Washington Women Outdoors upcoming events

Jim & Molly Denton AT Shelter Beginner Backpacking Trip (2 May 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This 6.6 mile trip suitable for beginner backpackers and above.

A beautiful out and back hike on the Appalachian Trail passing through fields, streams, lush forest, with a night spent at the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter. This is generally considered a “quiet” section of the AT. Trumbo Hollow is an expansive meadow with a bench at the high point. With fields and fences that make you feel like you are in a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, the hike down towards VA638 is one more picturesque moment. From the valley, enjoy another forest walk before arriving at the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter, which boasts a picnic pavilion and gravity fed shower. There is a water source at the shelter.

Miles: 6.6 (roundtrip / 3.3 miles per day)

Rating: Level 5 (View Hiking Rating Scale)

For beginner backpackers and above.

There is limited space on this trip, so please register early!

Scenic C&O Towpath Bicycle Ride to Point-of-Rocks or Brunswick from Whites Ferry (3 May 2026)

Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

30 or 39 miles, out and back, nearly flat on the wonderfully re-surfaced C&O Canal Towpath. Good for intermediate and advanced riders (and advanced beginners ready for a longer ride).

Join us for an easy-going, moderately paced out=and=back ride on finely crushed gravel along the delightfully tree-lined and sun dappled C & O Towpath from Whites Ferry to Point-of-Rocks (30 miles) Brunswick, MD (39 miles). This beautiful ride hugging the Potomac River is a real treat in the spring. For those riding to Brunswick, we’ll stop for lunch there at Beans in the Belfry before turning around and heading back. 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 Members, you do need to register.

Magnificent Marshall Bicycle Ride (9 May 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

35 miles, elevation 2,400 feet. For intermediate and advanced riders. Big rolling hills with several challenging climbs.

This is one of our favorite rides! The route is through the stunning Virginia countryside, past horse and cattle farms, apple orchards, vineyards, old churches and cemeteries. At the beginning and end of the ride, we will travel a few miles on a highway with a roomy shoulder but mostly we will be on rolling hills and moderately hilly country roads. There are a few breathtaking (literally!) climbs, but well worth the effort. We’ll stop for lunch at the Orleans Market where farmers, farriers and cyclists meet. This is a no- drop ride, with a leader and a sweep and no one will be left behind.

After completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location. If you don't see it, check your junk mail folder.

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

Bicycle Ride: Two Out of Three ain't Bad Gravel Ride from Hamilton (14 May 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

30 miles and 2300" elevation. This is a more advanced and longer gravel ride so please sign up only if you have done a gravel ride with us or have some significant gravel experience. For intermediate and advanced riders.

Join us for a Thursday Ride! We call it the “Two Out of Three ain’t Bad Ride” because it is 2/3rds gravel and 1/3rd pavement, with pavement interspersed throughout the ride. This beautiful ride wanders through forests, horse farms, and scenic fenced in fields. You will get your body warmed up quickly with some hills early on, and things become more even by mile 10. We’ll take a quick break at mile 12 at the Philmont General Store, where there are drinks, snacks, and sandwiches. More beautiful scenery awaits you for the second half as we go even further west on well-maintained gravel roads. You’ll know you are almost home when we hit pavement and the suburbs of Hamilton in the last 3 miles. This is a no- drop ride, with a leader and a sweep and no one will be left behind.

Please have at least 35mm tires on your bike. Gravel bikes, hybrids and road bikes with larger tires are all options.

After completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details and start location. If you don't see it, check your junk mail folder.

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

34 Mile Laytonsville Big Sky and Brewery Bicycle Ride (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

34 miles, 1800" elevation. Suitable for Intermediate Riders. Average pace 11-13 miles per hour. Gently rolling hills with a few good climbs. (Note: a 42-mile version with a faster pace is also scheduled for the same day and time.)

We found that the best way to do this route is to include a brewery! This ride will explore the far reaches of Montgomery County's farmland and green space and take us into Howard County’s preserved farmland. The route is on gently rolling hills and mostly low-traffic roads with a few climbs for good measure. This ride has fantastic scenery and beautiful vistas of big open sky, farms and orchards. We begin and end at Waredaca Brewing Company where we’ll relax outside and enjoy the refreshments after the ride.

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 Members, you do need to register.

42 Mile Laytonsville Big Sky and Brewery Bicycle Ride (16 May 2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

42 miles, 2100" elevation. For Advanced Riders. Average pace 13-16 mph. Gently rolling hills with a few good climbs. (Note: a 34- mile version with a more moderate pace is also scheduled for the same day and time.)

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 Members, you do need to register.

Shenandoah Valley Memorial Weekend Bicycle Trip - for WWO Members Only (22 May 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Three days of riding on low-traffic, scenic roads with rolling hills and some more challenging climbs, and one day exploring the local area (options include hiking, and visiting caverns and wineries). For Intermediate and Advanced Riders.

Due to limited space, this event is only for WWO Members. Join us for spectacular weekend, bicycling through the beautiful countryside and rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Each day we'll enjoy a different route. On the rides yoiu'll see breathtaking views, pass farmland, rivers and streams, and we'll end our evenings dining together. There is relatively little car traffic, and many opportunities to stop at interesting places.

For those who can join us on Friday, we'll do a short ride (30 miles or less) out of Middletown, VA enroute to Woodstock, VA where we'll be staying. On Saturday, you'll have a choice of rides -- 39 miles, 2400" elevation or 50 miles , 3100" elevation. For our third day of riding, you can choose between a 39 mile or 30ish mile ride. The terrain is mostly rolling hills but all have few good climbs which are definitely worth the effort. On our fourth day, we may hike Big Schloss via Wolf Gap Trail (4.4 miles) for a fantastic view and/or visit caverns, wineries or do a short bike ride. The order of the biking days and other activities will be influenced by the weather. As will all our rides, we will have leaders and sweeps, and no one will be left behind.

After completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional event details (hotel, meeting location, etc.). If you don't see it, check your junk mail folder.

There is limited space, so please register early and make your hotel reservation ASAP per the instructions in the confirmation email.

If you'd like some additional information before you register, email: bike@washingtonwomenoutdoors.org.

Whiskey Hollow AT Shelter Intermediate Backpacking Trip (30 May 2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

This 10.0 mile trip suitable for intermediate backpackers and above.

Experience the Appalachian Trail in late spring, when the forest is fully green and alive but the heat of summer hasn’t quite set in. Surrounded by a vibrant canopy, this section of the AT is a great place to enjoy the outdoors with a group of like-minded friends. The route offers a little bit of everything—rocky stretches, low-lying areas, and beautiful, wooded terrain.

We’ll head south on the AT to the Whiskey Hollow Shelter, where there are plenty of campsites and reliable water sources to set up for the night. There is also an older shelter nearby (Dick’s Dome).

On day two, we’ll retrace our steps along the same route.

Miles: 10.0 (roundtrip / 5.0 miles per day)

Rating: Level 6 (View Hiking Rating Scale)

For intermediate backpackers and above.

There is limited space on this trip, so please register early!

Virtual Event:Book Club:Book Club Meeting and Social (14 Jul 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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.

This quarter’s book is Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin:

“Force of Nature is equal parts gripping adventure tale, personal memoir, and vivid nature writing.

Three friends, all over fifty, Joan, Cappy, and Jane set out to hike the 200-mile John Muir Trail—the “most beautiful long-distance trail in the world.” Right away, their adventure is complicated by the wild power of Mother Nature and several self-inflicted accidents. Then their journey is enriched when they “adopt” an inexperienced younger hiker whose partner takes off, abandoning her along the trail.

Together, the women experience the terror of lightning at eleven-thousand feet, the thrill of walking through a towering waterfall, and the joy of dancing among midnight moonshadows. For twenty-seven action-packed days, the women live immersed in vast natural beauty, struggle with the trail’s physical demands, and find camaraderie among an ensemble cast of eccentric trail characters. Finally, atop the 14,500-foot summit of Mount Whitney, the women celebrate the triumphant conclusion to their empowering and transformative journey.”

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 Members, please register!