Gathland State Park is located on South Mountain and occupies the former estate of war…read morecorrespondent George Alfred Townsend (1841-1914), who wrote under the pen name "Gath" during the American Civil War. It is located on the Appalachian Trail and the park is operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It was the site of the Battle of Crampton's Gap and one of three gaps on South Mountain where the Battle of South Mountain had been fought between Union and Confederate forces in an early encounter in the Maryland Campaign. Renovated in 1958, Gapland Hall is the park's visitors center and a museum for George Alfred Townsend ("Gath"), while Gapland Lodge has a museum depicting the battle at Crampton's Gap, which was fought just before the battle at Antietam. The park has ample parking, public restrooms and a number of picnic shelters. There is much to see and a few nice hiking areas. You can easily spend an hour here exploring the grounds and the museum plus the the War Correspondents Memorial Arch. [Review 15598 overall - 643 in Maryland - 1102 of 2021.]

Most people just hike the Appalachian trail, or picnic on the grounds, w/out even looking into the…read morehistory of the this park. The brave individuals that recorded the news, and now history, of those times are memorialized by the first American Correspondence Memorial. They gave their lives to record and report the war.

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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!

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.

LOVE Harper's Ferry. I'm a huge history buff. I used to come here as a child my dad would take us…read more So many memories . Parking is very busy mid day so come early, they also have a parking area then you can shuttle to the town, so check that out before coming. If you love the story of John Brown then this will bring everything to life. When we came the govt was shut down so I couldn't go to the wax museum :'(. I recommend bringing a picnic basket and eating on the grassy area near the river. You can also make a hike day out of everything and hike up the town past the beautiful Catholic Church at the top, hike back down, go over the bridge, and explore over there. Best place ever.

Having lived in Virginia for over three decades, before making the Valley of the Sun home, gave me…read morethe opportunity of visiting incredibly beautiful, vast, extraordinary and historical areas of Virginia, Maryland, DC and West Virginia - some of the most beautiful country America has to offer. West Virginia is by far an underrated state having so many natural and manmade wonders. As well as one of our most adventurous terrains. Harpers Ferry offers something for nearly everyone, from outdoor recreation and history to really quiet riverside walks and ranger-led programs. In historic Downtown, museums and exhibits tell many sides of and dark memories around Harpers Ferry, including the John Brown Museum and John Brown's Fort, Black Voices: African American History, the Industry Museum, and period sites such as the Boarding House, Dry Goods Store, White Hall Tavern, and the Confectionery. Other featured sites include Harper House, the Master Armorer's Quarters, the Civil War Museum, and the Provost Marshal Office. One can stroll the rivers Shenandoah and Potomac converge there and admire the train crossing and the tunnel across the way. Picnicking by the riverside is a wonderful afternoon pastime. Nice and cool streaming waters, especially of a hot and muggy summer's day. Although usually a bustling tourist location, it offers a unique solitude because of its surrounding hills, mountains, trees and overall nature. I have never tired of visiting Harpers Ferry, despite its cruel and violent history, it remains tranquil, beautiful and serene. If you're ever in West Virginia, this is a must visit!

I need someone to explain why this park has only three parking spaces. That's just nuts…read more Fortunately, there were only two other people here when I visited or I'd have had to park illegally and we can't have that. The centerpiece of Rumsey Park is the 75 foot tall white granite monument, a tribute to the man who invented, designed and engineered the steamboat in 1783 and overlooks the spot on the Potomac where it first sailed. This was the first successful application of steam to aid with navigation and in 1787 demonstrated it here at Shepherdstown Virginia. Though impressive, the commercial feasibility of the technology was widely questioned, and investors were hard to come by. Five years after his first successful demonstration, Rumsey died while pitching to a group of investors in England, his dream of commercial steamboats never fully realized. Of course, the park has a fab view of the Rumsey bridge and this curve of the Potomac River. Quite scenic just not enough parking. [Review 15607 overall - 59 in West Virginia - 1111 of 2021.]

[Coronavirus review] This is a small park, with an irksomely…read moresmall number of parking spaces (some metered parking is available on the street outside the gate). There were only three parking spaces, plus one handicap spot, and a loop that some people tried to park alongside of but which really didn't work well for that. It's a scenic overlook that gets you a view of both the road bridge and a rail bridge, as well as some massive columns for yet more bridges that no longer exist. The monument itself is apparently to the inventor of the steamboat. What's notable about the space these days is that it has a few picnic tables with a view, and all restaurants are takeout right now. Other people arrived at the park carrying the same taco takeout bags that I did. It's a good spot to eat in a pinch.

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)