The Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, area offers hikers everything from short walks through Civil War battlefields to treks along the Appalachian Trail. Hikes in the area travel deep into history and deep into the woods of West Virginia and adjacent states.
Fundamentals
Harpers Ferry sits in the northeast corner of West Virginia where the state meets Maryland and Virginia and overlooks the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers coursing through the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains. Its historic significance dates to before the Civil War when abolitionist John Brown raided the armory in 1859. The Harpers Ferry National Historic Park includes part of the old town and battlefields, according to the National Park Service website. Harpers Ferry remains one of the few towns that the Appalachian Trail passes closely. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy keeps its headquarters in Harpers Ferry.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail, a privately managed part of the U.S. National Parks system, can be accessed by a 0.2-mile walk from the conservancy headquarters in Harpers Ferry.
At 2,178 miles, the trail is the longest marked footpath in the United States, according to the conservancy website. Completed in 1937, it touches 14 states and seven national parks and goes through eight national forests.
To those hiking the trail's entire length, Harpers Ferry represents the half-way point. For a day hike, Backpacker magazine's website recommends the 10.4-mile hike from Harpers Ferry to Gathland State Park in Maryland. For a shorter out-and-back, hikers can go as far as Jefferson Rock or Weverton Cliffs to enjoy their river overlooks.
Easy Trails
Easy hikes abound around the park, according to the National Park Service website, including the quarter-mile Lower Armory Grounds trail, half-mile Hamilton Street trail, 0.75-mile Bolivar Heights Trail and 0.9-mile Virginius Island Trail. The C&O Canal Trail to Dam 3 in Maryland offers the opportunity for longer easy walks up to 4.2 miles each way.
Moderate to Strenuous Hikes
Moderate hikes include the 1.8-mile Lower Battlefield Trail, 2.2-mile Murphy Farm Trail and 3.2-mile Shenandoah Trail loop from the visitor's center, according to the park service website. In addition to stretches of the Appalachian Trail, more strenuous hikes include the 8-mile Loudoun Heights Trail.
Maryland Heights
The Maryland Heights trail, with its views and historic sites, offers a moderate hike that has become so popular that it can be crowded on weekends, but it is still worth the effort, according to the Hiking Upward website.
The trail's main ridge passes ruins of a Union army fort from the Civil War, trenches, ammunition storage areas and encampments. The park service posted informational signs along parts of the trail. The hike starts at the 1862 Naval Battery and climbs steeply toward a ridge, continuing through the main fort area and up log stairs into the fort's remains. The trail turns toward the south with Potomac River views and steeply descends before reaching an overlook with a view of Harpers Ferry 0.3 miles away.
Considerations
Excavation and restoration work continues at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park and some areas may be closed. Pets must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet, according to the park service website.
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park and its trails open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. daily. The entire park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy cautions that lightning can be a threat along the trail throughout the summer, and weather can change quickly. Dogs are allowed on the areas of the Appalachian Trail near Harpers Ferry. Permits are not required to hike sections of the trail in West Virginia.
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