Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Routes availble to harpers ferry from va side of DC?

I am not a member of the rando club in DC yet due to a broken foot. That being what it is, I know a few knowledgable people of the area frequent this forum.

I have been wondering if there is a good route to harpers ferry from the VA side. I would like to stay on this side of the river for the trip up and then MD/C&O for the trip back. When I did the ride in the pass I just took the W&OD trail to Leesburg, crazy section on 7 to get into the back road that crossed at Whites Ferry then went north and came back.

I would if possible like to go through VA 9 or the like but I don't know if this is possible and I don't currently have means to scout it.

BTW I am looking at this as a one day enjoyment trip in the future.

Thanks in advance for any info.

C&O canal trail. look it up..

If your bike can handle the C&O, I would either do W&OD to Rt 15 N to White's Ferry again, or go out to Purcelville or Hillsboro and work my way up to Mountain Rd (it's quite flat), take that and Irish Corner up to the Lovettesville area, then maybe Dutchman's Creek & Tollhouse rd (don't know if they are paved or not) to Rt 287 and Brunswick, then C&O west (try to stay off 287 if you can - not as bad as RT 15 but not a fun rd).

Looking at the map, the problem is there are only 3 crossings over the Shennandoah - RT 340, Rt 9, and RT 7. I don't like driving 9, let alone biking it. If you came up to Hillsboro from the south (Reston Century used to go this way), you'd have a short distance on RT 9 W, then take Harpers Ferry Rd/Rt 671 to 340 and HF. 671 doesn't have much if any shoulder but the traffic is hopefully lighter than Rt 9's. I don't recall what Rt 7 is like (other than fast traffic, but not as twisty as 9 is) to suggest if that is rideable or not.

You might ask on the BikewashingtonDC yahoo group and the pedalers google email list. Plenty of local knowledge there. Trail's End Bikes in Purcelville might have some suggestions and is worth a visit anyway. Good luck!

I did that exact trip about two months ago. Take the W&OD until it ends in Purcellville, take a right on to VA 690 (the road where the trail dead ends) and follow this to RT 9. Take a right on RT 9 and an immediate left back on to VA 690 "Mountain Rd." This will take you through some farm country, and once you pass Mt. Olivette take a left on to VA 673 "Irish Corner Rd." Follow 673 until you hit the roundabout in Lovettsville and turn Left onto VA 287, enjoy the downhill run to the river and cross the bridge. Take an immediate right off the bridge in Brunswick Md and go down to the Amtrak station, go through the parking lot and follow the road across the tracks and you will see the C&O. Take a right on the C&O and in about 5 miles you will see the spiral stair that takes you back across the Potomac to Harper's Ferry. You can then turn around and follow the C&O back to Georgetown, cross the Key Bridge and take a right onto the Custis Trial at the Marriot. Follow the Custis to the W&OD and complete the loop.

There is not a lot of climbing and the total distance is about 135 mi. By far the toughest part for me was the 65 miles on the canal, the surface can be quite muddy and rocky during wet weather. If you want to make it a two day trip, there is a camp ground just south of Brunswick Md. with amenities, or you can choose to stop at one of the Hiker/Biker primitive sites (portable toilet and water pump) a bit further south between Brunswick and Point of rocks, and there is also an inn in Harper's Ferry.

Good luck with your trip, its a really fun route.

C&O canal trail. look it up..

Nahh,

Good job! you win a cookie! I don't know what it is you are doing down in Blacksburg but you should stick to that. If you read my post you would see that I mentioned that I was doing the C&O for the trip back. Also if you happen to know the trail even a little you would know what is on the north side of White's Ferry.

Don't worry though, I thank you for your input. Chips or Peanut butter for the cookie? Choices suck but that is all I have. I could go look some others flavors up though.:thumb:


If your bike can handle the C&O, I would either do W&OD to Rt 15 N to White's Ferry again, or go out to Purcelville or Hillsboro and work my way up to Mountain Rd (it's quite flat), take that and Irish Corner up to the Lovettesville area, then maybe Dutchman's Creek & Tollhouse rd (don't know if they are paved or not) to Rt 287 and Brunswick, then C&O west (try to stay off 287 if you can - not as bad as RT 15 but not a fun rd).

Looking at the map, the problem is there are only 3 crossings over the Shennandoah - RT 340, Rt 9, and RT 7. I don't like driving 9, let alone biking it. If you came up to Hillsboro from the south (Reston Century used to go this way), you'd have a short distance on RT 9 W, then take Harpers Ferry Rd/Rt 671 to 340 and HF. 671 doesn't have much if any shoulder but the traffic is hopefully lighter than Rt 9's. I don't recall what Rt 7 is like (other than fast traffic, but not as twisty as 9 is) to suggest if that is rideable or not.

You might ask on the BikewashingtonDC yahoo group and the pedalers google email list. Plenty of local knowledge there. Trail's End Bikes in Purcelville might have some suggestions and is worth a visit anyway. Good luck!


Thanks!

I will check on the yahoo group and look into taking the south route into Hillsboro. I have done the 15N, then cross at White's ferry and C&O multiple times now and just would like to stay off 15 if at all possible. I have managed to make it to the intersection of 7 and ( in the past where the overpass is but have not made it further than that. I appreciate the advice and will keep diggin.

I did that exact trip about two months ago. Take the W&OD until it ends in Purcellville, take a right on to VA 690 (the road where the trail dead ends) and follow this to RT 9. Take a right on RT 9 and an immediate left back on to VA 690 "Mountain Rd." This will take you through some farm country, and once you pass Mt. Olivette take a left on to VA 673 "Irish Corner Rd." Follow 673 until you hit the roundabout in Lovettsville and turn Left onto VA 287, enjoy the downhill run to the river and cross the bridge. Take an immediate right off the bridge in Brunswick Md and go down to the Amtrak station, go through the parking lot and follow the road across the tracks and you will see the C&O. Take a right on the C&O and in about 5 miles you will see the spiral stair that takes you back across the Potomac to Harper's Ferry. You can then turn around and follow the C&O back to Georgetown, cross the Key Bridge and take a right onto the Custis Trial at the Marriot. Follow the Custis to the W&OD and complete the loop.

There is not a lot of climbing and the total distance is about 135 mi. By far the toughest part for me was the 65 miles on the canal, the surface can be quite muddy and rocky during wet weather. If you want to make it a two day trip, there is a camp ground just south of Brunswick Md. with amenities, or you can choose to stop at one of the Hiker/Biker primitive sites (portable toilet and water pump) a bit further south between Brunswick and Point of rocks, and there is also an inn in Harper's Ferry.

Good luck with your trip, its a really fun route.


Thanks for the info! It is looking more and more like I will have to go through Brunswick. I was hoping to only see it once on this trip but if it can't be avoided it can't be avoided. I don't know about the camp ground there. I know the weather is cooler but the last three times through there the bugs were so bad you couldn't even afford to stop long for a rest out of fear of being carried away or eaten alive.

Thanks for the info and I think this may be the route I am looking for on this round.

You can take a Left on RT 9 to County Rt. 32, but there is much more traffic that way and the motorists out there seem to be especially agro against cyclists. I have never been that way, heeding the warning of the folks over at Trails End Bike Shop, but I have some friends who used to do an annual century on that rout and discontinued it a couple years ago due to issues with traffic and rude/dangerous drivers.

If its warm the bugs are terrible, after the beginning of October they tone way down and the river around Point of Rocks is beautiful at sunset.

:P my bad..I was jump skimming forums, say your header, and replied quickly.

that darn attention to detail, gets me every time!

Nahh and all,

I just re-read this and I feel I came across sort of snotty. Didn't mean it that way and I suppose sarcasm is lost on in typing!

Sorry about that!