Physical / Mobility

 

More Information

• Accessibility
• Deaf / Hearing Loss
• Blind / Low Vision
• Service Animals

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offers a variety of experiences for visitors. Whether you enjoy recreation or learning about the past, prefer a quiet stroll by the river or a guided program with a ranger, there are opportunities for everyone to find their place here.

Start your visit at our visitor center where you can park, speak with a ranger, find a restroom, and catch a shuttle bus into Lower Town.

 

Ask questions, pick up a map, and get a junior ranger booklet at the visitor center.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Visitor Center

Paved sidewalks with curb cuts connect the parking lot to the visitor center, restrooms, and bus stop.

Parking

There are 19 accessible parking spaces with access aisles closest to the visitor center and shuttle bus stop. By the picnic area at the edge of the parking lot, there are an additional five accessible parking spaces with access aisles.

See more about parking.

Inside the Visitor Center

The visitor center doors can be opened automatically using the push buttons next to the doors. Inside, you will find an information desk with low counters where you can get park information and maps and speak with a park ranger. There is one bench inside and additional benches outside of the visitor center and by the bus stop.

 

The restrooms are directly next to the visitor center and the shuttle bus stop.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Restrooms

Men’s and women’s restrooms are in the building next to the visitor center. The doors can open automatically with a push button. Both restrooms have an accessible stall and a baby changing table.

Drinking Fountains

There are two drinking fountains with water bottle fillers outside of the visitor center. They are seasonal and are only turned on during the warmer months.

Picnic Area

There is a picnic area next to the visitor center parking lot. There are fourteen tables with benches in a shady area. The tables are first come, first served. Three of the tables have paved paths and extended tabletops to better accomodate visitors using wheelchairs.

See more about picnicking.

 

Wheelchairs for Loan

There are four wheelchairs for visitors to borrow. Two have an 18-inch seat width, and two have a 20-inch seat width. They are first come, first served and available at no charge. Inquire at the visitor center for assistance.

 

The park shuttle is the easiest way to get to Lower Town.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Park Shuttle Bus

Buses run every 10-15 minutes between the visitor center and Lower Town. Riding the park shuttle bus is included in the park entrance fee.

Please note: pets are not allowed on the shuttle, but service animals are permitted.

The newer park shuttles can kneel to reduce the step aboard and have a ramp for wheelchairs and mobility devices. The ramp is 30 inches wide. There are two wheelchair securement spots on each bus.

Learn more about getting around the park.

 

The park shuttle bus drops you off right at the edge of Lower Town.

NPS / Claire Hassler

Lower Town

In the historic buildings along Shenandoah, High, and Potomac streets there are museums about the history of Harpers Ferry, exhibits showing what life once looked like, a bookshop, and restrooms.

The sidewalks in Lower Town are made of brick and natural stone. Some sections are uneven, and curb cuts are limited.

Parking

There is extremely limited parking in Lower Town, and there is no drop-off zone. We recommend parking at the visitor center and taking the park shuttle to Lower Town.

There are two van-accessible parking spaces and two standard accessible parking spaces in the train station parking lot. See more about parking.

 

The accessible restroom is in the same building as the bookshop.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Restrooms

There is a single-user wheelchair-accessible restroom next to the bookshop. The doors are not automatic. There are men's and women's restrooms in the train station, each with an accessible stall.

There are additional restrooms in the building next to the bookstore and on the second floor of the John Brown Museum that are not wheelchair accessible.

Drinking Fountains

There is a drinking fountain with a water bottle filler on the second floor of the John Brown Museum next to the elevator. The drinking fountain is 45 inches from the ground. There is a standard height drinking fountain and water bottle filler in the train station.

 

Museums and Exhibits

The museums and exhibits in Lower Town are in historic buildings, some of which have steps to enter. Detailed accessibility information for each museum and exhibit is on their individual pages.

Check the conditions page to see which exhibit spaces and museums are open.

Buildings without steps to enter:

• Bookshop
• Niagara Movement Exhibit
• Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry
• Train Station
• African American History
• Civil War Museum
• Blacksmith Shop (only open during some special events)

Buildings with secondary entrances around the side or back without steps:

• A Place in Time (film)
• Industry Museum
• Archaeology Exhibit/Reading an Old Building
• John Brown Museum
• Master Armorer's House

Buildings with steps to enter and no alternative entrances:

• Provost Marshal's Office (one step to enter)
• Boarding House (on the second floor of the Dry Goods Store)
• Dry Goods Store (two steps to enter)
• Philip Frankel & Co./Ready-Made Clothing (three steps to enter)
• Confectionery (two steps to view inside)
• 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry (three steps to enter)
• A. Burton fine Watch Repair/Burton Jewelry (three steps to enter)
• Storer College Exhibit (steep ramp or one step to enter)
• White Hall Tavern (one step to view inside)
• Harper House (two steps to enter)

 

At The Point, you can see where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers converge.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

The Point

At The Point, you can see where the Potomac River and the Shenandoah River meet. A loose gravel footpath connects Shenandoah Street to The Point. The path has a slope of up to 11.5 percent. At The Point, there is a viewing area with information signs and seating.

From The Point, a brick ramp leads to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the river to the C&O Canal and the Maryland Heights Trail. On the Maryland side, the only access from the bridge is by stairs.

Arsenal Square

Next to John Brown's Fort is Arsenal Square, the former site of US Armory warehouses. Along flat gravel paths are information signs about the armory during the Civil War.

Armory Grounds

Next to the train station is the former Armory Grounds. A wooden staircase descends from the gravel path down to the grassy grounds where there are information signs about the armory. There is no other way to reach the grounds.

 

The Maryland Heights Trail is steep in some places, but it leads to beautiful views of Harpers Ferry.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Trails and Hiking

There are no designated accessible hiking trails in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The trails have natural surfaces such a dirt, gravel, rock, and mowed grass. They vary in width and slope, and they have barriers such as tree roots, rocks, and steps.

See descriptions, photos, and maps for each hike.

Contact us or come by the visitor center for more information.

Trailhead Restrooms

There are single-user vault toilets in the parking areas for Schoolhouse Ridge North and Schoolhouse Ridge South. The restrooms are wheelchair-accessible, but the parking areas are loose gravel, and there may be a lip to enter the restrooms. There is no running water in these restrooms.

 

Questions?

Please contact us for additional information or for help planning your visit.

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