Y’all, since the day I laid my eyes on the stunning view of Harpers Ferry from the top of Maryland Heights, I just knew that I had to visit this gorgeous little town.
Located at the tip of West Virginia’s Eastern panhandle, Harpers Ferry is a uniquely beautiful place. It sits nestled at the confluence of the mighty Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. It’s also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters. In fact, the 2.4-mile West Virginia portion of the AT passes straight through Harpers Ferry National Park, which is the site of John Brown’s Raid and some notable battles of the Civil War. It’s historic, outdoorsy, and just so pretty, so of course, I had to visit this place.
Lodging in Harpers Ferry
I was on a budget for this particular trip, so although I would have loved to stay at one of the historic bed and breakfasts in the main strip of Harpers Ferry, my travel partner and I opted for the Quality Inn in town. Knowing that we would spend most of our time out and about exploring, this was a perfect option for us. I mean, it’s hard to pass up a place with free breakfast, y’all. This hotel also seemed to be a popular stop for thru-hikers along the AT, which I thought was really cool. It added to the overall vibe of the trip.
Day 1 in Harpers Ferry
I had one big goal for this trip — to hike to the top of Maryland Heights and see that gorgeous view that brought me here in the first place in person. So, early on the first day, we enjoyed the free breakfast at the hotel and found a parking spot at the Lower Town Train Station. I’m so glad we got there early because that parking lot filled up quickly throughout the morning.
And off we went. The hike to the iconic view from Maryland Heights is roughly 4 miles round trip, if you just head to the view and back. There’s an option to hike to the top of the mountain, but that day, the view was good enough for us.
We traveled here in early July, and the trail was covered in bright red raspberries along the way. Not gonna lie, y’all, I helped myself to a few of them as a little trail snack.
The trail itself was challenging, but nothing that a day hiker can’t handle. After a little bit of huffing and puffing, at long last, I stood face-to-face with that incredible view of Harpers Ferry from above, and it was everything that I hoped it would be and more. cue the happy tears
After descending down into town, we explored the historic streets and browsed through some of the cool shops that lined the road. Harpers Ferry feels like a place out of a storybook. Mountains surround these quaint streets that are filled with historic brick buildings, and on either side of town, there’s a beautiful river rushing through. It’s downright beautiful, y’all. Of course, we also had to visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visitor Center. Once again, I dreamed of a possible thru-hike. One of these days, right?
Exploring town and lunch was followed by a quick rest at the trusty Quality Inn, and after that, it was dinner time. We decided to chow down at Kelley Farm Kitchen. My travel partner was vegetarian at the time, and we chose this place because it’s a vegan restaurant. I’ve got the palate of a truck driver (i.e. I can absolutely tear up a Slim Jim or a pickled sausage), but when I tell y’all that this was one of the tastiest meals I’ve ever had, it’s no exaggeration. I still think about it! It wasn’t just “good for vegan” food — it was good food, period. My travel partner got a chick’n sandwich that he raved about, and I got a ramen bowl that warmed my soul.
We capped off the night with a couple of drinks at Snalley Gaster’s Cafe and Wine Bar, and with that, Day 1 was complete.
Day 2 in Harpers Ferry
The next day was filled with exploration of the area's historic sites. But first, we filled up on a hearty, home-cooked breakfast at Country Café, which was just what we needed.
Then, we headed up the hill to check out Bolivar Heights, not far from Harpers Ferry. The views were incredibly pretty. And, if you’re a history buff, there’s quite a bit to learn here about the Civil War, as it is an important Civil War battlefield. We walked around here and trekked a quick, nearby trail called Schoolhouse Ridge.
After the big hike on Day 1, Day 2 was a much more laid-back experience. We got lunch at a spot on the river in Harpers Ferry called The Rabbit Hole, which was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery. This pepped us up enough to walk around more of the town, which just never got old. It’s such a cool place. We also took time to appreciate the signage in the national park and look out at the view of the confluence from The Point at the Rivers.
After spending so much time hiking, sightseeing, and gawking at every little pretty thing in sight, there was just one thing left to do — end a successful weekend of travel with a local brew. Harpers Ferry Brewing was just the place to do it. You’ll have to drive a little bit out of town to find this place (it’s technically in Virginia), but it also has a gorgeous view of the Potomac River and surrounding mountains, just beyond the confluence. Y’all, it really did feel like we were somewhere special, almost heaven, you might say . . .
Our weekend in Harpers Ferry was so much fun, and I’d love to go back sometime soon. Maybe it’s time to plan a trip for the Fall of next year to soak in that West Virginia foliage. What do you think, y’all?
For more photos and explorations, be sure to follow The Wandering Appalachian on Instagram and Pinterest! Be sure when you're discovering new places to practice Leave No Trace principles. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Happy wandering, y'all
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