Washington Women Outdoors upcoming events

Bicycle Ride: Destination Cobb Island! (12 Apr 2026)

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

38 miles, elevation 844 feet, mostly on flat, rural roads. For intermediate and advanced riders.

Ride with us in Southern Maryland (Charles County) to historic Cobb Island. This small, less than one square mile island lies at the confluence of the Wicomico and Potomac Rivers and was owned in 1642 by privateer James Neal (a "legal" pirate) working for the British Empire. He captured Spanish ships bringing homes goods from Central America. The Spanish coins that were stolen were cut up into smaller pieces called cobbs and distributed to the colonists. (Hence the name Cobb Island.) While we're unlikely to encounter privateers on this ride, we'll have scenic views of farmland and rivers as we ride on mostly rural backroads. There are a few miles on main roads but these have wide shoulders. The route is mostly flat with a "spicy" hill at the beginning (and end) of the ride that will get you warmed up quickly. We're excited to be offer this ride for the first time!

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.

Special Event: Art Walk at Glenstone Museum (16 Apr 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

2 miles of walking through forests and past outdoor sculpture. The path is paved with some hills. We will also tour the gallery.

Come join us for something new -- a multi-dimensional experience involving art and architecture, nature and exercise. Located in Potomac, MD, Glenstone is a private museum with an extensive collection of modern art and sculpture described on the website as “a space where you can slow down, be in nature, and engage directly with art.” We'll walk the trail through fields and forests to see large and impressive sculptures and also visit the gallery pavilions. We’ll have an opportunity to see a new exhibit of the works of artist and activist Andrea Bowers, whose multi-media work interweaves ecological concerns with the fight for bodily autonomy. We’ll also take a break and lunch at the café or outdoor patio.

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 event is FREE for Members, you do need to register.

Bear's Den / Sam Moore Shelter Beginner Backpacking Trip (18 Apr 2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This 7.0 mile trip suitable for beginner backpackers and above.

We’ll begin at the Snickers Gap Appalachian Trailhead parking area along Route 7 (Harry Byrd Highway). From there, we’ll head out on a section of the Appalachian Trail known as the “roller coaster,” which features a series of steady ups and downs and can be fairly challenging.

After about half a mile, we’ll reach Bear’s Den, where we’ll take in a wide, west-facing view from the overlook. We’ll then continue south on the Appalachian Trail, crossing several ridgelines as we make our way toward the Sam Moore Shelter. Once we reach the shelter, we’ll turn around and retrace our steps back to the trailhead.

There is a water source at the shelter, along with a few streams along the route.

Miles: 7.0 (roundtrip / 3.5 miles per day)

Rating: Level 3 (View Hiking Rating Scale)

For beginner backpackers and above.

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

Bicycle Ride: Beginner Ride in Rock Creek Park (19 Apr 2026)

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

10 miles, 500" elevation on a paved road closed to cars with a few manageable hills. For Beginner Riders who want to ride with a group and begin to increase their riding distance. Leisurely pace (8 - 10 miles per hour).

Have you wanted to ride with a group but you weren't sure you were ready or that you could ride far enough? This is the ride for you! On this social-paced ride, you'll enjoy the beauty of Rock Creek Park as we ride an easy five miles out and five miles back on Beach Drive (approximately 1.25 hours of riding), which is now closed to traffic. Before we start, we'll go over guidance for riding in a group, basic bicycle maintenance and safety tips. (Note: this is not a "how-to-ride class.") At the mid-point of the ride, we'll take a break at Candy Cane City/Meadowbrook Stables. This is a no- drop ride, with a leader and a sweep and no one will be left behind. Suitable for all bicycle types.

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.

Virtual Event:Book Club:Book Club Meeting and Social (21 Apr 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 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 Changing Gears by Sequoia Schmidt:

“Returning home for the first time in ten years, Sequoia Schmidt sets out to complete a 28 day solo cycle of New Zealand. This will be her first time home since the death of her father and brother in a tragic climbing accident. Changing Gears describes Sequoia's experiences with grief, loss and recovery, interwoven with adventures on the roads of New Zealand as she returns home to reconnect with Aotearoa and herself.”

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!

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!

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!