We'll explore some little known Civil War history as we walk along a couple of the trails at Monocacy National Battlefield in Frederick, MD, on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Known as the Battle that saved Washington D.C., the Battle of Monocacy on July 9, 1864, delayed Confederate forces sent to capture the Nation's Capital and ultimately forced them to withdraw to Virginia.

Monocacy National Battlefield encompasses over 1600 acres and offers plenty of opportunities for birding. Habitats include forest, open grasslands, and freshwater creeks and ponds. We'll walk about 3.5 miles through woods and fields and along a stretch of the Monocacy River. The terrain is mostly flat with some gentle elevation gain.

We'll have a picnic lunch after the walk and then if folks are interested, we can drive a few miles to downtown Frederick in search of hot chocolate or ice cream.

Doggies are welcome to join us on this walk. Park regulations stipulate that pets must be leashed at all times and owners must pack out their pet's waste (Monocacy National Battlefield is a trash-free park).

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link to register. Registration will close on Thursday, December 5th.

We're exploring new territory with our first ever Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic hike to Chimney Rocks at Michaux State Forest near Waynesboro, PA on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Located at the northern terminus of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Michaux State Forest features an abundance of oak species including chestnut oak, scarlet oak, northern red oak, black oak and white oak. Other trees include red maple, black birch, black gum, hickory, pine and tuliptree (yellow poplar).

We'll hike northbound on the Appalachian Trail for a good portion of this "balloon" hike passing by the Tumbling Run AT shelter along the way.

This 5-mile hike is very strenuous on the way up. While the first mile (the balloon string) is flat, the balloon part of the trail then transitions to a steep climb with lots of roots and rocks and an elevation gain of 1000' over two miles. The reward will be the gorgeous view at Chimney Rocks where we'll have a brown bag lunch overlooking the valley.

Coming back down from the rocks after lunch, we'll take an easier route along an old fire road before rejoining the string of the balloon for the last mile.

Sorry, no doggies on this hike.

This activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Registration will close on Thursday, November 7th.

Click on this link to register for the Chimney Rocks Hike.