I made four goals to achieve by the end of the year, one of them was to go on an overnight adventure. Recently John and I went on that overnight adventure, thus checking off one of my goals! Destination: Harper’s Ferry, WV. John had never visited before and the last time I had visited was when I was a little girl. So, we had no idea what to expect. John looked up the best and most rigorous hiking trails while I booked a campsite. Other than that, we didn’t look at many pictures or research the area. We were going in with a loose plan and an open mind. Harper’s Ferry was a hit! As we drove in though the mountains and over the rivers, John said he could picture living there one day. Keep reading to find out what we did, where we stayed, and what we hiked! Or if you’re more of a visual person, please click here to watch the video diary of our trip!

Where we Stayed: River Rider’s Riverside Campground

When they say riverside, they mean riverside! Waking up just feet from the Potomac was magical and serene. The facilities were primitive but in pretty good condition. Every campsite comes with a table and fire pit, whilst other sites are equipped with an electrical outlet and a potable water pump. There is a nearby portable toilet trailer and by the main entrance, a bath house with decent showers and toilets. A pedestrian entrance to the National Park was also further down the gravel path next to our site! Lots of easy access river side sights to explore. The price for one night’s stay was reasonable but on the more expensive side at about 40$. My only negative notes are the price of firewood (8-10$) and…the train. There is a railway right on the campground that runs 24/7. It was expected to be heard and seen as explained when booking, but they fail to explain just how close the train is to the campsites– right on top! As close as we were to the river, we were to the train tracks. At one point in the night, the train shut off its lights and sound and at another point we believe they stopped running all together (for maybe about 2-4 hours).  With all that being said, we both really enjoyed our stay and would book again.

What we Hiked: Maryland and Loundon Heights trails

Maryland Heights is a popular yet challenging trail with quite the elevation climb, but had very rewarding views. John and I only had time for the condensed overlook trail, it takes about 2 hours being 1.5 miles at a difficult level. There is an option to add another 2.2 miles and extra hour and half to your hike by taking the blue-blazed Stone Fort trail. I really regret not taking this detour, because it adds an extra two incredible views and brings you through history  as you pass 30 and 100 pound naval batteries as well as remains of a stone fort and breastworks. ( I honestly don’t know what all that means but I wish I had found out for myself!) You do see one small naval battery on the shorter trail, however it was pretty underwhelming.

Loundon Heights is another challenging trail with an elevation gain of 1,880 ft. The view was worth the blisters and sore bum. Though it was the same view (different angle, different height) as MH it was spectacular and rewarding. We hike mountains to feel accomplished and this certainly fulfilled that need to achieve. There are also a few different options to take along this trail as well. Once you pass the AT, climb up then across (blue blaze) or across then up (orange blaze). John and I went up following the blue blaze and down following the orange blaze, which was a choice I was happy with.

Its important to note that from the lower town of Harper’s Ferry, it’s a hike just to reach these trails, about 2-3 miles from town to each trail head. However, everything from the town to the trail is stunning, interesting, and historical. For example an abandoned house across the road on the way to MH, or the Harper’s Ferry Cemetery on the way to LH.

What we Did: 

We hopped on a shuttle bus from the National Park entrance to the historic town of Harper’s Ferry. The buses run frequently in both directions, making travel, parking, and access to hikes a breeze! There are a lot of little shops and restaurants all along the cobblestone streets of the small town. Our favorite was the candy shop, True Treats, where we purchased Napoleons and a sarsaparilla soda. Napoleons are a sour lemon hard candy with a short but sweet fizz in the middle. Back in the day, people would have them as an after-dinner refreshment or in the middle of war to combat dehydration. Sarsaparilla is much like root-beer and both John and I would recommend giving it a try! We also took a quick peek around the Harper’s Ferry Cemetery and Robert Harper’s old home a top the hill on the way to Jefferson’s Rock. On the way back from the Loundon Heights hike, we quickly took a detour along the river side path back to the historical town. There is a pathway of rocks leading out to the water under the highway above. Sitting under the bridge upon the river was a unique experience and a great spot to relax and re-hydrate from the 5 hour hike.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Be sure to give it a like if you found it intriguing or helpful and comment any questions you may have! Also please check out the vlog of our trip on my Youtube Channel!

 

xxoo,

Felicia Lee