Jefferson Rock – John Brown's Fort loop from Harpers Ferry

Hiking trails & Routes

Jefferson Rock – John Brown's Fort loop from Harpers Ferry

Easy

5.0

(7308)

19,544

hikers

Jefferson Rock – John Brown's Fort loop from Harpers Ferry

01:47

6.51km

110m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Waypoints

Start point

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1.39 km

Jefferson Rock

Highlight • Natural Monument

A rock formation near the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers visited by Thomas Jefferson in 1783 and mentioned in his "Notes on the State of Virginia." The supportive …

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1.62 km

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church

Highlight • Religious Site

Survived the Civil War battles nearby untouched. It’s a “Miracle”.

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1.68 km

Harpers Ferry Lower Town Historic District

Highlight • Historical Site

About a 4 minute walk uphill if you're in average shape. worth the view

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1.80 km

John Brown's Fort

Highlight • Historical Site

Originally constructed as a fire engine garage and guard house, John Brown's Fort is the building abolitionist John Brown and his followers occupied during their raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.

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1.88 km

Philip Frankel & Co. (NPS Lower Town Information Center)

Highlight • Historical Site

This historic building is now used by the National Park Service for their operations. You can find visitor information here, though the building is not always staffed. The official visitor …

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4.20 km

Stone steps

Highlight • Trail

The Lower Town Trail descends through a ravine via 97 stone steps. An NPS shuttle bus also operates between the visitor center parking lot and Lower Town.

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6.01 km

Potomack Canal

Lake

6.51 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.34 km

1.93 km

1.08 km

127 m

Surfaces

2.16 km

1.62 km

1.53 km

728 m

417 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (150 m)

Lowest point (80 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 13 October

28°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 1, 2024,Harpers Ferry

Today a new tourist attraction, Harpers Ferry, a village from the time of the American Civil War where time has stood still.

At the visitors center we can take a shuttle bus to the historic site, but we decide to take a walk.

So we see something again, another snake, but today also a turtle and of course deer.

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