appalachian national scenic trail

the best trails are off the main path.... From Harpers Ferry hit Maryland Heights from far side of train tunnel and Loudoun Heights from 340 parking lot next to the gas station before the bridge

There is lots to see and explore along the trail. St. Peter's Church is a nice place to visit and relax along the way to Jefferson Rock. Jefferson Rock is a must see as well. Leave yourself the good part of the day. There is plenty to see.

Near Harpers Ferry, two parallel ridges run roughly north-south from Maryland into West Virginia and Virginia, interrupted by the Potomac River. I have enjoyed the views from each of these ridges, and I feel the best are to be found at Weverton Cliffs, an easy two-minute deviation from the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. Some might prefer Maryland Heights, on the ridge to the west, for views of the town of Harpers Ferry. I like the view from Weverton Cliffs of the river and of mountains far and near more.

We stayed at the Econo Lodge (at Rt 340) a block from the Trail; In town the Towns Inn looked like a nice Hostel. We did 15 miles of trail combined with Maryland Heights and the orange trail to the 850 ft overview on the opposite side of Harpers Ferry. Excellent, tiring and challenging hike but the views are spectacular. As section hikers we love the challenge but also like the advantages of being near town and it amenities.

i was based in Harper's Ferry, a short drive from Washington, so its an easy trail-head for a visitor to get to. the trail is very well marked and maintained. there are plenty of information sites available with other walkers' blogs and information about preparing for a walk that suits your own fitness and readiness. great community with other walkers - everyone was friendly and many were ready to stop and chat. as a solo woman hiker i felt very safe.

This bit frog hop portion of the AT takes you to downtown Harpers Ferry, traversing from Virginia, West Virginia into Maryland possibly in less that an hour if you are a brisk hiker. Of course the scenery is spectacular especially during the fall. Once you make it to town, forget about pitching a tent for the night.

I think a review of the whole AT is a little silly. The trail is over 2,000 miles long. Some parts are more interesting than others. Thousands of people attempt to hike the trail in one season. Usually starting in Georgia and hiking north and finishing in Baxter State Park in Maine (Katahdin that is). Even more people are section hikers. I'm a day hiker and have hikes various parts of the trail. If you live near part of the trail you should definitely hike part of it.

We walked the Appalachian Trail while in Harpers Ferry and found it to be a great diversion from our busy city life. The trail was very interesting and we enjoyed seeing Jefferson's Rock and the amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River. Also, the view of Harpers Ferry from above gave it a unique perspective. Well worth the time to walk a part of history.

I may be partial to the AT (Appalachian Trail or The Trail) since I have hiked so much of it. It really is a special gem in the great American outdoor landscape. There are few places in the world were you can hike through a country like you can on the AT. The people are wonderful and the experience is uniquely special for every hiker. You can hike as little (just a few minutes) or as much (to Maine or Georgia) as you want and quickly get an understanding that this is something special. This is a must see in Harpers Ferry, even if all you do is hike from the river to the top of the hill.

Much more than we expected from the outstanding service at the Appalachian Conservancy to the historic plaques that marked the various sites along the trail. The wooded cliff walk by Jefferson's Rock was quite exhilarating and views incredible. Worth a day trip and a stop at a local tavern is a great way to end the tour.

Regardless if you’re a genuine thru-hiker or a seasonal section hiker, the Appalachian Trail has to be one of America’s outdoor treasures. 2176 miles of continuous trail from Springer Mountain in northern Georgia, through 14 states terminating atop Katahadin in Maine, are an outdoor adventureist dream comes true. Hikers from all over the world travel to the United States to trek the trail beginning in February and normally finishing by late September or early October. For those who couplet the journey, they are forever changed in body and spirit. It is truly a national treasure, something worth maintaining and nurturing for the years to come.

While we were in Harpers Ferry enjoying all that's there we took a brief walk on the AT after visiting the AT Conservancy offices. We walked the trail through town, over the pedestrian bridge and a bit further. Then yesterday we drove to Middletown and walked south for a couple of hours before turning back toward our car. The trail is beautifully kept, the woods are quiet and theSun dappling through the trees was enchanting. We were told the Maryland portion is the easiest of all the states' portions and we were thankful. We came across a very nice camping space with bathroom including showers. We met several groups of hikers, most day hikers, like us, but also long term hikers. Some had a thousand miles in from various trips. What a wonderful piece of history. My ancestors traded on that part of the trail coming south from PA and it was great to feel I was on a section they would have passed through.*Pictures would not get uploaded after 3 tries, sorry.

I was in Harpers Ferry and saw that the Appalachian Trail went through the town so I figured I had to go and walk part of it.

We try to hop on the trail whenever we get a chance for a short or a long hike, and Harpers Ferry has eluded us for a couple of years, so we made a point of going this spring. It was a beautiful, clear day, breezy over the water, a pleasure. Worth it if you are in the area.

We tried to do some hiking on the trail up in Delaware Water Gap on our honeymoon but did not prevail, this time the B&B we stayed at was literally four blocks from it, so we had no excuses. We hiked down the section by Harper's Ferry cemetery and Jefferson Rock into town, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They take very good care of the section here, enjoy!