1 post tagged “harpers ferry national park”

Loudoun Heights

Over the next few days I'm going to be importing some of my blog entries from a website that I no longer plan on hosting after this coming month. It's basically a hiking journal, has lots of photos, some product reviews... enjoy!

Fortunately for me, there are numerous trails within walking distance of my home, Loudon Heights Trail being one of them. I live in Bolivar, West Virginia, a small town immediately adjacent to historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The Appalachian Trail runs within a half mile or so from my home, and within close proximity are trails in Maryland and Virginia, Maryland Heights Trail and the one I chose to hike on this unseasonably warm day, the Loudoun Heights Trail.

So I packed lightly, took no food, just my canteen and my Leatherman Hybrid multi-tool (a relic from my nursery days) and walked out the door, cut through 2 of my neighbors yards and walked along route 340 until reaching the bridge that spans the Shenandoah River. The Appalachian Trails picks up here and is a connecting trail to the Loudon Heights Trail. After crossing the bridge, there is a walkway and steps that lead under and around to the Virginia side of the river. I followed the the trail through a slightly rocky, and at places steep, portion of the trail until reaching a small, almost still, stream. I took advantage of the cool water, played for a moment, and resumed my hike.

Within 10 or 15 minutes, I had crossed Chestnut Hill Road and was well on my way to reaching the orange blazed trail that parallels the blue blazed Loudoun Heights Trail. I imagine the 2 trails run within a few hundred meters of one another, the purpose of the orange blazed trail, to offer a variety of views from the rocky outcroppings found on Loudoun Heights. On my ascent, I chose the orange blazed trail, which itself ends on the Loudoun Heights Trail.

As usual, I stopped along the way, took pictures when possible, though most of them were obscured by the power lines that run up and over the mountain. However, I knew that once I made my way to Loudoun Heights, I'd have all the views I wanted!

I was hiking now on the blue trail, slowly descending down from a higher point on the mountain towards the overlook. The trail was obstructed by some recently downed trees, but nothing of consequence. Within a half hour I had reached the overlook. The view was stunning, and to this day, I'm surprised I had never completed this hike prior. I was greeted there by three older men, seasoned hikers from Bristol, Tennessee, who were out on a day hike on their last day in West Virginia. After a brief rest, a bout of picture taking, and a pleasant conversation, I grabbed my canteen, my camera, and began to head back towards home.

On my return route, I simply followed the Loudoun Heights Trail back to the Appalachian Trail, turned right and northward towards Harpers Ferry National Park. Instead of following the highway back to my home, I took a sharp right after crossing the Shenandoah River, into the park, and down to a little beach that's on the river, a perfect place to cool off and have a little late morning fun!

Granted, this hike was no where near as exciting as some of the more recent trails that I've done, but considering I could walk from my home to the trail, it wasn't bad at all. The views of the park were some of the best, rivaling Maryland Heights, and the route, peaceful and relatively quiet, a great way to clear my head and reacquaint myself with nature. A morning well spent!