AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

River Overlook–Butterfly Alley Trail, 6 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 2,004 ft · 5 hr 28 min

River Overlook–Butterfly Alley Trail, 6 sights is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park near Neersville, VA. The route reaches River Overlook at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 2,004 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi262 – 1,155 ft · steepest grade: 21%14.2 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

River Overlook–Butterfly Alley Trail, 6 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 2,004 ft · 5 hr 28 min

Elevation 261–1,154 ft

Out & Back · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Trailhead: Upper Sweet Run Trail · 39.27651, -77.73736

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

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 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miBear left onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.3 miBear left onto Civil War Earthwork Trail, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading S.
  14. 50 ftReach River Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Civil War Earthwork Trail, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  20. 150 ftBear left onto Lower Town Trail, heading NW.
  21. 0.9 miTurn right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading NE.
  22. 1.3 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
  23. 2.7 miTurn left onto Butterfly Alley Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right onto Bypass Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.1 miSharp right onto Lower Sweet Run Trail, heading E.
  26. 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/river-overlook-civil-war-earthwork-trail-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

83% dirt11% gravel5% paved1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Upper Sweet Run Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Neersville, Virginia