Appalachian Trail hikers cross the Potomac River on their way to or from the Visitor Center in Harper’s Ferry.
Although biking is not allowed on most of the Appalachian Trail, the Visitor Center attracts cyclists from the C&O Canal path.
Photo by: Michael Meiser/Flickr | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Appalachian Trail (AT) Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry serves, for hikers trekking the entirety of the AT’s 2,200 miles, as the “psychological midpoint” of their journey. It’s tradition for thru-hikers to have their photo taken on the center’s front porch, and inside staff keep a collection of these photos dating back to 1979. There are also exhibits featuring notable hikers like World War II veteran Earl Shaffer and “2-Mile Marcy,” who was the first Black woman to hike the whole AT. If you can’t make it to Harpers Ferry but still want to learn more about the history of the AT, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a nice timeline on its website.
Appalachian Trail hikers cross the Potomac River on their way to or from the Visitor Center in Harper’s Ferry.
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