Brief Description of Section
For most of this section, the Trail utilizes the towpath along the abandoned the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, a National Historical Park. The level terrain and excellent footing make this the easiest section. The scenery, with the Potomac River on one side and the canal on the other, offers a pleasant change from the adjoining ridges.

Maps 

Map 1	Map 2

Shelters and Campsites
There is no camping in the next section of the trail, so we will camp at the Weverton Primitive Camp (100 yd by side trail, at 0.8/2.5 mi.), by the Potomac.  It has no privy and no water (the river is polluted), but is the only place where free camping is possible in this section.  

We could at the Harpers Ferry Hostel (0.4 mi. by side trail, at 2.0/1.3 mi.)  The Hostel is equipped with bunks, toilets, towels and showers, cooking and laundry facilities, and a phone, but does not provide meals.  They charge around $15 - 20 for the night.   Staying at the hostel would mean that we have to hike more than 10 miles the next day.

Of course we also have the option of breaking the rules.  I think that it is likely that we will complete Section 1 and this section pretty quickly on the first day (they both don't change elevation at all!), and we will want to continue on.  I am more than willing to do this, but I think that it comes at the expense of the campfire, which increases our chances of getting caught.

I don't personally like the hostel idea, I am ok with staying at the legit campsite, but I like the breakin' the law the best.  Campfires are more important to Robbie and Mikey than they are to me, so I will let them make the call.

Trail Description, South to North

0.0 Bulletin board at beginning of brick walkway. Follow walkway to Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge and cross Potomac River. (Congressman Goodloe E. Byron, 1928-78, was a great supporter of the AT.) Overlook on right has superb view of Potomac and Shenandoah confluence.

0.2 Turn right onto Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath. (The 184.5 mile canal, which linked Washington and Cumberland, was completed in 1850. Operation ended in 1924, after the canal was severely damaged by a storm. The canal is now a National Historical Park.) Hikers wishing to reach Grant Conway Trail should turn left onto towpath at this junction. Trail blazes will be found occasionally on posts along towpath.

0.6 Pass canal lock on left.

1.3 On left, blue-blazed Loudoun Heights Trail leads 3.2 mi., via Sandy Hook US 340) Bridge to rejoin A.T. in Virginia Section 1. It passes a grocery store in Sandy Hook and Harpers Ferry Hostel. Cross under Sandy Hook (US 340) Bridge and continue on towpath.

2.5 Blue-blazed trail leads 100 yd right to Weverton Primitive Camp. No water; the river is polluted.

2.8 Turn left off towpath and onto dirt road used by NPS ground maintenance crews. Cross over canal, cross CSX (formerly Baltimore & Ohio) Railroad tracks and bear left to NPS gate at outside radius of sharp turn in Keep Tryst Rd. (Toadflax flowers may be seen here.) A.T. enters woods at inside radius of turn.

3.1 Cross under US 340 overpass. (A dirt “road” and pilings of a former bridge may be seen along Israel Creek, the deep ravine on the left. These mark the route of the former Washington County Railroad, which later became the Hagerstown Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.) Ahead, be careful of precipitous drop on left, then cross overgrown field and turn left.

3.3 Reach 20-ft spur connecting A.T. parking area on south side of Weverton “access” Rd. To continue on Trail, bear right and parallel public highway at foot of embankment.