4 acres hosted by Jen T.
4 tent sites
Nomadic camping
Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.
30 minutes from Washington, DC, nestled within winding scenic roads, a small sign for a narrow one-lane bridge marks the hidden entrance to our 4-acre manicured forest Hideaway. Find an idyllic weathered two-story barn with electrical outlets, a guest bed, a fire circle, hot pepper gardens with rare and super-hot varietals decorating the porch with outdoor table and last-minute BBQ-ing supplies for sale, and, if you ask politely, a hot shower (or cold if we’re out of heating fuel).
Depending on site or access, you may be unwinding in the trees, or under the shelter of the barn, gazing out through the large double bay doors. As the moon rises high above the tree tops, lightning bugs emerge and twinkle in the night air, blending the bounds of earth and the starry skies.
The next morning enjoy the sounds of bird song so diverse and chatty you’re likely wonder like I did if you were awakening in a tropical jungle, and not the NoVAn outskirts of Washington, DC. Later in the afternoon, see the Corvids and Falcons gracing skies, or rough and tumbling for territory within the copious canopy above, occasionally crashing tree branches in their battles.
Some weekdays or weekends, a visitor may sight the OG Wizards of Langley (Our Local Robotics / UAS Club in Great Falls) with their drones, operating under an FCC Club license, duking it out in the sky and signal space in the big backyard which is delightfully just within a number of fly zone permissions, despite that across the street you’ll find the edge of the Zone 1 RED Zone of Washington DC. Folks with similar hobbies must check in 14 days in advance with Proof of Licensing, and Writ of Intent for flying, and the hosts will get back with approval or request for modification.
As the day fades to dusk, families of deer graze and meander across the lawns, and at the first sound of people high tail it into the surrounding forested hills, flashing their white tails as they leap across the 5’ ravine at the edge of The Hideaway’s soft and grassy forest camp grounds.
Lodgers:
One guest bathroom with a standing-room only shower provides hot water, and basic toiletries to lodging guests. In case of weather, the 4 12-foot high bay doors to the barn can be opened to provide shelter from the rain without compromising access and view to the outdoors.
Campers:
To remain within compliance of HipCamp's rules, you must bring your own camp toilet: pack in and pack out. We are working on better options, such as renting a Port-a-Potty, so, please mind our dust and remember that we expect your compliance, too.
Around Town:
Local attractions include gorgeous Night Skies Tours hosted by Analemma Society and FFxC0 Parks & Rec. Observatory Park is a roll-top roof Observatory with 4 telescopes, and ample fields for viewing night skies in the Great Falls MPA-193 Region’s International Dark Skies Designated Urban Night Sky Zone. We are within the only one in the Washington DC region, fancy that.
A quick visit to The Villages of Great Falls opens a courtyard with Artist's Studios, incredibly smells of local restaurants representing the many villages that locals are united to in their walks of life. Guidebooks for a busy weekend calendar across Summer Solstice are available at the many businesses. At Oliver's Corner, there is a butcher open until 5pm. The Safeway is 7 minutes away, and closes at 9pm.
Along Georgetown Pike & Beach Mill Rd Past Springvale heading west, many pastoral offerings include Horseback Riding & Training retreats, gorgeous winding country roads, and a cozy French Alsatian Bistro with outdoor dining, named Jacques Brasserie.We have a first come, first serve policy for choosing campsites. The campsite's soft, grassy valley floor has ample room for tents, telescopes, and photography equipment in the large clearing surrounding the fire circle, where there are massive unobstructed views of the sky above.
Massive trees aged bicentennial and beyond congregate around the clearing providing thick canopies of shade, and ample bird watching, habitat to lively and diverse families of falcons, crows, migratory geese, endangered turkey vultures, cuckoos, woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, and herons - to name just a few of the usual suspects.
Here, find a handful of paired trees perfect for flying a hammock on those sweltering summer nights signature to the Nation’s Capitol swamplands alliteration and local cryptid lore.
In case of inclement weather, the massive bay doors of the barn will be opened to extend the space and provide shelter. There’re additional hookups available in the barn for hammocks. Please contact a host in advance to guarantee a hammock slot in the barn can be made available.
A communal 10-foot fire circle unites all of the sites at the center of the grounds.
Folding tables are available for meal and activity prep, and placed in proximity to the fire circle.
Preparedness: Campers must arrive & setup camp before dusk, and be prepared with working flashlights & sturdy shoes.
The roads are winding and under the canopy of trees, and there are many one-lane bridge, hairpin turns, and the occasional fallen tree limb or wildlife crossing the road. This makes for, at times, treacherous road conditions at night, especially during flash flood and storm conditions where visibility is lowered, and rolling black out power outages are intertwined into the Summertime exurban adventure.
During the day, the country roads leading to Hideaway & Hot Pepper Farms are an international attraction for marathon bicyclists, and Sunday drivers touring in antique, rare, and imported automobiles.
The sight seeing is beautiful, and we can point our guests to the best destination roads and destination for exploring during the day.
If your party does find itself lost by moonlight, or unsafe to drive please don’t hesitate to send a text to the hosts and we’ll send out a search party! (humor) We reserve the right to decline for any rational reason, but in all seriousness, we’re here for you - call us if there’s a dangerous driving condition.
Draft - NOTE: condense all of this
At night, quite often the brightest beacons of light nearby are fire flies floating in the forest canopy, and twinkling lights beaming down from the starry night skies. Without a shadow of a doubt, the enchanted winding forests, open fields, and trails local to Georgetown Pike set the stage for night skies photography & telescope observing in the Nation’s Capitol.
8-10pm every Friday
Our neighborhood is light pollution conscious in support of Observatory Park’s 2022 efforts to expand the zoning regions where light pollution countermeasures are enforced in order to maintain accreditation within the International Dark Skies Association for “urban night sky”
Activities
Biking
Boating
Hiking
Horseback riding
Natural features
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Waterfall
Farm
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Hosted by Jen T.
Joined in April 2023Things to do nearby
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