With over 100 miles of walking trails and 20 miles of hiking trails, Harpers Ferry National Park is the perfect place for anyone interested in an outdoor vacation. If you want to camp, I recommend the Harpers Ferry Campground (http://www.campingharpersferry.com/), but there are also hotels really close by if you’d rather enjoy a comfy bed after a long day of hiking.

     We did two hikes on our visit; the first day we combined the Murphy-Chambers and Maryland Heights trails for a total of 8 miles. The Murphy-Chambers trail, 2 miles on its own is, is a great starter trail for anyone new to hiking and takes you past some historical sights. The Maryland Heights trail is 6 miles of rougher terrain that definitely requires a little more preparation and experience, but definitely worth it. As an official part of the Appalachian trail this is a “real hike” that rewards your hard work with some really cool views of the Shenandoah River.  Also worth noting that while Maryland heights takes you on almost exclusively tree-covered paths, the Murphy Chambers trail offers full sun exposure.

       The next day we took it much easier and went on the Camp Hill-Virginius Island. This path is 3 miles long if you take side trails and is not for someone trying to escape into nature. Multiple times on this trail you will find yourself right along historical land marks that are major tourist spots, which could be a plus if you are looking to learn a little while on the trail. This is also the perfect hike to take if you wanted to try some watersports. Inner tubing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, and rafting are all available to do in the area. Lots of local companies rent equipment or set up excursions, but if you own your own equipment (I was lucky enough to hike with someone that owns a canoe) there are spots along the path that you can get in the water where the Shenandoah and Potomac meet. 

http://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/hikes.htm