6 miles, Level 8 hike suitable for intermediate to advanced hikers.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a beautiful natural area located about 10 miles south of Frederick, Md. and is known for its scenic views, hiking trails, and unique rock formations.

The area is privately owned by Stronghold, Inc., a non-profit corporation, organization by the late Gordon Strong. It owns and operates the mountain property for the public's "enjoyment and education in an appreciation of natural beauty."

Because of its geological and natural history interest, it was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1969. The mountain also has historical significance, having been used as an observation point during the American Civil War.

Please join me for a walk through the woods among the mountain laurel to the top of ridges that provide picturesque views of the surrounding piedmont area below. We’ll experience an elevation gain of 1,355 feet. Note, the trail is mostly rocky and can be slippery when leaf covered. We recommend sturdy shoes/boots and trekking poles.

Gordon Strong believed that "...those who appreciate natural beauty will be better people, people who treat each other better."

As with all WWO hikes, there will be a leader and a sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this hike is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

39 miles, out and back, nearly flat on the wonderfully re-surfaced C&O Canal Towpath.  Good for advanced beginners (who can do the distance) and above. Note: we are also offering a 28-mile version of this ride.

Join us for an easy-going, moderately paced ride on finely crushed gravel along the delightfully tree-lined and sun dappled C & O Towpath from White’s Ferry to Brunswick. This beautiful ride hugging the Potomac River is a real treat in the late fall with great views of the river as we ride. We’ll stop for lunch in Brunswick at Beans in the Belfry before turning around.  (You can also bring your own lunch.)  Heading back to White's Ferry is a subtle downhill, enough to fly back home!  All bike types are suitable. 

As with all WWO rides, there will be a leader and a sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this ride is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

28 miles, out and back, nearly flat on the wonderfully re-surfaced C&O canal towpath.  Good for advanced beginners and above. (Note: we are also offering a 39-mile version.)

Join us for an easy-going, moderately paced ride on finely crushed gravel along the delightfully tree-lined and sun dappled C&O Towpath from White’s Ferry to Point of Rocks. This beautiful ride hugging the Potomac River is a real treat in the fall with clear views of the river.  Heading back to White's Ferry is a subtle downhill, enough to fly back home!  All bike types are suitable. 

As with all WWO rides, there will be a leader and a sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this ride is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

19 miles mostly on closed roads and paved trails with a few short, steep climbs on residential streets. Suitable for advanced beginners and above on road or hybrid bikes

This is a weekday ride but we will also offer this ride on a weekend early in the new year. What a fun ride! Leaving from Bethesda, we will travel on residential roads, bicycle trails and the now permanently closed-to-traffic roads of Rock Creek Park to arrive at the National Zoo. Once there, we will receive a special tour by our ride leader who also volunteers at the zoo and will provide us with the inside scoop on zoo residents and conservation efforts. (Note, we will not see the new pandas.) We’ll have lunch at the zoo and warm up before heading back to Bethesda along the Capital Crescent Trail. As with all our rides, we will have a leader and sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this ride is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

Come try the sport of Outdoor Rock Climbing in this introductory class! 

Join us for an afternoon of rock climbing at Carderock, MD!  Brand new climbers, as well as those more familiar with the sport, are all invited to join us for an introductory lesson and guided climb along the Potomac river in a supportive and comfortable environment. Certified instructors from Sportrock Climbing Guides will provide all required equipment, and handle all rigging, and get you started on a new challenge.    

We will be outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Bring water and a snack if you like, as neither are available at the climbing location. 

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and event location.

There is limited space, so please register early.

6.6 miles, suitable for level 3 hikers.  Come immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, discover one-of-a-kind treasures, and enjoy delightful treats.

Experience the magic of the holiday season at the National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show. Unlike other long-term Christmas markets, this one has something unique every day with a rotating selection of talented artisans and crafters, along with an array of delectable holiday sweets and desserts.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail provides a superb link between Alexandria, VA, and Maryland's National Harbor over the Potomac River. This well-used trail crosses on the up-river side of the bridge and the concrete path is wide enough to accommodate many users. There are stations ("bump-outs") with viewing scopes along the drawbridge, and a high, plexiglass wall on a portion of the trail providing a noise barrier from the traffic.

Jones Point Park is located on the Potomac River, just south of Old Town Alexandria. It was a critical piece of the city of Alexandria's history as one of the largest centers for shipping, manufacturing, and transportation in the nation. Its lighthouse, built in 1855, is the last remaining riverine lighthouse in Virginia. 

Please bring a bag lunch or we can select a restaurant to purchase lunch and eat outdoors.

 As with all WWO hikes, there will be a leader and a sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this hike is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

41 miles, 1600 feet elevation. For Intermediate and Advanced Riders.  Rolling hills on country roads with little traffic.

Join us for a new ride over the rolling hills and through the beautiful valleys of Frederick County. Once we discovered and tried this route, we knew we had to put it on the schedule! While there is only one covered bridge on this route, we take in great views of scenic farmland and the nearby Catoctin Mountains, ride along a lovely creek, and stop at Mount St. Mary's college for a rest stop. This is a no-drop ride with a leader and a sweep. 

After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this ride is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

22 miles, 1400" elevation. Suitable for advanced beginners and above.  Gravel roads with gentle hills and a few short steeper climbs.

Have you been wondering what all this fuss is about gravel riding? Join us to explore gravel riding on this scenic loop out of Bluemont, VA in Loudon County and find out for yourself. You will experience low traffic roads along the beautiful countryside. We’ll see plenty of horses, a few goats, fantastic old stone walls, scenic churches and graveyards, and beautiful small communities like Unison. The gravel is well packed for the most part, with just a few bumpy sections. Come along and give it a try!

The route is 21.6 miles with 1400 feet of elevation. This is a ride for advanced beginners and above. There are primarily gentle hills with just a few short, steeper ups and downs. You must be comfortable handling some uneven terrain and should have tires that are at least 35mm, preferably with some textured tread. Gravel bikes, road bikes with 35mm+ tires, hybrids with 35mm+ tires, or mountain bikes are all options.  There will be a leader and sweep, and no one will be left behind.

After completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location.

There is limited space, so please register early. Although this ride is FREE for Premium Members, you do need to register. 

Join the WWO Virtual Book Club & Social!  Offered virtually so all can join, we gather quarterly to socialize and discuss a book around the theme of women in the outdoors. 

“Carol Ruckdeschel is the wildest woman in America. She eats road kill, wrestles alligators, rides horses bareback, and lives in a ramshackle cabin that she built herself in an island wilderness. She’s had three husbands and many lovers, one of whom she shot and killed in self-defense. A combination of Henry David Thoreau and Jane Goodall, Carol is a self-taught scientist who has become a tireless defender of sea turtles on Cumberland Island, a national park off the coast of Georgia.

Cumberland is the country's largest and most biologically diverse barrier island—over forty square miles of pristine wilderness celebrated for its windswept dunes and feral horses. Steel magnate Thomas Carnegie owned much of Cumberland, and his widow Lucy made it a Gilded Age playground. But in recent years, Carnegie heirs and the National Park Service have clashed with Carol over the island’s future. What happens when a dirt-poor naturalist with only a high-school diploma tries to stop one of the wealthiest families in America? Untamed is the story of an American original standing her ground and fighting for what she believes in, no matter the cost.”

Come join a community of women who share the outdoors in all ways possible!   The Zoom logon information will be provided to you in an email the day before the meeting.  

Although this event is FREE for Premium Members, please register!