Explore West Virginia || Harpers Ferry

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So you’ve seen pictures, you’ve heard about it from friends, or maybe you just randomly stumbled upon it. However, for whatever reason you’ve come across the idea of visiting Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Now comes the planning. When am I going to go? When SHOULD I go? What do I do while I’m there? What is there to do and see? Well luckily my friend, you have me. In the paragraphs below, I’m going to answer all of these questions for you and so much more!

Harpers Ferry is small, but mighty, located right in the middle of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Ever wanted to be in more than one place at at time? This is probably the closest you’ll get to being in THREE places at once. This little town is located right where West Virginia meets Maryland meets Virginia. The town is packed with history, nature, and so much more. Let’s dive right in.

What to pack:
Obviously this is all dependent on the type of events you plan on attending, activities you plan on doing, etc. However, if you’re planning to follow this itinerary in any shape or form, this is what I recommend to bring with you for your little adventure. (Disclaimer: I’m an overpacker. No shame here.)
– Water bottle for trails and walking (you can never go wrong with a sizeable Hydroflask which fits into any backpack cupholder so you don’t have to carry on the trails)
– Snacks for trails
– Hiking boots (big fan of these from Columbia for my hikes. Maximum comfort right here, baby)
– Sunscreen
– Bug spray (the mosquitos love you as much as I do)
– Obviously clothing, stuff to sleep in, socks, underwear, toiletries, etc. YOU GET THE GIST
– Phone charger and any other electronic chargers, etc.
– Books to read when you’re kickin’ back, or headphones for audiobooks (although I’m team paperback)
– Anything else your little heart desires
– This is a personal note to myself to create some content regarding full trip packing lists for different types of trips. Noted, me.

The next thing you may be asking yourself is, “Where do I stay?” The answer to that question is simple. Wherever you’d like! There are plenty of nearby hotels, to include a Clarion Inn and a Quality Inn right in the heart of the town. Additionally, (and this is what I opted to do) there are PLENTY of AirBnb’s and VRBO’s available that are reasonably priced and very accommodating.

Finally, what you’ve all been waiting for….

3 Day, 3 Night Itinerary

Day 1:
Day one for me was spent driving to the location. From where I’m currently living it is approximately a 1.5 hour drive that was made manageable by the company of my furry little babies and lots of good music. Once I arrived, I unpacked the car, got the dogs settled into the VRBO, and then headed off to Harper’s Ferry Brewing for a celebratory beverage and pizza.

Harper’s Ferry Brewing

Location: 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville, VA
Grab a beer from their extensive list of craft beers and head outside to the patio to sip while enjoying the most spectacular views of the Potomac River. When I visited, I tried their Chocolate Mint Stout (I understand, not for everyone, but f***ing amazing), and the DewBrew Blonde. Probably some of the best beers I’ve had at a brewery as of late. Not a fan of beer? They also have frozen cocktails and several ciders/seltzers on draft to wet your whistle. Don’t want to drink in the scenery? They also offer take-home cans of any current draft beer of your choosing. You bet I brought home some of the chocolate mint stout. It was just TOO GOOD to pass up.

In addition to amazing beers on draft, there are typically food trucks outside in addition to the on-site kitchen that serves up plenty of options of different types of pizzas, chicken wings, etc. I opted for the veggie pizza which was absolutely delicious.

After I had my fill of beer and pizza, it was time to call it a night and get some sleep before my adventure packed day two. I went back to the VRBO early evening and snuggled up next to the dogs for a good night’s sleep.

Day 2:
Day two started nice and early with coffee from Battle Grounds Bakery & Coffee. This is a cute little bakery right in the heart of the downtown area that makes specialty coffees, lattes, breakfast sammies, and so much more. I got the Cookie Monster and it was the perfect way to start the day!
Location: 180 High St. Harpers Ferry, WV

Ziplining and White Water Tubing

Next stop was ZIPLINING! Gear up and soar through the mountains on seven different ziplines and one sky bridge at Harper’s Ferry Adventure Center. Here the small group started out at 9 am and finished up a little bit after 11 am. I must say there is something relaxing and peaceful about ziplining as a solo traveler. It’s also a great way to break the ice if you’re feeling a little shy. I met some really cool people up in the air and it was a great time for all!
Location: 37410 Adventure Center Ln, Purcellville, VA

Harper’s Ferry Adventure Center has the option to book for dual events in one package. I opted for the Zip & Tube package. (This is approximately a $70 package and in my opinion completely worth it). Therefore, my next stop took me white water tubing down the Potomac river. In my personal opinion, this was much more exciting than flat water tubing, but choose your own adventure friends; they have both options. Bonus points if you have some time to kill in between like I did and stop across the street at Harper’s Ferry Brewing for a quick road soda before you hit the river!

To start, the company takes you over to the drop-off in a bus which is approximately a 30 minute drive. Once you’re on the water, overall the tubing trip takes approximately 2 hours in total (depending on how many times you fall out and scrape your knee up on rocks and such, not speaking from experience at all). The trip starts out semi-calm, and then as you cruise along you run into more rapid portions of the river. Pro tip: Go right after it rains for maximum white water filled fun. The sign for pick-up is a bit hard to find, so just watch for others slowly trickling out of the water and the camo colored trucks that mark the spot.

After stopping at the VRBO to change and rinse off from the river, I drove into town to do some sight-seeing. I recommend the following locations all at once as they are all within walking distance from each other.

St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church

St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, built in 1833 stands tall in the heights above Harper’s Ferry. I visited here for the breathtaking Victorian Gothic structure, but this is still an active church that holds worship Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 3pm. There’s a parking lot right next to the church that was relatively empty when I was visiting with free parking.
Location: 110 Church St. Harper’s Ferry, WV

Ruins of St. John’s Episcopal Church

Just a short walk up the steps to the posterior of St. Peter’s church, you will find the ruins of St. John’s Episcopal Church. This church was built in the 1850’s and was one of the first in the city to be constructed. Despite the degradation and demolition, there is an incredibly quiet beauty about all that remains.

Jefferson Rock

Keep on taking those stairs just a little further, and now you’d made it to Jefferson Rock. A seemingly boring piece of shale formation at first glance, but there is history here too folks. This rock was named after Thomas Jefferson (you know, the 3rd US president). He visited here in the 1700’s and even wrote a book regarding some of his thoughts on this place. The book is entitled Notes on the State of Virginia with the famous quote “On your right comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent. On your left approaches the Potomac in quest of a passage also. In the moment of their junction, they rush together against the mountain, rend it asunder and pass off to the sea…This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” Can’t say that I disagree. The view from the rock itself leaves nothing to be desired.

Now after all of that walking, you’re going to be hungry. So now what? Head back down the main road, Washington St. until you arrive at your next destination that is bound to be filled with a cozy restaurant and a menu full of dishes that make you feel like you’re back in your childhood home eating dinner with your ma and pa.

Snallygaster’s Cafe and Wine Bar

Snallygaster’s Cafe and Wine Bar; The most quaint and cozy. The interior decor reminds me of dinners cooked in my old childhood home (bonus points for not a single matching chair in the establishment which just added to its’ charm). I started out with the feta dip, which was the perfect combination of zesty and creamy, served with refreshing cucumber slices and thin little wafer crackers. For dinner I tried the Red Wine Braised Beef which was just the right amount of tender and juicy and literally melted in my mouth. It’s served on top of a bed of fluffy polenta with a side of roasted carrots. Tasted just like mama used to make. Mmm’. And WHO would I be if I didn’t talk about their vast selection of craft beers in cans or on tap. I skipped the beer for dinner and got a delicious lavendar lemonade cocktail which was amazing down to the last DROP. What a perfect end, to a perfect day.
Location: 1102 W Washington St, Bolivar, WV

Day 3:
Day three starts off bright and early with a cup of joe from the one and only Snallygaster’s Cafe and Wine Bar. (Yep, they do breakfast too y’all). I just went for a traditional iced Hazelnut coffee. Now, I brought my own snacks for this next part, but the breakfast looks and SMELLS delicious, so I highly recommend grabbing a breakfast burrito if you so choose to take with you for, you guessed it, the trails.

Hiking Maryland Heights Trail

It’s not really a trip to Harper’s Ferry without taking in some of the beauty that the local trails have to offer. My choice for the trip? Maryland Height’s Trail. To get there, park in the main parking lot located behind the main strip downtown. It costs approximately 20$ per car for a parks pass (and is good for the entire day, so you can stay parked afterwards to grab some food or shop around afterwards). To get to the trailhead, head to the top of the parking lot parallel to the train station until you get to a set of stairs to your right leading you down towards the edge of downtown. You’ll find a small hill to your left where you will take some more stairs and find the walking bridge that crosses the river. Follow this path and all of the marked signs and you won’t have any issues. (If this is confusing as hell, or if you’re directionally challenged like I am, use the navigation tool on AllTrails to find your way).

Location: Potomac St. & Shenandoah St. Harpers Ferry, WV

Overall, as you can see above, the trail takes approximately 2h45m to complete. Now, this is true for the time of year that I went (End of July). During this time of year the trail closes the loop portion for falcon nesting, and therefore the trail was an in and out ordeal rather than a loop. The difficulty of the trail is rated as moderate as there are a LOT of steep hills to climb going in. If you follow the trail blazes marking the overlook trail, you will ultimately find yourself at a GORGEOUS overlook of the Potomac river and downtown Harper’s Ferry. It’s worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears that this trail has to offer.

So once you’ve burnt off all of those calories from your delicious breakfast burrito, you owe yourself a treat or two. So hike on back downtown, and stop into Harper’s Ferry’s own unique time capsule.

True Treats

True Treats is a research-based candy stores located in the heart of downtown Harpers Ferry. Move through the store which is organized in order of date of production and watch the evolution of candy dating back as far as ancient Greece and the Native Americans bark candy to the modern candy we find on shelves today. (I’m lame, I got gummy worms). Regardless, pick your poison, and then head on over a few stores down to the restaurant in which you’ll be eating dinner.
Location: 144 High St. Harpers Ferry, WV

The Rabbit Hole

The exterior photo of The Rabbit Hole just doesn’t do it justice. The interior of the building is decked out in National Park and Wildlife Conservationist memorabilia and signage from floor to ceiling. As if there’s not enough to capture the eye inside, if you are seated outdoors, you’ve also got a panoramic view of the trail your bad ass just hiked, and the meeting point of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. The menu itself is packed with American bar-style food with vegetarian, keto, and so many other diet conscious options. I opted for the impossible burger with fries and it was the most satisfying fill after a long hike. AND DID I MENTION the craft beer list is a mile long.
Location: 186 High St, Harpers Ferry, WV

Okay, okay, okay, don’t eat TOO much. Your next stop is dessert (two s’s because you want more of it). We all know that nothing beats the end of a long day like a nice heaping pile of ice cream (cone).

The Coffee Mill

I stopped at The Coffee Mill for a nice heaping cone of Butter Pecan ice cream. Their specialty is obviously their delicious coffee drinks, but I needed to be able to sleep, so I opted for ice cream instead. They have a variety of delicious flavors and the option for different types of cones and bowls with toppings galore. Head to their backyard patio that is decorated adorably with many different types of plants and flowers and take in the scenery while you lick away.
Location: 18 High St, Harpers Ferry, WV

After a weekend packed full of exploring, hiking, river sports, and eating, I headed back to my VRBO to get some much needed rest prior to my drive back home the next day. (I may have stayed up too late watching “How to Become A Cult Leader” on Netflix).

Day 4:

Wake up in the morning and grab another cup of coffee from a local shop. Heck, maybe try out Coffee Mill for one of their famous coffee drinks. (I personally opted for another Cookie Monster from Battlegrounds. Yep, still delicious). Go into a coffee fueled rage packing up your belongings, and *sniffle* drive home (or maybe don’t).

As I reflect on this weekend typing this post, I truly appreciate all that this little town had to offer in such a short period of time. There are so many other places I would have liked to try out and to see, to eat, to experience. The best thing about travel for short weekend periods is that you can ALWAYS go back; and when you do, it’s a completely unique experience all over again. If you haven’t been to Harper’s Ferry before, I definitely recommend it. I felt incredibly safe, very welcomed, and truly enjoyed the solace and relaxation that the surrounding places, people, and really, everything that it had to offer.

Please feel free to offer any further suggestions as I will definitely be back and would love to know what I missed. For those of you reading along, I thank you so much for your time and hope that I’ve inspired something from each and every one of you. In a couple of weeks I will be traveling out to Rhode Island for yet another adventure packed trip. I hope that you’re looking forward to reading about it as much as I am writing about it for all of you. Read about some of my other trips here!

In the meantime, go do one thing that you’ve never done before.

Until next time,
– C