Maryland Heights

The overlook at the top is worth the trip. Just a few hours round trip from parking lot all the way up and back again. The trail is very steep but is accessible even with street shoes. There are no bathrooms or sources of water along the way. Do not rush the trip, it is steep.

A breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
The two hiking trails are well-maintained, providing both a rewarding challenge and a peaceful journey.
The historical significance of the area adds depth to the experience.
A must-visit for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Trail is about 5 miles total to the top and back to Harpers Ferry not very difficult. Plan to go on a day when the weather calls for clear sky so you can have better visibility at the overlook.
You can check out the old sign there to see how Harpers Ferry had change over the decades. The view is definitely worth the hike.

Great hike! Takes about 45 mins up to the lookout and 40 mins back. If you're not used to walking at such an incline your legs WILL hurt the next day, but the views will be worth it ;)

It is a long hike. A lot of the areas are long steep uphill hiking parts. The last bit is a rocky downhill path.

But when you get to the end, there are beautiful views of the Harper's Ferry areas. These views made it all worth it.

Please be careful, take plenty of rest breaks, and have plenty of water to stay hydrated and healthy snacks.

90-minute loop — if you’re superfit. Lol. 3/4 of the way to the overlook is uphill climb. Last 1/4 was downhill. Took me around 2.5 hours to get to the overlook ; and 163bpm. Overlook never fails to amaze me. Worth it.

If you leave around Washington DC, this is a very pleasant hike to take and a magnificent view to enjoy.

Parking - there are two small parking areas close to the trail, but those were closed during COVID. Even after they open, if you come during the weekend, it is very unlikely you will be able to get a spot close. Just park in the town and cross the bridge to start the hike.

Kids - this is a challenging hike, especially on the way up, but you can bring your children if they are at least 6 years old.

Enjoy the hike!

Definitely on the harder end of a moderate hike. The path is pretty well worn but very rocky and steep with quite a bit of elevation gain.

I went during the cooler months but please bring water and know your limits. I saw more than a few people who clearly didn’t have the cardio for this hike and were suffering even with mild temps.

But the view oh man the view is something else. One of the best overlooks in the area and during the fall the colors just explode! An absolute must do if your in the area.

The hike to the top of Maryland heights is a little strenuous due to the elevation. But the view is worth it at the end.
It does getting crowded during the afternoon. I like to hike in the morning as it’s a little cooler and less crowded. The view at the top is amazing.

Nice weekend getaway in the dmv area.
The Maryland heights trail is in a loop shape, along the trail you go up and downs, but the destination overlook allows you to have a bird view of the town and natural landscapes.

Pet friendly, but the free shuttle bus doesn’t allow dog to be onboard, which is a bummer. If you park at the Harpers Ferry National Park visitor parking, there’s roughly 2-3miles of walk before you arrive the entrance to the Maryland heights trail.

It’s a beautiful hike and offers a great view of the historical town from the summit point. It’s all flat from the bridge to the trailhead, and then it’s like all the way up for 3/4ish and then down for the last 1/4 for one-way to the summit point. Some people might take the branches to other summit points, but if it’s too much for you, just do the main trail would be good enough (almost like always taking the right trail if there are two trails showing up in any intersections). (Follow me on IG ➡ miss_dawang)

It was a short but steeper hike to get to this overlook but boy do I recommend this to anyone up for the challenge. It's very rewarding to hike the trail all the way to the overlook and look out on the beautiful Shenandoah River along with the historic, beautiful town of Harpers Ferry. Make sure to check this out if you're ever in the area👍🏻

This is amazing overlook to see the historical beautiful Harpers Ferry. I drove about 2 hours to come see this town for the first time and it was worth the drive. I haven’t hike in a while, but I want to continue it especially when I go back here!

Today was a perfect day for hiking. Maryland Heights is a small trail, yet it's packed with lots of scenery! The People are friendly, trail is clean, and the views are amazing. This was my first time There and I'll definitely be returning.

Great hike- pretty steep for 80% of it, but not too technical. To access the overlook, you have to go down a pretty rocky hill. Views of course were amazing, but I would recommend going as early as possible since the overlook seems to get overcrowded with loud people doing instagram photo-ops.

Cool location. We just checked out the old house frame and did some scrambling during our stay in Harper's Ferry while hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The Cross Trails Hostel is AMAZING!!

😇👍THANKS HARPER'S FERRY ON BEING A SUPER FRIENDLY HISTORICAL TREASURE!! (enough shouting) 😂🤣

Nice easy accessible trail you will have to walk a little to get to the entrance of the trail recommend parking in the town and crossing the train bridge over and it’s pretty much easy from there to figure it out ! I would rate the trail as a Fairly easy tons of spots to stop and rest along way BRING WATER & money for coffee shops lol

Amazing views from the fist overlook at Maryland Heights. The red trail is approximately 1.5 miles long all the way up to the overlook. Then from the trail to to the bus stop it takes approximately one mile.

5 star review just for the view alone! Its not too long of a hike to do the full loop, I want to say its only around 5 miles or so, but it is pretty steep. Make sure you have solid footwear and a good amount of water; a couple snacks wouldn't hurt either.

The views that look over Harpers Ferry are amazing. If you are anywhere near this area I would highly recommend at least hiking the first bit to get a glimpse at the views. If you have the time/are looking for a decent half day hike, do the whole loop. Not only will you get the great views of Harpers Ferry, but on the other end you will get some great views of Maryland and the Potomac River. And then of course if you are a history buff, there is all the history that goes along with the location with signs posted along the trail.

There is limited parking at the base of the trail on the side of the road -- maybe enough for a dozen or so cars packed in pretty well. They technically want you to pay to park there, but it is on the honor system and there is a box at the trail head to drop money in to. If there is no parking at the trail head, you can pay to park at the main National Park location/parking lot in Harpers Ferry. I want to say it is $10 for the day. Then from there you can walk to the trail head. There is a wide mostly flat gravel path to the trail head and you will need to cross a bridge and a couple of roads but its not a bad walk.

It was an amazing place good to hike and see herpers ferry from a view super pretty