Parking
To reach Harpers Ferry: From US 340, turn onto Shenandoah St (the “entrance” road for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park) at west end of bridge over Shenandoah River. Free parking, inadvisable overnight, in small lot on corner of Shenandoah St and US 340. For additional parking, at $5 per car, stay on US 340 and proceed to Harpers Ferry NPS Visitor Center. Park and take tour bus to historic area of Harpers Ferry. Then continue on Shenandoah St to intersection with High St, the first street on left. The A.T., going south from the opposite direction, turns here onto High St. Distance is 61 miles from Washington, D.C.
Trail Description
0.0 Cross to right side of US 340 at junction of US 340 and Shenandoah St (the Park “entrance” road) in Harpers Ferry. Ascend cliff very steeply. Watch for poison ivy. (The Trail and streets are unmarked through the town, due to Park regulations.)
0.3 Blue-blazed trail leads 0.2 mi. left to ATC headquarters. Go straight. Trail undulates ahead. Stay on cliff and ignore intersecting paths.
0.6 Go right at fork. (Path on left leads to Storer College campus.)
0.7 Go straight at cross paths. (Path on left leads a few yards to Harper Cemetery.) Descend, sometimes steeply. Ahead, path on right leads a few yards to excellent view from Jefferson Rock.
0.8 Pass ruins of St. John’s Episcopal Church (1852) on left, descend stairs, go straight onto paved road, and pass St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church (1833) on right. Where road bears to left, go straight down stairs, passing Robert Harper’s house (1775-81, the town’s oldest) and “Armory Workers’ Apartments,” both on left. At bottom of stairs, turn right onto Washington St (becomes High St).
0.9 Turn left onto Shenandoah St. (The Park Visitor Center is to right.) After one block, turn right and pass under trestle. (On right is replica of fire engine house in which John Brown made his stand. Old Federal arsenal foundations are adjacent.)
1.0Turn left at bulletin board at beginning of brick walkway. (Straight ahead, overlook has superb view of Potomac and Shenandoah confluence.) To continue on the Trail, follow brick walkway to Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge.