Hemlock Overlook Regional Park

Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, a NOVA Parks property along Bull Run, has been one of QOC's regular fall and winter venues for many years, with courses typically covering the full range from White through Blue. The park has also hosted two national-ranking (A-meet) events over the years, including a day of the Intercollegiate Championships.

The wooded terrain runs along the Bull Run corridor and is notably hilly, with numerous closely-spaced ridges and reentrants that add real physical difficulty to the advanced courses; a shooting range sits across the creek but is not active on Sundays, when QOC holds its events, and hunting is likewise paused for the day. Rootstocks and vegetation boundaries on the map aren't always reliable for navigation, since more exist on the ground than are mapped. Running and walking across the adjacent soccer fields is allowed when no games are scheduled.

A full set of classic courses makes Hemlock a solid fit for newcomers and experienced orienteers alike, and the venue has also hosted social events such as night orienteering and the club's Winter Meeting potluck.

For several years the original north entrance and Adventure Links lodge area at the north end have been closed, so QOC now checks in and parks at the adjacent Kincheloe Rd Soccer Park near the south end of the park instead. The gravel lot there is spacious but a bit uneven, so drive slowly through the gate.