Name: Maryland Heights Loop
Rating: 4.5

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Overview

The trails that traverse Maryland Heights offer hikers the opportunity to see many aspects of Harpers Ferry NHP on one go: spectacular scenery, geology, and Civil War and transportation history.

Description

From the Information Center in Lower Town turn right to merge with the Appalachian Trail at the dead end of Shenandoah Street. Cross the footbridge over the Potomac River. Turn left (upstream) on the C&O Canal Towpath. The trail stays on the towpath for 0.3 miles, and then crosses a footbridge over the canal bed to Harpers Ferry Road. Be careful! Watch for traffic. Directly across the road is the Maryland Heights Trailhead.

The first bend on this green-blazed section of the Overlook Cliff Trail offers a nice view of the Potomac. Go straight at the first intersection to a see the 1862 Naval Battery, then return to the green-blazed trail and turn right. At the next two intersections stay straight on the red-blazed Overlook Cliff Trail. About 0.3 miles turn right for a narrow, rocky descent 0.5 miles to the cliffs overlooking Harpers Ferry.

Backtrack to the first intersection with the blue-blazed Stone Fort Trail. You'll turn north here, and continue for one mile uphill past Civil War artillery batteries and through boulders to the Civil War Stone Fort. The trail curves out of the Stone Fort past breastworks and descends steeply over one mile back to the green-blazed Overlook Cliff Trail. Turn right and backtrack to the C&O Canal Towpath.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Shared By:

Aaron Lee

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.5 from 40 votes

#1

in Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

#304

Overall

4.5 from 40 votes

5 Star		53%
4 Star		40%
3 Star		8%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

32 Views Last Month

12,403 Since Oct 15, 2017

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Photos

The ruins of a C&O Canal Lockhouse stand outside of Harper's Ferry.

Jan 7, 2017 near Brunswick, MD

View from the Naval Gun Battery overlook

Sep 1, 2015 near Brunswick, MD

Sep 1, 2015 near Brunswick, MD

Sep 30, 2015 near Bolivar, WV

View east of Short Hill Mountain from the Parrot Gun overlook

Sep 1, 2015 near Brunswick, MD

4 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 39 days ago

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Check-Ins

Jul 27, 2024

J H

5 miles from shuttle bus transfer station to the overlook and back 5mi

May 21, 2024

CJ Rouw

6.3mi — 2h 45m

Jan 6, 2023

Guy Johnson

Guy and Petra

Nov 5, 2022

David Perkins

Sep 24, 2022

Chris Ververis

Jul 17, 2022

Manuela Giron

Jun 1, 2022

Andy T

Feb 12, 2022

Katie Hance

5mi

Sep 25, 2021

JAGADEESH ALURI

Aug 29, 2021

Charles D. Gossett

Incredible views

Jun 6, 2021

Kelley M

Did the longer route, steep at first and then leveled out. View from the stone fort was fantastic. Early hike so not crowded. On trail by 8 am. 7.5mi — 3h 00m

May 22, 2021

Shannon Tokumaru

Hiked with Andrea! Definitely had some steep spots with a lil challenge but so fun and perfect energy! — 9h 15m

Mar 6, 2021

Michele Stamm

6.8mi — 4h 00m

Feb 27, 2021

Mallory Row

Jan 4, 2021

David H

Jul 26, 2020

Private User

Jun 20, 2020

Walt Hoevenaars

5.5mi — 4h 10m

Jun 6, 2020

Manoj Abey

Bridge walk was closed for renovation so we had to abandon the hike. Hard to find Parking too so plan accordingly and check before you go

May 31, 2020

Greg Lubin

Went to the overlook with Jordi and Mery. Didn't do the long loop in the forest. Great mix of nature and history. Overlook is rewarding and worth it!

Mar 1, 2020

Mark Ezrin

Parking is limit. Be aware that the pedestrian bridge from Harpers Ferry is out. There is supposed to be a shuttle but we couldn't find details. 5.2mi — 3h 30m

Feb 23, 2020

Robert Biggs

This was fun. I'd like to go back for the longer trail. 3.4mi

Nov 9, 2019

James Ortmann

Scenic view with some solitude on the ridge. Crowded below. 6mi — 2h 45m

Oct 24, 2019

E Fryatt

Sep 28, 2019

C Ross

3mi — 2h 00m

Sep 6, 2019

Lauren Wray

Sep 3, 2019

Terence Craig

Aug 24, 2019

Rachel L

Aug 17, 2019

Russ Wise

Jul 18, 2019

Robert Yager

Jul 14, 2019

Mike Pryor

Took me about 5 hours, but I am slow. I did the blue trail loop from the overlook side because it seemed like fewer steep uphills.

Jul 5, 2019

Pyae Kyaw

Jun 22, 2019

Ben Barlow

Jun 15, 2019

Meg Prom

Jun 15, 2019

Jeremy Miller

Jun 1, 2019

Daniel P

4.3mi — 2h 00m

Apr 20, 2019

Brian G

Apr 20, 2019

S. Colin Shock

Apr 6, 2019

John Rokesmith

Mar 27, 2019

Anna Choe

Mar 10, 2019

BNew

Jan 6, 2019

Joy Granados

Day hike with Diego! 8mi — 6h 00m

Jan 4, 2019

Mikala S

Dec 5, 2018

Private User

Dec 2, 2018

Kyle Lawrence

Nov 16, 2018

Yichen Xu

7.4mi

Nov 4, 2018

Raymond Tang

Oct 7, 2018

Zachary Bendorf

- Blue Ridge mountains -With sam 3.5mi

Sep 16, 2018

Jamey Dumas

Pre-Grand Canyon hike. Elevation gain of 1,820. 6.5mi

Sep 16, 2018

Jennifer Dumas

Hiked with Jamey to prep for Grand Canyon. There was an engagement at the overview. Ice cream afterwards. 6.5mi

Aug 25, 2018

Angel Batkins

3mi

Aug 18, 2018

Jack Reid

Aug 12, 2018

John Mi

Aug 4, 2018

Bec DiP

Jul 7, 2018

Robert Stiefs

6.8mi

May 5, 2018

Jenn F

Apr 22, 2018

David Q

Apr 21, 2018

Patrick Shunney

Apr 14, 2018

Tommy Stogoski

6.8mi

Mar 19, 2018

John Needles

Feb 17, 2018

Kevin Pruyn Bouley

Sunny and clear. Cold and a little breezy. 6.8mi

Dec 3, 2017

Casey Heigh

6.8mi

Oct 14, 2017

Aaron Lee

Aug 12, 2017

Bull Moose

30th Bday present

May 26, 2010

Laura P

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Maryland Heights Loop

“A hike with scenic overlooks of Harpers Ferry and civil war fortifications. ”

6.8

10.9

Lollipop

1,463' 446 m

264' 81 m

1,488' 454 m

1,488' 453 m

8%

34%

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Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views

Overview

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#304

#1

#3

#304

Photos

4 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

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Monocacy Battlefield - Thomas Farm

C&O Canal: Lock 45 to Lock 50

Cool Spring Run to Loops

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