David Walker

Review of DOI, NPS - Harpers Ferry Natio...

Parking for ALL visitors to Harpers Ferry is at th...

Parking for ALL visitors to Harpers Ferry is at the NPS (National Park Service) center. There are a lot of parking spaces. No personal cars are allowed into the town unless you're staying at one of the inns or taking the MARC or Amtrak train. For those folks, there's parking at the station on a first-come first-served basis. If at all possible be on the first bus into town. It's wonderful to walk the streets and see the sights before the crowds sock the town by noon.

There is a shuttle bus (the size of a standard city bus) that runs you back and forth from the Visitors Center to the town. The trip takes five minutes, or you can walk it in about forty minutes.

The town itself is a step back in time. Lots of stone streets and brick sidewalks, uneven and weathered stone stairways (be careful here), and several shops, museums, and stores reflecting back to the early residents of this quaint town. Take the time to step inside some of the historic shop and store displays. Be advised those most all of these shops and museum buildings have no air conditioning. You'll find some relief inside the few small restaurants which also have very nice umbrella-covered outdoor seating areas. The book shop is very nice. The John Brown Wax Museum in town is an extra fee not included in the park admission.

After lunch make the effort to climb up to Jefferson Rock (about five minutes behind the church and ruins on the hill). The views are quite nice. Also, after crossing the railway bridge to view the train tunnel, climb down to the bottom of the circular staircase and check out one of the old C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) canal lock #33. Lock 32, much further down (10-15 minute walk in the other direction) is not really worth the effort unless you want the exercise. However, the views of the river are nice so it may be worth it just for that. Also, walk the short trail from The Point back along the Shenandoah River heading back in the direction of the bookstore and bus stop. Grab a bottled drink on the way back to the bus stop at the end of your day.

For photographers, the best pictures of the church on the hill are in the morning (as well as for the store fronts along Potomac Street), the downriver views of the Potomac River from The Point (and the shops High Street) in the afternoon. That's pretty much based on the fact that the sun rises downriver from Harpers Ferry and then sets behind it. Walk along And don't leave your camera in the car as one tourist that I met had done.

A final note: if you're arriving in the morning by way of Highway 340 (from the Maryland side) ***as soon as you cross the Potomac River*** there's a pull-off place (slow down and be ready for it or you'll miss it!!!) where you can walk back across the bridge for a superb view up the river towards Harpers Ferry. It is well worth the stop.