About us
PATC hikes are an opportunity to understand the club and its important trail maintenance work. You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us, but we hope you will consider joining after getting to know us. Come join us on the trails!
(PATC hikes are conducted by trained hike leaders. The hikes offer various levels of difficulty and distance).
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ABOUT PATC
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.
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ABOUT THE HIKE PROGRAM
The first stated purpose of PATC is "to support and encourage the ... proper recreational use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and other trails". This is done partly through the sponsorship of hikes on trails in PATC's area and on other trails.
The club has a wide-ranging hiking program which includes local area hikes and excursions into other geographical areas. Hikes can range from short, close-in day hikes to extended excursions. Hikes can be for physical conditioning, social interaction, nature walks, history lessons, to reach a viewpoint, or any of a number of purposes. The club encourages a wide variety of hikes, and provides training and support to hike leaders.
Upcoming events
16
Bill Kruszka Overlook on the Massenutten Trail
Location not specified yetThis hike is a part of the PATC CentennialFest 2026-Celebrating 100 Years of Volunteers. This is a moderately strenuous 5.3-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 1325' on the Massanutten Trail (hiking north from parking). Parts of the trail are rocky and steep. We will hike about 1.7-2 mph on average, slower uphill and breaking as needed.
Trailhead Location: The parking is located less than 5 miles, 10 minutes, from Caroline Furnace Camp at Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap OHV System Parking Area at Edinburg Gap (Forest Rd 374, Edinburg, VA 22824)
GPS 38.78867, -78.52153RESTROOM: Vault toilet near OHV parking.
AGENDA: From the parking area, we will cross Edinburg Gap Road/675 and make a left onto the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail. One-tenth mi from the intersection of Bear Trap and Massanutten Trail, a rock cairn will mark the spur trail on the left to the Bill Kruszka Overlook. Then we'll retrace our steps back to the parking area.
WHAT TO BRING: The Ten Essentials. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and warm/cool layers. Bring plenty of water, snacks/meals, and trekking poles if you use them. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html
Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.
The PATC requires hikers to sign a liability waiver; you can review the waiver at PATC Forms, Hike Sign Up Sheet, and Liability Waiver (http://patc.net/patc-forms-and-policies). I will have the waiver at the hike for you to sign.
Tidbits:
- The Bill Kruszka Overlook, located in George Washington National Forest, is named for a longtime Forest Service employee who, along with Don Sawyer, helped develop many trails in the Lee Ranger District. The rocky outcrop offers sweeping views of Short Mountain, Edinburg, and the Shenandoah Valley.
- The Massanutten Trail is a 71‑mile National Recreation Trail in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of central Virginia, forming a loop around the inner Fort Valley of the Massanutten Mountain range.
Revolutionary War origins - Massanutten Mountain Trail, Virginia - American Trails
The trail’s roots trace back to the American Revolutionary War. In 1781, after the Continental Army’s defeat at Yorktown, General George Washington ordered General Daniel Morgan to build a road over the eastern ridge into the valley — now known as Morgan’s Road and part of the Veach Gap section of the Massanutten Trail. This was intended as a potential retreat route if the army had been overwhelmed
7 attendees
Past events
375
