Attractions and Things to do in Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry National Park
Take a walk through time as you visit the historical town of Harpers Ferry. This unique place made its mark when abolitionist John Brown staged his raid on the U.S. Arsenal there setting off a chain of events that resulted in the Civil War. The park is actually a collection of many small museums created within original buildings. It is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail, and it has many beautiful hiking trails. It offers a schedule of events all year long, with costumed interpreters providing daily tours throughout the summer and on weekends in the fall and spring. Visit the sight where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converge and Jefferson Rock. There is something for everyone to experience. Educational & Group Tours welcome. Handicapped accessible.


Appalachian National Scenic Trail
From Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail wanders the ridges and valleys of the Appalachian mountain ranges for more than 2,174 miles. 

The Appalachian Trail passes through the historic town of Harpers Ferry, within just a quarter-mile of the ATC headquarters and visitor center, providing opportunities to explore the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and its interpretive exhibits.

From the north, the Appalachian Trail enters West Virginia at Harpers Ferry by way of a footbridge over the Potomac River. As it leaves the town heading south, the Appalachian Trail follows a wooded ridge above the Shenandoah River, passing Jefferson Rock overlook, with impressive views of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Next it crosses the Shenandoah River, ascending the Blue Ridge at Loudoun Heights, and straddling the Virginia-West Virginia border for the next fifteen miles.


Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Stretching 184.5 miles along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves remains of America's colorful canal era. For nearly a century, the C&O Canal was the lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac, as coal, lumber, grain, and other agricultural products gently floated down the canal to market. This magnificent water highway linked the rapidly growing west to the east and played an important role in the growth and development of our country. Hiking and biking along the towpath are excellent ways to see the park.


Potomac Heritage National Trail
The designation of a Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor in 1983, an amendment to the National Trails System Act, is being used by communities in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania to develop and make connections among trails, historic sites and a range of recreational and educational opportunities.


Berkeley Springs State Park
Berkeley Springs State Park is located in the center of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The Bathhouse first opened in 1930. Since then, thousands have enjoyed the variety of baths and treatments in the warm mineral waters that flow from the springs at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The springs discharge from five principle sources and numerous lesser ones, all within a hundred yards, approximately 2,000 gallons of clear, sparkling water per minute.


Washington Heritage Trail
A world of enchantment awaits you along the Washington Heritage Trail, in West Virginia's scenic Eastern Panhandle. Discover places where George Washington slept, the nation's first warm springs spa, and a notorious female Confederate spy.


Antietam National Battlefield
General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North culminated with the Battle of Antietam, in Maryland (or Sharpsburg, as the South called it). The battle took place on Wednesday, September 17, 1862, just 18 days after the Confederate victory at Second Manassas, 40 miles to the southeast in Virginia.
Not only was this the first major Civil War engagement on Northern soil, it was also the bloodiest single day battle in American history.


Yankauer Nature Preserve
This 104-acre refuge is operated by The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia and The Potomac Valley Audubon Society, offering nature trails, bird-watching, public events, and a summer camp for youngsters.


Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area
Sleepy Creek is a haven for rustic camping, hiking, fishing and hunting (wild turkey is the featured game species). The area, which also has a 205-acre lake, a boat launch and a rifle range, is traversed by a section of the challenging 250-mile Tuscarora Trail. Located 11 miles west of Martinsburg and 6 miles southeast of Berkeley Springs. No gas-powered boats.


Cacapon State Park
A destination resort with lodge, cabins, conference facilities, family restaurant, a lake for fishing, boating and swimming, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. Miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. On Rt. 522, 9 miles south of Berkeley Springs. Tel: 1-800-CALLWVA