The Experience
You will love: Historic area, Appalachian trail, scenic river vista and a great trail workout! This is the lesser travelled compared to Maryland Heights.
You need to know:
You need to know:
- Be bear , snake and tick aware.
- Parking available in town of Harpers Ferry or at the National Park entrance (shuttle available).
- Use your National Park Pass to park in the town train station (manages by NPS on weekends)
- Area is popular on the weekends , plan your visit to start early in the day.
A 8 miler that constantly ascends to a perch view of the historic Harpers Ferry area. The single-track trail is heavily wooded and tackles roots, small rocks, creek crossings and burning hamstrings.
The trail begins at the Appalachian trail (at) office of Harpers Ferry. Do your yourself a favor and use this entrance as the lower portion of town (train station area) is a vast outpouring of tourists and weekenders. Just behind the office find the white hash of the AT trail, the trail initiates immediately down steep man made set of stone steps to the awaiting single-track. At this intersection veer right and head towards route 340. This winding trail slithers towards Shenandoah River bridge crossing. get your phone or camera out because the bridge view is spectacular , catch glimpses of rafters on the river or just take in this river as its glides between the mountain topography. Your adventure continues by crossing the bridge and following the white hash to a staircase on the side of the bridge. Follow the stairs under the bridge and continue on the white hash to a dirt single-track trail. The trail here is mainly made up of small to medium size boulders, roots and decay matter. For the hotter months, you will be saved from the sun with plenty of tree canopy. The trail continues for 0.5 miles to Chestnut Hill road, cross with care and continue your ascent. From here the steepness of the hike intensifies but alas for only 0.4 miles as you arrive at a fork in the trail. At the fork, stay to the left and join the orange trail (there is a sign here directing you to the Loudoun trail/ summit). Follow the orange trail for a mile to the blue trail, from here the trail descends (a welcome break) towards the Loudoun Heights perch view of Harpers Ferry. The perch is a rock outcrop with multiple sitting areas/ lunch areas. When fulfilled retrace your steps back to the at trail office.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
The trail begins at the Appalachian trail (at) office of Harpers Ferry. Do your yourself a favor and use this entrance as the lower portion of town (train station area) is a vast outpouring of tourists and weekenders. Just behind the office find the white hash of the AT trail, the trail initiates immediately down steep man made set of stone steps to the awaiting single-track. At this intersection veer right and head towards route 340. This winding trail slithers towards Shenandoah River bridge crossing. get your phone or camera out because the bridge view is spectacular , catch glimpses of rafters on the river or just take in this river as its glides between the mountain topography. Your adventure continues by crossing the bridge and following the white hash to a staircase on the side of the bridge. Follow the stairs under the bridge and continue on the white hash to a dirt single-track trail. The trail here is mainly made up of small to medium size boulders, roots and decay matter. For the hotter months, you will be saved from the sun with plenty of tree canopy. The trail continues for 0.5 miles to Chestnut Hill road, cross with care and continue your ascent. From here the steepness of the hike intensifies but alas for only 0.4 miles as you arrive at a fork in the trail. At the fork, stay to the left and join the orange trail (there is a sign here directing you to the Loudoun trail/ summit). Follow the orange trail for a mile to the blue trail, from here the trail descends (a welcome break) towards the Loudoun Heights perch view of Harpers Ferry. The perch is a rock outcrop with multiple sitting areas/ lunch areas. When fulfilled retrace your steps back to the at trail office.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 2 water bottle
- lunch or heavy snack
- hiking shoes/ boots
