Things To Do

Visitors walking in Lower Town Harpers Ferry

NPS Photo/Volunteer Shenandoah Sanchez

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offers a wide variety of activities for individuals and families. Visit us soon and discover your Harpers Ferry. For more information on things to do at the park, please see the descriptions and links below. If you have any questions, please contact us at 304-535-6029 or email us.

 

Explore historic Lower Town

Museums and Exhibits

Explore museums and exhibits that delve into the range of Harpers Ferry's stories in the historic Lower Town:

• John Brown and his 1859 raid that influenced the course of the nation
  • John Brown Museum
  • John Brown's Fort
• Harpers Ferry as a pivotal site in struggle for freedom, education and civil rights
  • Black Voices: African American History (currently closed for repairs)
  • Storer College & the Niagara Movement
• Harpers Ferry as an industrial center
  • Industry Museum
• The town's 19th century landscape
  • A Place in Time
  • Boarding House
  • Dry Goods Store
  • Philip Frankel & Co./Ready-Made Clothing
  • White Hall Tavern
  • Harper House (currently closed for repairs)
  • Confectionery
  • A. Burton: Fine Watch Repair/Burton Jewelry Store (currently closed for repairs)
• Harpers Ferry's military importance as the site of the second US Armory
  • Master Armorer's Quarters
  • Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry
  • Provost Marshal Office (currently closed for repairs)
• The Civil War in Harpers Ferry
  • 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry
  • Civil War Museum (currently closed for repairs)
  • Provost Marshal Office
• Archeological and preservation work at Harpers Ferry
  • Reading an Old Building

Points of Interest

Walk to The Point and view the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, climb the 1810 Stone Steps to Jefferson Rock, or walk across the Potomac River on a pedestrian bridge to access the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park towpath.

Bookshop and Passport Stamps

Shop at the Harpers Ferry Park Association's Bookshop for books, artwork, postcards, and items for kids of all ages. You can also get the park Passport stamps here, a fun way to remember your visit to the park.

 

Springtime on Camp Hill.

NPS/Hammer

Travel off the beaten path

The park includes more than just the historic Lower Town. Be sure to take the time to visit other park areas that loom large in American history, including:

• Virginius and Halls Islands
• Murphy Farm
• Bolivar Heights
• Schoolhouse Ridge North
• Schoolhouse Ridge South
• Camp Hill

Follow this one-day itinerary to experience Harpers Ferry's role in the movement from Civil War to the civil rights movement. This includes visits to the park's Civil War battlefields and the Storer College campus.

 

See the Lockwood House, where the Storer College story began on Camp Hill.

NPS/volunteer H. Mills

Take a hike

Did you know the park has over 20 miles of hiking trails? The trails vary from easy, riverside strolls to four-mile hikes across Civil War battlefields to eight-mile adventures on the tops of mountains. Visit our Hikes page for a full list of options.

• Hike to beautiful overlooks at Maryland Heights, Loudoun Heights, or Murphy-Chambers Farm.

• Wander through ruins that recall Harpers Ferry's water-powered industrial might at Virginius and Hall's Islands.

• Discover Storer College and the Camp Hill sites that tell stories of the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights.
• Trek on the iconic Appalachian Trail at its psychological midpoint in Harpers Ferry.

 

A ranger program at John Brown's Fort.

NPS/Cook

Join a park program

Join a ranger to experience the stories and scenery of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Check the Ranger Programs page for more details and to view the park calendar.

Our living history and historic trades rangers, in partnership with the Harpers Ferry Park Association, offer workshops throughout the year which focus upon 19th century trades and skills. Workshops may include cooking, blacksmithing, tin-making, or gardening. Check the Harpers Ferry Park Association website for upcoming workshops.

Step back into the past and join us on living history event weekends throughout the year! These events range in topic from the War of 1812 and 19th century farming to Civil War medicine and artillery demonstrations. Check the park calendar for upcoming events.

 

Bicycling is one of the recreational opportunities that Harpers Ferry offers.

Courtesy of the Trail and Town Alliance of Harpers Ferry-Bolivar

Enjoy the outdoors

The park offers great options for outdoor recreation.

Bicycling

See our recommendations for enjoying Harpers Ferry and the surrounding area via bicycle on our Bicycling page.

Climbing

The cliff faces within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park are widely considered to be some of the best climbing in the area, drawing visitors to the cliffs each year. Visit our Climbing page for more information.

Picnicking

Picnicking is available at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park at a designated picnic area adjacent to the Visitor Center parking lot (171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425).

Fishing

Enjoy fishing from the River Access area on the banks of the Shenandoah River. Visit our Fishing page for more information.