Parks / Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park · WV,VA,MD
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. Discover miles of trail in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields.
Official NPS page →Current Alerts (2)
Bridge to Maryland Heights & C&O Canal CLOSED
The NPS is rehabilitating the stairway connecting the Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge to the C&O Canal NHP towpath. The stairway will be CLOSED beginning July 27 for approximately one month while crews install the new stairwell. A shuttle will run between C&O Canal Lock 34 and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center. This will impact access to Maryland Heights, the Appalachian NST, and the Potomac Heritage NST.
Ongoing work on Lower Town buildings
Facilities staff are doing repair work on several buildings in Lower Town. Please follow signs for alternate entrances and heed temporary closures.
Entrance Fees
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park visitors are required to have a park entrance pass. Three-day, annual and lifetime passes are available at the park entrance station.
Upcoming Events
Waste Not, Want Not: Recycling, Repairs, and Repurposing in Historic Trades
Sep 5, 2026 · Historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry: Blacksmith Shop, Industry Museum, and Ready Made Clothing exhibit.
Under Fire: The Battle of Harpers Ferry, 1862 (Cannon demonstration)
Sep 12, 2026 · Bolivar Heights. Please take the shuttle from the visitor center to the site.
Battle of Harpers Ferry: A Terrible Engagement of Small Arms - The Fight for Maryland Heights
Sep 13, 2026 · Meet at the Visitor Center, 171 Shoreline Drive, to take the shuttle to Maryland Heights.
Seeking Freedom
Sep 13, 2026 · The John Brown Fort in historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry.
Battle of Harpers Ferry: Like a Disturbed Anthill
Sep 14, 2026 · Bolivar Heights
Battle of Harpers Ferry: The Fate of Harpers Ferry was Sealed
Sep 15, 2026 · Murphy-Chambers Farm
Things to Do
Hike Civil War Skirmish Lines at Harpers Ferry
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.
Step Back in Time at Jefferson Rock
Jefferson Rock is a popular destination in Harpers Ferry. It is situated along the Appalachian Trail between the Lower Town and Camp Hill areas of the park.
Walk Your Dog at Murphy Farm
Murphy Farm is one of several places that are great to explore with your leashed dog. The trails offer a walk along the farm lane, through the woods, and along the fields. You also take in the view of the Shenandoah River.
Visitor Centers
- Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center
- Lower Town Information Center
Source: National Park Service.