About This Park
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
To provide peregrine falcons adequate space for nesting, portions of Maryland Heights will be closed from Feb 15 to July 31. This includes several rock outcroppings near the overlook and certain climbing walls. The Maryland Heights Trail is OPEN.
More detailsLoading map...
Photos
Aerial view of Lower Town Harpers Ferry
Credit: NPS Photo/Holden Mills
View from Jefferson Rock
Credit: NPS Photo/Autumn Cook
Artillery at Murphy-Chambers Farm
Credit: NPS Photo/Autumn Cook
John Brown's Fort in Winter
Credit: NPS Photo/Holden Mills
Plan Your Visit
Parkwide Hours of Operation
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Park museums/exhibits, the Visitor Center, and restroom facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park passes may be purchased at the entrance station Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to purchase a nationwide America the Beautiful pass, we encourage you to call 304-535-6299 before you come. Park shuttle bus hours are currently 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Park Grounds and Trails
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Visitor Centers
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Visitors may ask questions, pick up park maps and brochures, and more. From this location, visitors may park their vehicles and take a shuttle bus to the Lower Town district of the park. *Park passports stamps located at Bookshop in Lower Town* *Purchase park entrance passes at the entrance station, located just outside the Visitor Center parking area*
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center171 Shoreline Drive
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Operating Hours
Lower Town Information Center
The Lower Town Information Center is not currently staffed by rangers. However, maps and information are available at the "Place in Time" exhibit space.
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Operating Hours
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Visitors may ask questions, pick up park maps and brochures, and more. From this location, visitors may park their vehicles and take a shuttle bus to the Lower Town district of the park. *Park passports stamps located at Bookshop in Lower Town* *Purchase park entrance passes at the entrance station, located just outside the Visitor Center parking area*
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center171 Shoreline Drive
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Operating Hours
Things to Do
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 ...
Duration: 45-90 Minutes
Learn more
Bicycle from Williamsport to Harpers Ferry
Want to explore history and enjoy a day bicycling? This is the route for you. Enjoy a leisurely 40-mile bike ride, or ch...
Duration: 1-3 Days
Learn more
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 hike...
Duration: 1-8 Hours
Learn more
Visit The Point at Harpers Ferry
Visit where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet! From this location, known as The Point, you look upon three states -...
Learn more
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 T...
Duration: 1-2 Hours
Learn more
Visit John Brown's Fort
A visit to John Brown's Fort is more than seeing the building where John Brown and several of his followers barricaded t...
Learn moreLesson Plans
Incident at Harpers Ferry: Slavery and John Brown
In this lesson, students will share their thoughts on slavery, examine how our country dealt with this institution, consider how both pro-slavery elements and abolitionists looked at slavery and why, and learn a little about John Brown’s early life - in particular, his activities out in Kansas in the years 1855 – 1857. Students will then be able to answer the following essential question: What was slavery like in the antebellum United States?
View on NPS.gov(opens in new tab)The Battle of Harpers Ferry 1862: Joining Up!
When war broke out in April 1861, thousands of young men rushed to join the colors. Why were they so anxious to go off to war? Then, after the horrors of war had been exposed, why were thousands more willing to enlist in 1862? Why did men of central New York decide to join a new unit, the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry in August of 1862? Each student will receive the identity of an actual soldier from a regiment, and eventually find out what happened to him as a result of the war.
View on NPS.gov(opens in new tab)The Battle of Harpers Ferry 1862: Joining Up!
When war broke out in April 1861, thousands of young men rushed to join the colors. Why were they so anxious to go off to war? Then, after the horrors of war had been exposed, why were thousands more willing to enlist in 1862? Why did men of central New York decide to join a new unit, the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry in August of 1862? Each student will receive the identity of an actual soldier from that regiment, and eventually find out what happened to him as a result of the war.
View on NPS.gov(opens in new tab)Explore the full collection of educator resources from the 9/11 National Memorial Trail.
Part of the 9/11 Trail
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is one of the National Park Service sites connected by the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, a 1,500+ mile pathway of remembrance linking the three 9/11 memorial sites.
Park information provided by the National Park Service. Data refreshed daily.