In January, we visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, in West Virginia.
Harpers Ferry is located where the Shenandoah River flows into the Potomac River below the Maryland Heights. At this river juncture, Harpers Ferry with its meticulously restored pre-Civil War structures maintained by the National Park Service is just waiting for photographers to visit. Across the Potomac from lower town is the C&O Canal National Historical Park which stretches185 miles from Washington, DC to Cumberland, MD following the Potomac River. And add to this the railroad tracks and bridges, this is a very unique park to photograph.
Meeting Location and Time
We will meet at the Harper’s Ferry NHP Visitor’s Center at 9:00am
– The physical address of the Park Visitor’s Center is 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
– GPS coordinates are: N39 19.007 – W77 45.381
Signups and Carpooling
Since this field trip is only 4 days after our Jan 7th meeting, we will begin the signups online. If you are interested in participating in this field trip, please send an email to field-trips@nvps.org and let us know if you are driving yourself, if you need a ride or you can drive others. The carpool location will be the Dunn Loring Firestation or other locations determined by the carpool drivers. Since the drive is a little over an hour from Dunn Loring to Harper’s Ferry, I would anticipate meeting at the Firestation at 7:45am.
Park Entrance Fee
– Park passes may be purchased at the fee collection entrance station daily.
– Vehicle Pass – $10.00 per single, private vehicle
– Individual Pass – $5.00 per person arriving on foot or bicycle
– The National Park Service participates in the Interagency Pass Program.
– From the Visitor’s Center you will have the option of taking a shuttle bus to Lower Town or hiking the 1.6 mile trail.
– Hiking from the Visitor’s Center to Lower Town
Moderate hike due to one steep section, 1.6 miles one-way, 45 minutes. This scenic trail starts at the tree line south of the Visitor Center, at the back of the main parking lot. Hikers travel down a steep ravine with 97 stone steps, passing by intermittent waterfalls. At the base of the ravine, the trail crosses Shoreline Drive: Be careful! Cars and buses use this road. Keep dogs and children off the pavement. The trail parallels the road, passing by healthy wetlands, where hikers may see herons, Wood Ducks, Canada geese, turtles and occasionally a beaver or muskrat. Passing the River Access parking lot, the trail merges with Shenandoah Street, bordering the Hall and Virginius islands trail systems. Hikers will see the ruins of the Shenandoah Pulp Mill and a remnant of the Shenandoah Canal.
– Shuttle bus service begins at 9 a.m. when the parks opens with the last shuttle bus departing Lower Town at 5:15 p.m.
For those interested in a longer hiking for a spectacular view of Harper’s Ferry
The Maryland Heights Trail offers hikers the opportunity to see many aspects of Harpers Ferry NHP on one walk: spectacular scenery, geology, Civil War and transportation history. From the Information Center in Lower Town turn right to merge with the Appalachian Trail at the dead end of Shenandoah Street. Cross the footbridge over the Potomac River. Turn left (upstream) on the C&O Canal Towpath. The trail stays on the towpath for 0.3 miles, and then crosses a footbridge over the canal bed to Harpers Ferry Road. Be careful! Watch for traffic. Directly across the road is the Maryland Heights trailhead. The first bend on this green-blazed trail offers a nice view of the Potomac. Go straight at the first intersection to a see the 1862 Naval Battery, then return to the green-blazed trail and turn right. At the next two intersections stay straight on the red-blazed Overlook Cliff Trail. About 0.3 miles turn right for a narrow, rocky descent 0.5 miles to the cliffs overlooking Harpers Ferry. Backtrack to the first intersection with the blue-blazed Stone Fort Trail. Hike one mile uphill past Civil War artillery batteries and through boulders to the Civil War Stone Fort. The trail curves out of the Stone Fort past breastworks and descends steeply over one mile back to the green-blazed trail. Turn right and backtrack to the C&O Canal Towpath. Difficult (steep and rocky in places), 4.5 or 6.5 miles round trip, 3 to 4 hours.
Harper’s Ferry phone app – The Harpers Ferry Historic Town Foundation has just released (June 6, 2013) a smartphone app “Visit Harpers Ferry and Bolivar” for Apple iOS and Google Android devices. It is available for FREE on the iTunes and Google stores. This app will give you constantly updated information about accommodations, restaurants, shopping, recreational and entertainment opportunities, historical and cultural sites, and events.