In historic Harpers Ferry WV, this circuit hike passes through Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. There is a great view of Harpers Ferry from the Spilt Rocks Overlook in Virginia, as well as an pleasant walk along the C&O Canal towpath on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.
CAVEAT:The major downside to this hike is the first quarter mile, and last mile, that requires walking along US340. The traffic is heavy, and US340 has a very narrow shoulder. Use extreme caution in these sections.
From the parking area continue west on US340 walking on the left side of the road next to the guardrail. 60 yards past the end of the guardrail, and 0.2 miles from the parking area, turn left uphill on the blue blazed Loudoun Heights Trail. This is the steepest section of the hike, with the trail making several switchbacks for 0.4 miles before arriving at Split Rocks Overlook.
From Split Rocks Overlook continue up the blue blazed trail reaching the intersection of the white blazed Appalachian Trail (AT) in another 1.5 miles. Turn right downhill on the AT for 0.2 miles to the junction of an orange blazed trail. Turn left, remaining on the white blazed AT for 0.2 miles and cross Chestnut Hill Road. In another 0.5 miles follow the AT as it passes under the western US340 bridge. Cross the bridge, then cross the access road following the white blazed AT markers. Do not follow the access road down to the river.
After re-entering the woods the white blazed AT will come to the first of several small trail intersections in 0.2 miles. Remain straight on the AT for another 0.4 miles to Jefferson Rock. From this point, the AT is paved as it enters historic Harpers Ferry. Pass St. Peters Church and descend the stairs to cobbled High Street . If you turn left here, there area several outdoor restaurants within two blocks. To continue the hike, follow the AT signs to the Potomac River and pedestrian bridge. Cross the Potomac River to Maryland on the footbridge, then turn right downstream on the C&O Canal towpath.
From this point the hike follows several busy roads. Use caution.
Cross over to the other side of Sandy Hook Road and follow it to right uphill. Pass under the bridge where the road makes a sharp turn to the left. Be very careful as there is no shoulder here. 50 yards after the corner turn left over a guardrail onto a closed access road. There were trail direction signs here for 'American Youth Hostel' with blue dashes as of 2006. Follow the closed road uphill for 200 yards where it ends at the eastern US340 bridge.
Cross US340 and make the 0.4 miles bridge crossing on a narrow walkway on the bridges right/upstream side. After reaching the other end of the bridge continue on the right side of US340 the remaining 0.3 miles back to the parking area. Again, use extreme caution crossing US340 to return to the parking area.
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Reviews For The Harpers Ferry Hike (5 Most Recent)
Re: the caveat about the first 1/4 mi. having to hike from the parking lot along Rt. 340 to get to the trail from the SW corner of the parking lot (back right as you enter), there's a trail that cuts up to the main trail.
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Spectacular view of the river, Harpers Ferry, railroad bridges from the rocks at the top on the Virginia side. Nice hiking workout, some rocky places but not many. I went down and crossed the West Rt. 340 bridge, had lunch at a nice spot along the river and went back the same way, given the previous comment about a bridge being closed to pedestrians it must've been the East 340 bridge, as the one I crossed only allows pedestrian traffic on one side, has a solid concrete barrier. On the way back I stopped and checked out the amazing view again, and looked long and hard at the East 340 bridge if there were any pedestrians crossing, I didn't see them, so it might still be closed.
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Date of Hike: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
While on vacation in Harpers Ferry, my wife and I attempted this hike. We started in Harpers Ferry and hiked the towpath to the Route 340 bridge. When we got to the bridge, the pedestrian walkways on both sides were blocked, and "no pedestrians" signs had been put up. I looked online to see if there were any notices regarding the duration of the closure, but could not find any. For now, at least, this hike no longer exists as a loop. I noted also that the list of side trails posted at the ATC headquarters lists Loudoun Heights as a one-way hike between the AT and the parking area off US 340.
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Alice
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Date of Hike: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
I didn't hike it, we did the Maryland Heights hike instead in part because of the caveat about Rt. 340. But I noticed when we drove over the 340 bridge on our was to Harpers Ferry that the pedestrian walkway over the bridge is separated from the roadway by jersey barriers. Still wouldn't be much fun, but not particularly dangerous.
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Date of Hike: Sunday, April 12, 2009
Overall, a great hike. Great views of Harper's Ferry, nice hiking. Much appreciated the caveat about Rt 340 -- although you only have to contend with the walk along the road at the end. There is now a new trailhead that gets you to the Loudoun Heights trail. The trailhead is in the SW corner of the parking lot, and eliminates the need to walk along the road.
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Date of Hike: Saturday, May 05, 2007
Like most of the hikes I have done from this site, this is a nice hike. I appreciate the effort taken to cobble this together from two or three routes, including the AT.
The caveats about the portions of this route that are along the highway are well taken. If you can look beyong this, several of the views encountered on the hike are reasonable trade-offs. Especially enjoyed looking down on the old town from the ridge across the river, and I have always enjoyed walking on bridges over scenic rivers, so mostly was able to put the traffic out of my mind.
Yesterday was a mid-spring trek, and the route had cleaned itself up - not muddy, not overly obscured by leaf detritus. The only downside for me was the foot traffic on the railroad bridge , lots of big groups and some baby carriages making it a squeeze there in a tight confines. If the Virginia portions of the trail are not maintained, they could be pretty over grown by mid Summer.
A note about finding the trailhead...be vigilant after you reach the end of the guard rail, because you are very close. Be sure and keep an eye out 90 degrees to your left and slightly uphill. If you have gone 100 yards you'll have passed it. Turn around, walk back towards the guard rail and look uphill to your right and you will see the sign for the start. I missed it the first time I passed and walked about a half mile up the road before we realized we'd gone too far.
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