Harpers Ferry National Historical Park · Washington County, MD
Maryland Heights Overlook
The postcard view of Harpers Ferry from the MD bluff above the Potomac-Shenandoah confluence. Steep, rocky, and crowded on weekends. Trailhead parking is on Sandy Hook Rd shoulder — free, no NPS entrance fee on this side.
Live · updated
Today
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Primary activity: hiking
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.
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Trail running
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Score breakdown
- · 46°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- ✓ AQI 25 — Clean air
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 6.5 mi round-trip
- Elevation gain
- 1200 ft
- Surface
- rocky
- Difficulty
- hard
- Typical crowds
- very heavy
- Dogs
- Leash required
Trailhead
Parking
Trailhead lot . 7 AM on weekends — Harpers Ferry lots fill brutally early.
Facilities
No bathrooms . Sandy Hook Rd parking is free; no NPS fee station on the MD-side trailhead.
Coordinates
39.3260, -77.7290 — Washington County, MD.
Park
Part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (official site →).
Park advisories
Facilities staff are doing repair work on several buildings in Lower Town. Please follow signs for alternate entrances and heed temporary closures.