Welcome
Harpers Ferry Visitor Center
Welcome to the Visitor Center
The Appalachian Trail Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry is one of the most well-known landmarks along all 2,190+ miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It’s a fun stop and a great resource whether you’re exploring historic Harpers Ferry, looking for a fantastic day hike nearby, or are interested in learning more about the world’s most famous footpath.
Harpers Ferry Visitor Center to Reopen on Thursday, May 27, 2021
Guests will be welcomed to the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center with modified operations and COVID-19 safety protocols.
- The Visitor Center will be open Thursday-Monday from 9 a.m – 5 p.m. We will be closed Tuesday-Wednesday and on major holidays.
- The Visitor Center restroom and water filling station will be available for all visitors.
- Most areas in the Visitor Center will be temporarily closed for renovations. We hope to have a timeline for reopening these sections in the near future.
- All guests are required to wear a CDC-approved face covering while inside the Visitor Center. Masks are not required while outside the center, though we encourage continued social distancing.
- An outdoor information table will also be staffed during normal business hours.
- A.T. halfway point photos will resume as normal. Please speak with a staff member or volunteer to arrange for your photo to be taken.
- A.T. hangtags are now available. Attempting A.T. thru-hikers and section hikers can receive an A.T. hangtag by participating in a short Leave No Trace Presentation.
- In-store purchases will not be available until further notice. ATC merchandise can be purchased directly at atctrailstore.org. Official ATC maps, guides, and other publications can be purchased through our partners at Mountaineers Books.
- Until further notice, we ask that all hiker mail drops be forwarded to the Harpers Ferry Post Office.
- Free one-hour parking is available behind the Visitor Center. Additional metered street parking is available nearby.
We thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we restart Visitor Center operations. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
Updated May 26, 2021
The front of the building provides an iconic photo-op for anyone stopping by. Those walking the entire A.T. have their photo taken on the front porch of the trail’s “psychological midpoint” to be recorded for posterity.
The visitor center also the perfect place to learn about and launch your 14 State Challenge (visiting a piece of the A.T. in each of the Trail’s states). Start your own Appalachian Trail journey here at the Trail’s Headquarters!
Hours: Open Thursday-Monday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Closed Tuesday-Wednesday and on Major Holidays
Address:
799 Washington Street
P.O. Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807
Phone: 1-304-535-6331
Offerings & Attractions
Exhibits
Unique and inspiring exhibits include a ten-foot, 3-D map of the Appalachian Trail and the famous sign from atop the mile-high Katahdin at the Trail’s northern terminus in Maine. You won’t want to miss the story wall of some of the most notable hikers who have walked the A.T., such as Earl Shaffer, a World War II veteran, the beloved “Grandma Gatewood,” and “2-Mile Marcy,” the first African American woman to hike the entire A.T. in sections. More than 30,000 photos of hikers from 1979 onward can be viewed in the hiker lounge.
Gift Shop
NOTE: In-store purchases will not be available until further notice. ATC merchandise can be purchased directly at atctrailstore.org. Official ATC maps, guides, and other publications can be purchased through our partners at Mountaineers Books.
A wide selection of Appalachian Trail merchandise and souvenirs including t-shirts, mugs, patches, and postcards is available to help you keep your connection with the Appalachian Trail alive after you return home. Maps and guidebooks can help inspire your next trip! You can preview the items here www.atctrailstore.org. Proceeds support the Trail.
Visitor Services
Friendly staff and volunteers can help you plan a day hike around Harpers Ferry and a visit to the historic town, and answer your questions about the Appalachian Trail. Schools, scouts, and adult groups of up to 25 are welcome to request a brief interpretive talk. Workshops teaching hiking and backpacking essentials are offered periodically.
The Passport to Your National Parks stamp for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, as are two stamps for the Appalachian Trail Passport. The center offers a restroom and free wifi access.
For Kids
A Junior Ranger/Adventure Guide booklet for the A.T. in Harpers Ferry can be downloaded and printed out ahead of time. Kids who complete the guide can earn a junior ranger badge. A miniature A.T. shelter, built into the back of the 3-D map, is a big hit with kids.
Hiker Lounge and Hiker Photo Collection
Hikers can relax and cool off with a cold drink after a hard day’s hike, as well as charge their phones. The lounge also hosts albums with more than 30,000 photos taken when hikers with the goal of hiking the entire A.T. reach the Harpers Ferry. More than two thousand photos are now taken annually and all photos taken since 1979 are viewable in albums.
Hiker Services
A brochure outlining the many services available to hikers in Harpers Ferry is updated frequently.
Coleman fuel and denatured alcohol are available for a donation.
Parking
One-hour visitor parking is available in the small lot directly behind our building, accessible from Storer College Place. Metered street parking is available below the visitor center along Washington Street.
Long-term hiker parking (up to ~2 weeks) is available with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park at their visitor center located at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 (304) 535-6298.
Directions
Directions to the ATC Headquarters and Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry can be found here: Directions to the ATC Headquarters
