Location: Harpers Ferry, WV
Distance: ~6 miles
Date: July 23, 2005
We are always looking for good hikes within a day's drive. The hike up Maryland Heights qualifies. It is on the Maryland side of the Potomac River across from Harpers Ferry. This area was important during the Civil Way because of its location. One particular bridge was destroyed nine times during the war.
We had stayed the night in Harpers Ferry so we could get an early start on the hike. We started from the train station and joined the Appalachian Trail in the historic part of the town. After crossing the Potomac 
on an old railroad bridge, the trail to the heights turns left along the C&O Canal. The trail up the heights follows old military roads used to transport supplies and guns to the forts at the top. It is said that Abraham Lincoln tried to walk up one of the roads in order to inspect the troops but gave up due to some strenuous sections.
Due to our early start, we only shared the trail with several deer. We did not see any people until we were most of the way down. Along the trail to the stone fort commanding the top of the heights are interpretative 
signs pointing out the artifacts and giving some history. It is hard to believe that men dragged 10,000 pound guns up those heights. They also cleared off all the trees to give them a view of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers below. At several spots, remains of the stone walls can be seen. The views that were available to the soldiers of that time are there no longer since the trees have grown up.
We did have some nice views of Harpers Ferry from the cliffs on the way down. From there you can see the arsenal that John Brown raided and 
the only church to survive intact through the war in Harpers Ferry — St Peter's Catholic Church. Father Costello raised the British flag over the church to indicate neutrality. Some think the two armies were afraid of shelling the church because of that. This extension did add a mile to the hike, but it was worth it. By this point, it was almost ten o'clock and there was a steady stream of tourists headed to this overlook. We were glad to be going back down to escape the onslaught of the heat of the day.
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