The Appalachian Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath are both accessible from here and offer two very different types of hikes.

How to get there

  1. Amtrak CHI to HFY (~16 hours) Departs: 6:40pm, Arrives: 11:31am

Directions to the C&O Canal Towpath from HFY

  1. From the Amtrak station Walk (0.4 miles) to the trail head

Directions to the Appalachian Trail from HFY

  1. From the Amtrak station walk (0.3 miles) to the trail head

Various Hike Options

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath West

  1. Harpers Ferry to Cumberland (~124 miles)
  2. Walk (0.4 miles) to the Cumberland Amtrak Station

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath East

  1. Out and back looks like the best option, although you could make your way into DC (WAS) ~63 miles

Appalachian Trail South

  1. Harpers Ferry to Staunton (Maryland- West Virginia Line to Rockfish Gap, 162 miles)
  2. Walk to Waynesboro (3.6 miles)
  3. Bus to Staunton Amtrak Station (~1.5 hours)

Appalachian Trail North

  1. Out and back is the best option I found here