Harpers Ferry is located in the eastern panhandle of West Virgina. The site of John Brown's Raid during the lead-up to the Civil War, the history of the town and its location near Washington, D.C., and other nearby urban areas make it a popular place for visitors. If you are planning a visit to the Harpers Ferry area, nearby state parks offer a variety of day trips.
Located approximately 11 miles from Harpers Ferry, Gathland State Park was once the home of George Albert Townsend, a Civil War-era journalist. The park features a collection of buildings of Townsend's own design, and two of them -- a lodge and the Main Hall -- were partially restored in the 1950s. In addition to these buildings, a large arch in memory of Civil War correspondents was built at the site in 1896. The park is also home to a section of the Appalachian Trail and a portion of the South Mountain Battlefield.
Washington Monument State Park is located 13 miles from Harpers Ferry on the summit of South Mountain. It is named for the large stone tower atop the mountain, a monument erected to George Washington by the citizens of Boonsboro. The park provides access to a portion of the Appalachian Trail and part of the South Mountain Battlefield.
Twenty-six miles from Harpers Ferry, Sky Meadows State Park in Virginia is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once part of an agricultural area, the park has a visitor's center, which offers programs on the history of the area. Camping is available at a primitive campground a quarter-mile hike from the parking lot. Fishing is allowed at the stocked one-acre pond at the park.
Cacapon Resort State Park is located 58 miles from Harpers Ferry, about an hour's drive away. The resort features a full-service lodge, cabins and bungalows, as well as an inn built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Cacapon offers visitors an 18-hole golf course, trap-shooting range and a stable that offers several horseback-riding packages.
This state park is located in the middle of the town of Berkeley Springs, which is about 45 miles from Harpers Ferry. A natural mineral spring bubbles to the surface at the site, and a bathhouse, erected in the 1930s, sits atop the spring. The park operates a spa out of this historic bathhouse that provides a variety of services. Users may opt to get massages, relax in the Jacuzzis or Roman-style baths, or partake of the sauna.
