Harpers Ferry and Appalachian trail, WV, 5/22/21

Set off to explore Harpers Ferry, a National Historic Park just over the border in West Virginia, on this cloudy but very hot spring day.  The small town, now a museum, sits at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah rivers. Harpers Ferry became a symbol of freedom for enslaved people after the abolitionist John Brown and his followers raided the armory in 1859, calling attention to the plight of slaves and setting the stage for the civil war to follow.   

Bridge crossing the Potomac into Maryland.  The Appalachian trail runs through the town, across the bridge and veers west into Maryland. Going east, the trail becomes the C&O Canal Towpath, a favorite of cyclists.

One of several locks along the river.  Ships navigated the docks to bypass the rapids in the river. See below. 

Ship transport is out, recreation and fun on the river is in.  How about a picnic in the river? 

Took the bus from the visitor center, walked thru the town, over the bridge, and along the Appalachian trail about 4.5 miles in spite of the heat (elevation gain ~233 ft) including the walk back to the Visitor Center.