Around Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is about 60 miles from Washington D.C. and about 60 miles from Baltimore. Our hostel is conveniently located where the 184-mile C&O Path meets the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail. It is a two-mile walk from the hostel to Harpers Ferry along either of these trails.

Boating and Tubing:

There are several nearby rafting companies, the closest being River and Trail Outfitters which is a quarter mile from the hostel (tel. 301-695-5177). There's also Blue Ridge Outfitters (tel. 304-725-3444), Butts Country Store (tel. 1-800-836-9911), Harpers Ferry River Riders (tel. 304-535-2663), and Historical River Tours (tel. 410-489-2837).

Hiking:

There are several beautiful hiking trails in our neighborhood. I recommend the Appalachian Trail, the Maryland Heights Trail, and the Loudoun Heights Trail. All are within walking distance of the hostel. There are also several State Parks within ten miles of the hostel.

Harpers Ferry:

Visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, site of John Brown's famous raid. It's a beautiful 2-mile walk from the hostel to the park, and once there you'll also find restaurants, antique shops, a wax museum (tel. 304-535-6342), the national headquarters for the Appalachian Trail (tel. 304-535-6331), and The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry can equip you with camping gear (tel. 304-535-2087). At night, get spooked by a scary Ghost Walk (tel. 304-725-8019).

Horses:

You can ride horseback near the hostel at Elk Mountain Trails (tel. 301-834-8882), or at Blue Ridge Trail Riding (TEL 540-668-6113). If you're into horseraces, you can drive ten miles to the Charles Town Races (tel. 304-725-7001). While in Charles Town, you may want to indulge in some live theatre.

Swimming:

The Potomac River is swimmable, but it is strictly at your own risk. The Brunswick Community Pool is a safer bet, and it's about five miles from the hostel (tel. 301-834-7567). They're open May to September, Noon to 6 PM, admission $2.25 for adults, $1.25 for kids last time we checked.

Organic Farm:

Visit the Erhardt Organic Farm, get a tour, sample the produce (e-mail to ECOAG@IGC.APC.ORG or tel. 301-834-7520).

Train Museums:

If you've got a car to get around in, and you're a train fanatic, you might want to check out the Harpers Ferry Toy Train Museum (tel. 304-535-2291). Also, the Brunswick Railroad Museum (tel. 301-834-7100) is about five miles from the hostel, along the C&O Canal Path.

Biking:

The C&O Path is a bicyclist's heaven. The path runs along the river, so it is flat, and you won't have to huff and puff up and down hills. You may want to bike 13 miles from the hostel upstream to Shepherdstown, West Virginia which is a fascinating old college town. While you're at it you might want to take in the sites at the historic Antietam Battlefield National Park (tel. 301-432-5124) which is very close to Shepherdstown. There are many other bike paths in this area, and you can find descriptions in The Greater Washington Area Bicycle Atlas (we have a copy here at the hostel). Our hostel can also provide you with information about mountain biking opportunities in nearby Gambrill and Greenbrier State Parks in Maryland.

Bicycle rentals may be available from The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-535-2087), the Back Street Cafe in Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-535-2772), Blue Ridge Outfitters in Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-725-3444), and also at O'Hurley's General Store in Shepherdstown (tel. 304-876-6907). Also, C&O Canal Bicycling (tel 301-834-5180) provides bike rentals in this area; they are located in downtown Brunswick next to the Railroad Museum and near the new National Park Service C&O Canal museum (they can deliver bikes to anywhere in this area for groups). Other bike rental and repair shops are located along the C&O canal path.

If you would like to be able to buy a train ticket for both you and your bike from Harpers Ferry to Washington D.C., then you can write a letter requesting that the trains start providing this service on a trial basis. Write to AMTRAK Customer Relations, 60 Mass. Ave. NE, Wash. D.C. 20002. You can also write to Ms. Kathryn Waters, Manager of MARC Operations, PO Box 8718, BWI Airport, MD 21240-8718.

Rock Climbing:

Lots of cliffs around here. Call Riverside Rock Adventures, tel. 304-535-2343.

Caving:

There's a pretty impressive cave fifteen miles from here, called Crystal Grottos (tel. 301-432-6336).

Fishing:

Learn how to go fly fishing, with Mark Kovach Fishing Services, tel. 301-588-8742. Also, Blue Ridge Outfitters has a Bait and Tackle Center (tel. 304-725-3444).

Nearby Hostels:

The closest HI-USA hostel to this one is the Washington D.C. Hostel (tel. 202-737-2333). The Washington D.C. Hostel is about sixty miles from Harpers Ferry. Our Baltimore Hostel is scheduled to open soon. Check Baltimore Hostel or call 410-576-8880 for the latest status. Other nearby hostels include Ironmaster's Mansion along the Appalachian Trail at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Pennsylvania (tel. 717-486-7575) and the HI - Little Orleans Hostel along the C&O Canal (tel. 301-478-2102).

Our neighborhood in Washington County, Maryland

Our neighborhood is located in a valley called Pleasant Valley, down the middle of which runs Israel Creek. Pleasant Valley is bounded in the West by Elk Ridge, in the East by South Mountain, and in the South by the Potomac River. Elk Ridge extends northward from the Potomac River about eight miles, as do Pleasant Valley and Israel Creek. Pleasant Valley is located in the Southeast corner of Washington County, in Maryland.

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