There’s no shortage of beautiful views to be had in West Virginia. These include hundreds of stunning overlooks accessible both by hiking trail and scenic byway that all provide excellent vistas of our stunning portion of the aged Appalachian Mountains. But every so often, the best way to see West Virginia’s beautiful scenery is actually to leave West Virginia altogether by crossing the border into one of our neighboring states. It’s worth the trip, though, as this is easily one of best hiking trails in the U.S.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is famous around the nation as a quaint, historic small town nestled in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.
It's the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail. It's a National Historical Park. It witnessed several key events in the Civil War. It was visited and admired by several of the Founding Fathers.
And while you can get an excellent feel for the area by strolling through the cobblestone streets of Lower Town, the best way to view Harpers Ferry at a glance is actually to venture just across the state border (and the Potomac River) into Maryland.
From the vantage of the Overlook Cliff accessible off the Maryland Heights Trail, you can enjoy a magnificent birds-eye view of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
And it's not just the destination that's enjoyable; the Maryland Heights Trail winds through miles of beautiful forest that make the journey as beautiful as the ultimate view.
Note that the Maryland Heights Trail to the Overlook Cliff is considered moderate to strenuous, mostly due to elevation gain. The Maryland Heights Loop offers the opportunity for up to a nine-mile hike, depending on where you start and if you add the Stone Fort Trail past a Civil War Fort ruin.
You can find the Maryland Heights Trail by crossing the Potomac River at the point where the Potomac and the Shenandoah merge. Once across, take the C&O Canal Trail to its intersection with the Maryland Heights Trail.
