Here at Harpers Ferry Historical Park in West Virginia, this Maryland Heights Trail may be one of…read morethe best hikes in the park. Due to construction in late September 2025, to access the trailhead, I had to take an extended 20-minute shuttle ride from the Visitor Center to an alternative location to begin the hike. Walking the paved path for 1/4 of a mile, there'll be a sign mentioning to access the trail...you must cross the street and go around a barrier on the initial climb. Maryland Heights Trail is 4.6 miles roundtrip gaining 1200 feet in elevation, but the pathway is clearly defined and suitable for most hikers. There'll be a halfway junction where to continue on...you must veer to the right as the Maryland Heights Trail changes its name to The Overlook Cliff Trail for 1.4 more miles. Next, follow the "4/10th's of a mile sign" to the right again, for the remaining push to the lookout. From here the trail descends downhill with some pesky rocks to maneuver around before noticing a total clearing of the forest and the wide open observation viewpoint. Arriving at Maryland Heights Overlook, it's a 300-foot vertical cliff showcasing Harpers Ferry's Historic Town at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. I was fortunate enough to even catch a CSX train crossing the original Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks. Overall, Harpers Ferry is nestled within a vintage West Virginia backdrop consumed among colorfully green forests and mountains. Btw, if you're interested, you can walk the cobblestone streets of the Lower Town District. It's a throwback in time to the 1800's. Exploring around offers documented narratives helping to preserve our nation's history with more opportunities to appreciate nature at the banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In the end, hiking this Maryland Heights Trail at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park makes for a worthwhile visit.

Many a summers ago, we would spend the day enjoying the trail- learning about the various…read morehistorical aspects via all the signage (my favorites are the President Lincoln fun facts), trekking the steep rewarding paths, and finishing with a picnic at the overlook- Finally returning years later, much has changed- while the uphill trail still maintained it's level of intensity, a few unexpected challenges were also added..... 1. parking- the two lots next to the trailhead had been closed -leaving the options of a visitor center parking lot a little way form the trail near the center of town-requiring a shuttle service (all at cost 20$ per day) or about a mile down the road in a pull off for free- we opted for the free parking- this added a mile walk on the not so easy train tracks & heavy traffic road- definitely not the safest option- 2. Lack of updated trail signage- we found ourselves doing a few unnecessary loops as the signage we remember navigating to full loop -overlook loop- etc were missing or too run down to read We do love the challenge of this trail- we enjoy the gorgeous expansive overlooks along the way; but with the unexpected challenges we ended up just hiking to the overlook and back down for sake of time instead of committing to the entire trail, as usual (also just note despite its challenging nature- this is a very heavily walked trail- very crowded on weekends)

The shop and front information are absolutely a must visit place while you're in Harper's Ferry…read more The relief map is mind boggling to see up close. There's no charge to enter the station and every so often real trail rangers come in and talk about the trail conditions. The staff all know every answer to the questions with detail and live conditions of the trail 2-3 times a day. Get the feel and natural hit of it all- and while you are there buy some ATC merchandise OR make a donation for the trail OR DO BOTH! All the proceeds benefit the trail! It's free to enter and enjoy the store and map room and that's a great price! It's a worthy national treasure to support this one!

Great place to stop if you are beginner or experienced hiker…read more They have tons of resources available for you...from restrooms, to places to refill your water, to books, and a lunge for hikers. You can take a break and look through thousands of pictures of hikers who have completed the Appalachian trail or you can chat with one of the volunteers about their experiences. Either way, you will leave with more knowledge than you had when you got here!!! We will be back once we have completed the trail!!!

The shuttle was perfect! Debi got me to where I wanted to start my hike on the app trail and was…read morefun to converse with along the way! Looking forward to using the service next time I'm in the area!

Debi's shuttle service was one of our favorite parts of visiting Harper's Ferry! Great rates, she…read moredrove us around to different wineries and waited for us at each one. She was so incredibly kind and accommodating. I cannot recommend enough!

LOVE Harper's Ferry. I'm a huge history buff. I used to come here as a child my dad would take us…read more So many memories . Parking is very busy mid day so come early, they also have a parking area then you can shuttle to the town, so check that out before coming. If you love the story of John Brown then this will bring everything to life. When we came the govt was shut down so I couldn't go to the wax museum :'(. I recommend bringing a picnic basket and eating on the grassy area near the river. You can also make a hike day out of everything and hike up the town past the beautiful Catholic Church at the top, hike back down, go over the bridge, and explore over there. Best place ever.

Having lived in Virginia for over three decades, before making the Valley of the Sun home, gave me…read morethe opportunity of visiting incredibly beautiful, vast, extraordinary and historical areas of Virginia, Maryland, DC and West Virginia - some of the most beautiful country America has to offer. West Virginia is by far an underrated state having so many natural and manmade wonders. As well as one of our most adventurous terrains. Harpers Ferry offers something for nearly everyone, from outdoor recreation and history to really quiet riverside walks and ranger-led programs. In historic Downtown, museums and exhibits tell many sides of and dark memories around Harpers Ferry, including the John Brown Museum and John Brown's Fort, Black Voices: African American History, the Industry Museum, and period sites such as the Boarding House, Dry Goods Store, White Hall Tavern, and the Confectionery. Other featured sites include Harper House, the Master Armorer's Quarters, the Civil War Museum, and the Provost Marshal Office. One can stroll the rivers Shenandoah and Potomac converge there and admire the train crossing and the tunnel across the way. Picnicking by the riverside is a wonderful afternoon pastime. Nice and cool streaming waters, especially of a hot and muggy summer's day. Although usually a bustling tourist location, it offers a unique solitude because of its surrounding hills, mountains, trees and overall nature. I have never tired of visiting Harpers Ferry, despite its cruel and violent history, it remains tranquil, beautiful and serene. If you're ever in West Virginia, this is a must visit!

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

Regular tuber, first time zip liner! And it was amazing. Cost was such a great balance to the…read morelength and intensity to this fun excursion. 3 hours on the course with great bridges, crossings, zip lines, and a free jump. Our guide Liam and his partner (terrible name memory!) were awesome and made our trip that ended in rain still feel safe without spoiling the fun! Highly recommend for families or a date day like we did

Instructor Perry is the goat. Best field trip I've ever had. If you come ask for Perry.read more

The entire experience was fun and well organized, but I especially wanted to recognize our bus…read moredriver, Alex. He was extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful throughout the trip. He went out of his way to help us get our tubes into the river and made sure everyone was comfortable and ready to go. Small acts like that really made a difference and helped start our day on a positive note. Thanks to Alex and the River Riders team for a great experience. We would definitely come back and recommend them to others looking for a fun day on the river.

Stayed at Boundary Cottage with friends for a weekend in Harpers Ferry. The house was comfortable…read moreand provided plenty of space for the 4 of us. The beds were comfortable and linens were nice, but the futon is not comfortable enough to function as a bed, so we used the living room sectional for sleeping instead. The house has been renovated and is clean, but would benefit from some cosmetic touches such as exterior power washing, interior paint, and curtains on the windows. Location is excellent, short walk to the town of Bolivar and the lower town of Harpers Ferry. We loved Canal House & Kelley Farm Kitchen (vegan restaurant) in Bolivar. Check in and check out with Harper's Ferry Vacation rentals is easy. Would stay here again!

From the owner: Fully equipped private vacation rentals that are family and dog friendly! All of our houses are in…read morewalking distance to most points of interest like Harpers Ferry National Park, the C&O Canal, shops and restaurants.

OK, I haven't hiked the entire trail to PA. I've only hiked from Roosevelt Island to 495 bridge,…read morenot a short hike nonetheless. I have seen: perhaps the biggest trees in VA lots of junk [makes me want to clean up water ways and stop people from polluting] the three sisters rocks anchored boats in the summer folks biking on the canal trail across the river Georgetown U. I have fished for spawning fish with my Dad as a kid, and caught quite a few. I have found some of the most tranquil space inside the Beltway possible. You can hike nearly the whole trail on a weekend without seeing other people. Note: if there has been a lot of rain recently, be wary. Trees can be down across the trail and high water in the Potomac can be very treacherous.

The scenery along this trail is amazing. You feel like you are in a completely different place,…read moretransported farther away from the city than you really are. Almost completely shaded, the trail is a nice respite from the heat in summer, with beautiful views of the river year round. The trail is lightly used, which can be a good or a bad thing. It means that it will be peaceful and less crowded than other hiking trails in the area, so it is good for trail running. But it also means that you can feel isolated. I'll admit that I have run the trail alone, but I immediately realized it was a bad idea. Now I prefer to bring company. The trail does get a little rocky at parts, so if you're trying to run, expect some slower going. The only downside to this trail is that the section that is closest to the city (starting at Roosevelt Island) is littered with trash. I have never seen so much litter in a park in America before.