This route includes three significant climbs to three popular overlooks with small amounts of flat connecting each. The route begins at the River Access Parking Lot in Harpers Ferry, WV. Runners will turn left from the parking lot, following the sidewalk across the Shenandoah River. The sidewalk ends at the staircase that leads down to the trail.& ... Read more
This route includes three significant climbs to three popular overlooks with small amounts of flat connecting each. The route begins at the River Access Parking Lot in Harpers Ferry, WV. Runners will turn left from the parking lot, following the sidewalk across the Shenandoah River. The sidewalk ends at the staircase that leads down to the trail. This section is all part of the AT, and runners should follow white blazes until the trail splits to the Loudoun Heights trail (blue blaze) to the left. The trail ends at the overlook. Turn around, and return following the same path to the 340 (Shenandoah) bridge. From the river access parking lot, runners should return to the AT in the opposite direction and follow the trail to the footbridge in Harpers Ferry. Once across the footbridge, runners should turn left following the C&O canal to the street crossing labeled Maryland Heights. Runners will cross the road onto the Maryland Heights trail and proceed to the overlook. At all trail intersections, runners should stay to the right. Once at the overlook, runners should return following the same path to the C&O canal. Once back on the C&O canal, runners should follow the C&O canal past the footbridge upstream toward Weverton Cliffs. Following the AT, runners should cross Keep Tryst Rd by taking a left off of the C&O canal. From Keep Tryst Rd to the base of Weverton Cliffs is approximately one mile. After crossing Weverton Cliffs Rd, runners should follow the AT up to the Weverton Cliffs sign and make a right to the overlook. Runners should then turn around and descend back down the AT to the canal, making a right on the canal toward Harpers Ferry. Once back to the footbridge, runners should proceed across the bridge and into the town and run back to the River Access Parking Lot using the main entrance road.
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Comments
This is such a great route and a favorite for local trail runners to train for big mountain races or a fitness check leading up to a big race. I think the local running group HURT does or did an annual fat ass run on the route.
From an FKT perspective I don't know that it makes sense to take the AT through Harper's Ferry, it's definitely slower than taking the lower road and isn't required to hit the 3 peaks. I'm also curious how these routes are normally setup on this site concerning the start point. You could start anywhere? And if there is a requirement to return to the start point, or are you done after hitting the 3rd peak?
Hey there! Having just run the route, I figured I’d reply with my take on some of these questions. Obviously this is just my opinion, shouldn’t be taken as gospel.
1) Start Point - I agree with you on this that I think you could conceivably start this route anywhere. For me, it was most convenient to just start at the parking lot anyway, and that lot tends to fill up slower than the one by the train station. I do think it makes sense to have to return to where you started though, if for no other reason than it’s a short enough route that closing a 20mile loop shouldn’t be too big of an ask.
2) AT - This is more of an emotional answer than a logical one, but the section of the AT thru Harpers Ferry is one of my favorites! I love the unique aspect of taking the trail right through the heart of a historic downtown, and I think it’s part of what gives this route some of its charm!
other folks, please chime in and let us know what you think!
Hi there,
Just wanted to also add my two cents in about the route. I also agree, this could be started from anywhere. I started at the parking lot intentionally to run Loudon Heights first. This is arguably the toughest climb so getting it done first and then being able to get back to the car for aide was priority for me. Parking closer to town to complete Maryland Heights first didn't make sense for my day and starting a Weverton left me a long way out to then complete the other two climbs, that far from my car.
The reasoning behind doing the AT through Harper's Ferry was because, at the time, I was training for the 4 State Challenge and wanted to familiarize myself with the AT portion. This was one section I had not covered yet.