Rivers and Travel Highs Converge at Harper’s Ferry WV

Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia was a highlight of a spring roadtrip – a place with the perfect blend of history and scenery at the  confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.  It offers a unique 2-for-1 deal in that the town and Harper’s Ferry National Park are actually indistinguishable. 

At the base of ‘The Lower Town” sits ‘The Point’ where the mingled waters of the two mountain rivers flow along the boundaries of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.  Driving in this entire area is a dizzying game of automobile pinball as you bounce across state line to state line in a crazy game of geographic boundaries.  Harper’s Ferry is actually a quaintly* compact place, tightly hugging the hills and yet, the stocky B&O Railroad tunnel gawks right out of the mountain above and bringing the Amtrak line straight from Washington D.C.  Abolitionist John Brown’s Fort is also a sturdy thing to behold, hunkered proudly at the confluence point in the Lower Town, as if to dare the rivers and hills to make it budge after all of these years.

*”Quaintness” should only be expected during “low” seasons. Due to the narrow, steep streets and lack of space for parking, the place has to be an over-crowded trap during spring break, summer and fall color season!   Hence the Park’s need for the “official” National Park center above the town. It’s only there to shuttle crowds down the hill to John Brown’s Fort and the other historic sites. Or, take the train from Pittsburgh or DC.  A final tip, dining options were limited.

A natural spring runs through The Rabbit Hole Gastropub.

One of the few open restaurants in early springtime, The Rabbit Hole offered scenic  dining on the deck overlooking town & railway station.  It’s almost “as old as the hills” when you realize that there is a visible mountain spring running through the main dining room.

Another kind of confluence is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters & Visitor Center just above town. Spend a little time in the office and you’ll hear the stories of through-hikers, day-hikers and meet people from all over the world.  We hiked straight out of the trail office towards the rivers and alongside places where Thomas Jefferson walked.

ATC Headquarters, Harpers Ferry WV

A short walk up those same hills brought us to our suite in a beautifully restored house across the road from the ATC headquarters. Perfect homebase for your visit.  https://www.potomacadventure.com/

Happy Trails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author: Mapgirl

I eat. I pray. I read. I write. I share. Here.

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