Armory Canal Trail & Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze) is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park near Bolivar, WV. It climbs 638 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi279 – 617 ft · steepest grade: 19%5.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Night Battle Trail 39.32525, -77.76657
Nearest town Bolivar, WV
Directions
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Armory Canal Trail & Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze)
5.1 mi · ▲ 638 ft · 2 hr 1 min
Elevation 281–617 ft
Out & Back · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Trailhead: Night Battle Trail · 39.32525, -77.76657
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Night Battle Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze), heading N.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Valley View Trail (Yellow Blaze), heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze), heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Armory Canal Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miReach Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze), heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Valley View Trail (Yellow Blaze), heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Potomac Cliff Trail (Blue Blaze), heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftBear right onto Night Battle Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
64% dirt36% gravel
Weather
Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:34 PM — 6 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Night Battle Trail Trailhead
- Moler Farm Trail 2 mi · ▲ 85 ft
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