An interesting story and a nice view above Harper's Ferry…read moreJefferson Rock is one of the highlights of Harpers Ferry. It gives a good mix of history, scenery, and a bit of historic adventure that personifies the town. The hike to the rock takes you up the hillside, passing by the iconic St. Peter's Catholic Church along the way. The path itself is fairly manageable, and most sections have railings, but once you reach the rock the protection stops. Because of this, I would recommend the visit only for those who are sure-footed and comfortable with uneven ground, as the drop-offs can be intimidating without barriers. The payoff, however, is worth the effort. From a position next to the rock you get a sweeping view of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, as well as the historic town of Harpers Ferry nestled below. The vantage point is both dramatic and peaceful, giving you a sense of why, according to the stories, Thomas Jefferson, during his travels, found this very spot so moving that it now bears his name. For those who wish to explore more, you can continue on the trail past Jefferson Rock and make your way to the Appalachian trail, which adds another layer of history to the walk. The informational sign could use a little care but, overall, this is a scenic and meaningful stop, best enjoyed with good shoes and sure footing. Enjoy.

Rock formation on ApplachainTrail, a short distance from lower town of Harpers Ferry, yet a steep…read moreand very uneven climb to get there - be careful. The rock/area is famous for Thomas Jefferson standing there in 1783 and stating "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." It is a breath taking view! You pass the remains of St Johns Episcopol church and St Peters Church along the way. Worth the walk!

Here at Harpers Ferry Historical Park in West Virginia, this Maryland Heights Trail may be one of…read morethe best hikes in the park. Due to construction in late September 2025, to access the trailhead, I had to take an extended 20-minute shuttle ride from the Visitor Center to an alternative location to begin the hike. Walking the paved path for 1/4 of a mile, there'll be a sign mentioning to access the trail...you must cross the street and go around a barrier on the initial climb. Maryland Heights Trail is 4.6 miles roundtrip gaining 1200 feet in elevation, but the pathway is clearly defined and suitable for most hikers. There'll be a halfway junction where to continue on...you must veer to the right as the Maryland Heights Trail changes its name to The Overlook Cliff Trail for 1.4 more miles. Next, follow the "4/10th's of a mile sign" to the right again, for the remaining push to the lookout. From here the trail descends downhill with some pesky rocks to maneuver around before noticing a total clearing of the forest and the wide open observation viewpoint. Arriving at Maryland Heights Overlook, it's a 300-foot vertical cliff showcasing Harpers Ferry's Historic Town at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. I was fortunate enough to even catch a CSX train crossing the original Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks. Overall, Harpers Ferry is nestled within a vintage West Virginia backdrop consumed among colorfully green forests and mountains. Btw, if you're interested, you can walk the cobblestone streets of the Lower Town District. It's a throwback in time to the 1800's. Exploring around offers documented narratives helping to preserve our nation's history with more opportunities to appreciate nature at the banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In the end, hiking this Maryland Heights Trail at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park makes for a worthwhile visit.

Many a summers ago, we would spend the day enjoying the trail- learning about the various…read morehistorical aspects via all the signage (my favorites are the President Lincoln fun facts), trekking the steep rewarding paths, and finishing with a picnic at the overlook- Finally returning years later, much has changed- while the uphill trail still maintained it's level of intensity, a few unexpected challenges were also added..... 1. parking- the two lots next to the trailhead had been closed -leaving the options of a visitor center parking lot a little way form the trail near the center of town-requiring a shuttle service (all at cost 20$ per day) or about a mile down the road in a pull off for free- we opted for the free parking- this added a mile walk on the not so easy train tracks & heavy traffic road- definitely not the safest option- 2. Lack of updated trail signage- we found ourselves doing a few unnecessary loops as the signage we remember navigating to full loop -overlook loop- etc were missing or too run down to read We do love the challenge of this trail- we enjoy the gorgeous expansive overlooks along the way; but with the unexpected challenges we ended up just hiking to the overlook and back down for sake of time instead of committing to the entire trail, as usual (also just note despite its challenging nature- this is a very heavily walked trail- very crowded on weekends)

A great day for a hike on the A.T. This one is just o/s Fauquier County on Mt Weather. I took the…read moreSOBO trail a couple years ago. This time I went North to the waterfall. Let me give some mad respect to whomever dug out the spot to put in a rather large parking area for us! For years we've been on side of this narrow dirt road. * Thank. (Virtual fist pump). This was 3 miles out and 3 miles back. The waterfall is around 1 mile mark. It's off to the right. *please understand, ricks are slippery whether they're wet ot not. How someone brings three toddlers here with no backpack, water or first aid is beyond me. I had to leave the area. But it was really nice. Very relaxing and you did have to hand/foot climb to get up there. Be careful please. I double backed and got on the A.T. Couple more miles to the secret cliff I saw in another Yelp post. :) . Lots of people walked by, no one knew I was there. I had it all to myself. Its better than the actual lookout. Anyway. I scanned the rocks for danger, shot some pics and sat down for water and dry crackers. I look over and there are 2 snakes curled up by a small tree about 6 feet from me. I spoke to them. "Thought you'd hide from me. I got you!" It was funny. I took a couple pics and kept my eyes on them. Only takes a second to lose track and they end up right at me saying, "HA got you back!" I sat a while then headed back down. I enjoyed it! I'd like to section hike and have a car waiting to take me back to my own car where I started. They should have an Uber Hikes App available for that. ;) This way I can hike for as far as I want without turning around to come straight back.

Short trail, pretty and cool, but the waterfall wasn't what I expected. The trail was well kept,…read moreand trimmed back, some areas were steep, and can be slick if it rains.

Of the multiple hiking options at Harpers Ferry, the Loudoun Heights hike may not be top of your…read morelist. Instead, most thrill-seekers head to Maryland Heights. Loudoun Heights is a much longer and more uneven hike with less stunning views at the end. I love getting to intersect with the Appalachian Trail! That was a super cool part of this hike. Getting to the trailhead was an adventure in and of itself. If you're starting in Low Town, you can take what feels like a million steps into a trail. Much easier: park in the first lot on Shenandoah Road and take the sidewalk to the bridge. It'll save you truly an hour round-trip. On this four-hour+ hike, I passed maybe 10 people total. I'm a social hiker, so I didn't need the privacy. But it was nice regardless! Next time I'll probably stick to Maryland Heights.

(had to edit a typo in directions!) A beautiful yet…read morestrenuous hike. If you want to shave off some miles, park under the bridge as you arrive to Harper's Ferry. I enjoy parking at the train station, walking through the small town and starting at the steps to the magnificent St. Peter's Church. The steps are killer and hand made/placed in position. Follow behind the church to the cemetary and Jefferson's Rock. The Appalachian Trail is white blazed and has an entry point here. You'll come out at Rte 340 but turn left to go across the bridge over the Shenendoah River. I believe that's the South Fork under the bridge. Walking over that bridge, especially with the TONS of rain we've had is absolutely amazing. The river was raging! I snapped a lot of pics here. After crossing the bridge you follow the steps to go under the bridge and up some stairs to continue on the A.T. and Loudoun Heights trail. Very simple hike as far as where to go. Follow white blazed trail, cross a road, (You'll pass Orange Blaze but stay on white. You'll take Orange on the way back) ......take a left at the blue blaze. Can't miss it. Follow blue til it ends. You'll see some paths off blue that are just a couple trees away from overlooks. Good take a minute to enjoy. At the end of the Blue blazed trail is an unbelievable view of the Town of Harper's Ferry, the train bridge, Maryland Heights mountain and to the right is the bridge you'll cross into MD if I remember correctly. I love to sit up there with the wind drying off my sweat as I eat my apples and nuts before the trip back. Hearing the train up there and looking at the views was majestic. Not many people at all! I met 5 two-three people groups on my trip and they were so nice. On the way back, of course you're on blue but take a right on Orange blaze to meet up with the A.T. to get back down. Once you're back at the Town of Harper's Ferry, stop in at one of the cafe's and grab an ice cream cone or milkshake! You deserve it! (I hit 32,894 steps on my fitbit and 10 miles of trail) Calorie Roaster!

Awesome hike. I wouldn't say it's "hard" but "moderate" is fair, mostly for the distance I guess…read more The trail is not flat or even, so don't expect that. There are easier shorter trails in the area if you need them. VERY close to Bear Chase which makes a great post hike drink and meal!

Great hike, go on a weekday morning. Otherwise there is way too many hikers on the trail.read more

Field Trip Fairy made me another offer I couldn't refuse: a glorious fall day spent on the idyllic…read morecampus of Madeira School in Great Falls, ziplining down a hillside and watching 6th graders try to figure out how to ring a tractor tire around a 15-foot pole sticking straight up in the air? Yes, please. Sign me up. Inner Quest is an awesome little adventure-learning company based out of Purcellville, but with various sites and programs around the Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland area. Their challenge course at Madeira is huge and elaborate, encompassing several acres in the woods. Elements range from freakishly hard to anxiety-inducing heights to deceptively simple team-building. This was my second time undertaking the Madeira challenge course with Inner Quest: the first was 17 years ago as a scared-witless high school freshman. We'd moved from Texas that summer, and I was friendless since school hadn't started yet. Ma O. thought an Inner Quest program would be a great way for me to make friends. A random group of 12 of us spent a day on the challenge course, and the next 5 days hiking the Appalachian Trail in VA and MD, schlepping our packs, pitching our tents, cooking our food, and digging our own latrines. Ma O. was right: Inner Quest *was* a great way to make friends. Nothing bonds you quicker than mole-skinning blisters and burying your TP with strangers. I still remember our counselors, too -- unkempt adventurers with the nicest, most soothing, and helpfully instructive demeanors. Today's counselors were equally patient and kind with our kiddos. Our guys enjoyed themselves tremendously at Inner Quest, as did the adults (hello, zipline, I feel like a kid again!). Teamwork, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, taking calculated risks, trusting others -- these are life lessons you just can't teach in the classroom.

Inner Quest has been maintaining our low ropes course at are summer camp facility for as long as I…read morecan remember and they have always done a professional job. They insure that are obstacles are up to code and safe. They also train our Ropes Instructors each summer and they are very patient with our counselors and really take pride in making sure that everyone knows what they are doing. Keep up the good work and we will see you this summer. Camp Moss Hollow Butch

Kerns family out for fun day of fishing…read more https://abnb.me/PohNYpMmLV www.compound.gs3.us #compoundhistoricnaturepreserve

From the owner: The Compound: Historic Nature Preserve - is resort where you can enjoy golf swing, summer camp,…read moreAirB&B - Experience, camping Hollywood location & Film, Yoga class, wedding land rental and LARPing.

This was so much fun! Hands down all the gold stars will go back!! My 11 year old son loved it too!read more

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

To my surprise, this trail was found by accident as I had finished an errand in Herndon and needed…read morea place to kill time and explore. This trail/park allows you to see the beautiful nature Northern VA offers with the trees, streams, trails, and surroundings of buildings and landscapes. It's a long trail and it intersects with the WO&D trail. Plenty of space and mileage to explore and perfect for biking/walking/jogging. Get those steps in!

I love walking this easy trail with my dog and am so fortunate to have it located so close from…read morehome. There is plenty of shade and is great for bikers, runners, dog walkers and if you are looking for a simple trail to take your family to! There is also a really neat wall of painted rocks that the community has been contributing to which is awesome because we all get to add to one big piece of art! On a few of my walks here, I've seen deer, raccoons, and foxes so there is a pretty good chance you may spot some wildlife too.

This is a well cared for park. However- the trail is not what AllTrails says it is. It's possible…read moreit used to be a bigger park with a 3-4 mile trail. It is not anymore- now it's closer to .5 miles.

Tony and I stopped to enjoy the roadside park. Waterfall, playground, bathrooms, grills and picnic…read moreareas. Great free park to enjoy. People we're eating, fishing and swimming