AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint–Butterfly Alley Trail, 4 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 2,006 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint–Butterfly Alley Trail, 4 sights is a 12.8-mile out-and-back in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park near Neersville, VA. The route reaches Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6.4 miles in. It climbs 2,006 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi262 – 1,155 ft · steepest grade: 21%13.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Upper Sweet Run Trail 39.27651, -77.73736
Nearest town Neersville, VA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint–Butterfly Alley Trail, 4 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 2,006 ft · 5 hr 16 min

Elevation 261–1,154 ft

Out & Back · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Trailhead: Upper Sweet Run Trail · 39.27651, -77.73736

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: NPS Shuttle Bus Station stop 375 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.1 miTurn right onto Lower Sweet Run Trail, heading N.
  3. 0.3 miSharp left onto Bypass Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left onto Butterfly Alley Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.5 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
  6. 2.7 miSharp left onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading NE.
  7. 1.3 miTurn left onto Lower Town Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miBear right, heading W.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 0.4 miSharp left onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftReach Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.2 miSharp right onto Trail to Murphy-Chambers Farm, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftBear left onto Lower Town Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.9 miTurn right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading E.
  17. 1.3 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  18. 2.7 miTurn left onto Butterfly Alley Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.5 miTurn right onto Bypass Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miSharp right onto Lower Sweet Run Trail, heading E.
  21. 450 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/butterfly-alley-trail-lower-sweet-run-trail-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

91% dirt6% paved2% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: NPS Shuttle Bus Station stop 375 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Upper Sweet Run Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Neersville, Virginia