River Overlook–Wortman Pond, 8 sights is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park near Loudoun Heights, VA. The route passes Wortman Pond before reaching River Overlook at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,170 ft, with sections as steep as 23% 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: 23%15.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Farmstead Loop Trail 39.29312, -77.72599
Nearest town Loudoun Heights, VA
Directions
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River Overlook–Wortman Pond, 8 sights
14.9 mi · ▲ 2,170 ft · 6 hr 3 min
Elevation 261–1,154 ft
Out & Back · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Trailhead: Farmstead Loop Trail · 39.29312, -77.72599
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
Transit-accessible: NPS Shuttle Bus Station stop 480 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Farmstead Loop Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Wortman Pond.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Mountain View Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Farmstead Loop, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Bridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Arnold Lane, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Upper Sweet Run Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Lower Sweet Run Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Butterfly Alley Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miSharp left onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Lower Town Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Civil War Earthwork Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftReach River Overlook, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Civil War Earthwork Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Civil War to Civil Rights Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left onto Lower Town Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Butterfly Alley Trail, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Lower Sweet Run Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Upper Sweet Run Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right onto Arnold Lane, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Old Bridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Farmstead Loop, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Mountain View Trail, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Farmstead Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
84% dirt10% gravel5% paved1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:11 PM
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: NPS Shuttle Bus Station stop 480 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Farmstead Loop Trail Trailhead
- WeatherTop Knob & Overlook–Wortman Pond, 6 sights 13.8 mi · ▲ 1,709 ft
- Civil War to Civil Rights Viewpoint–Wortman Pond, 6 sights 14.3 mi · ▲ 2,172 ft
- Jefferson Rock–Lake Quigley, 6 sights 12.7 mi · ▲ 2,180 ft
- Camp Hill–Lake Quigley, 6 sights 12 mi · ▲ 2,096 ft
- Gordon Pond–Wortman Pond, 5 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 258 ft
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