Harpers Ferry is about 60 miles from Washington D.C. and about 60 miles from Baltimore. Our hostel is conveniently located where the 184-mile C&O Path meets the 2000-mile Appalachian Trail. It is a two-mile walk from the hostel to Harpers Ferry along either of these trails.
Our overnight guests pay anywhere from $1.50 to $16.00 to stay here, either in a bed or camping (see prices for further details). We open daily at 6 PM for check-in. Reservations are recommended but not required. We anticipate being closed from November 15 to March 15, but consult with the Manager for further details.
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To get here from Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, take Route 340 East for about 4 miles (the distance by road is less direct and twice as long as the walking distance). This will take you across the Shenandoah River into Virginia and then across the Potomac River into Maryland. Turn right at the first Maryland exit, which is the "Keep Tryst Road" exit. Then take the next right onto Sandy Hook Road, and the hostel is the first house on the left.
To get here from Frederick, Maryland take Route 340 West for about 17 miles. Turn left at the last Maryland exit, before crossing the Potomac River into Virginia. That will be the "Keep Tryst Road" exit. Take the next right onto Sandy Hook Road, and the hostel is the first house on the left.
To get from Washington D.C. to Frederick take Route 270 North for 50 miles. To get from Baltimore to Frederick, take Route 70 West for 50 miles. To get from Harrisburg or Gettysburg to Frederick, take Route 15 South.
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To travel by train, you can take AMTRAK (the Capitol Limited), or you can take the MARC Train (Brunswick Line), both of which run between Harpers Ferry and Union Station in Washington D.C. The MARC Train is very inexpensive (less than fifteen dollars round trip last time we checked), but it only runs on weekdays, with trains going toward D.C. early in the morning and leaving D.C. in the late afternoon and evening. For schedules, call AMTRAK at 1-800-USA-RAIL or MARC at 1-800-325-RAIL. If you get to Harpers Ferry by train, you still have to get to the hostel. You can either take a gorgeous two-mile walk along the Potomac River (simply walk out of the Harpers Ferry Train Station and turn left until you get to the convergence of the two rivers and then proceed on foot), or alternatively you can call a taxi at 304-725-3794 or 301-834-7653.
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There is a weekday shuttle bus that can pick you up a block from the Greyhound Station in Frederick, Maryland. For bus schedules, call 301-694-2065 on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM. The bus will take you to Knoxville, and from there you can walk a couple miles to the hostel. From the Knoxville bus stop, simply walk over to the river, turn right and walk along the C&O Path, leave the C&O Path at the bulletin board just after milepost 58, cross the tracks, take a sharp left on the road, walk a mile, turn left on Sandy Hook Road, and the hostel is the first house on the left. There will be "AYH" sign along the way.
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If you are travelling on the C&O Bike Path, exit the C&O Trail at the bulletin board near milepost 58. Once you make this turnoff, cross the tracks, and make a sharp left onto the road. Go one mile to Sandy Hook Road, turn left, and the hostel is the first building on the left. You'll see "AYH" signs along the way. There are many other ways to get to the hostel by bike, and you may want to get a copy of The Greater Washington Area Bicycle Atlas which is an excellent book for any bicyclist to have.
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To get here on foot from Harpers Ferry, walk across the Potomac River footbridge. Then turn right and walk for two miles along the C&O Canal/Appalachian Trails (these two trails are one and the same thing for that segment). You will come to the big Route 340 highway bridge overhead, and at that point you can either turn left across the train tracks and then right up the road to the hostel, or you can stay on the C&O/Appalachian Trails for another quarter mile until you come to a trail to the hostel on your left, marked by big blue dots painted on the trees. This blue-blazed trail is a lot of fun, but it is steep at some points, so take this route at your own risk. Whichever way you go, the distance from the C&O/Appalachian Trails to the hostel is a quarter mile.
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Staying at hostels is a great way to travel and sightsee on a limited budget, while meeting lots of interesting people of all ages. (And if you are fortunate enough to have an unlimited budget then hostelling is still a great idea!) This particular hostel is ordinarily CLOSED DURING THE DAY from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, although this closure policy can sometimes be waived by the Manager. While you are waiting for the hostel to open, you can sit on our porch, or you can park at the hostel while you hike or bike. Of course, if you're staying for more than one night, you can leave your stuff inside all day.
Although our prices are very low, we provide you with quite a lot. We have 28 bunkbeds here divided equally between the male and female dormitory rooms (14 beds each). Also, there are two smaller bedrooms (5 beds in one and 8 in the other) for couples or families who would like more privacy, for a TOTAL OF 41 BEDS. If you would like to prepare meals here, we've got a LARGE KITCHEN fully equipped with refrigerators, stoves, microwave oven, conventional ovens, pots, pans, plates, cups, silverware, et cetera. All you need to bring is the food, and there are supermarkets nearby. Alternatively, there is an inexpensive RESTAURANT (tel. 301-695-8181) less than a quarter mile from the hostel, and PIZZA delivery is also available (tel. 301-834-9999).
In the evening, you may want to sit around a CAMPFIRE outside, or join other guests in the hostel's roomy LOUNGE area which consists of several cozy sofas, a large working fireplace, stereo, bookshelves full of (you guessed it) books, easy chairs, assorted board games, et cetera. There's a large DINING TABLE situated between the kitchen and the lounge area. We have plenty of FANS to cool you off in summer, as well as central heating. The hostel is equipped with a large restroom for each gender, with a total of five SHOWERS and five stalls.
QUIET TIME starts at 11 PM, and this policy is actively enforced in order to make sure that everyone gets a good night's sleep (the hostel manager resides on the premises). Each bed comes with a mattress, blanket, and pillow. You can bring your own SHEETS, and alternatively the hostel can rent you linen for a small fee (sleeping bags are not permitted). The hostel can also lend you a towel and/or pillowcase for free. A WASHER and DRYER are available too, for a small fee. CAMPING is permitted here, with or without full access to the building, and the campsite is located where our lawn meets the forest (therefore when you pay to camp here you should not expect a secluded site).
There's presently a good deal of equipment here for the use of our guests, including VOLLEYBALL, FRISBEE, and BARBECUE grill. Also, we have a BICYCLE and inner TUBE, which are to be used with caution and at your own risk.
We ask that our guests be considerate of each other, and that they try to leave the hostel in a clean and neat condition. The Manager often assigns small cleanup CHORES, such as sweeping a floor or wiping a countertop.
The people who stay here are as varied as the human race. We are a "youth hostel" only in the sense that you must be YOUNG AT HEART to enjoy staying here. Generally speaking, we often host hikers, bicyclists, European and Australian students on vacation, boy and girl scout groups, church groups, and school groups. We hope to see you out here soon, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Groups are welcome to stay here, and they frequently do. We'd be glad to send you a copy of our Group Trip Planning Guide.
In order to accomodate groups of ten or more people, we can sometimes arrange for the hostel to be open for additional daytime hours, exclusively for the use of such a group. Also, if a group wants exclusive use of the hostel at night, it may be possible to arrange for rental of the entire building at reduced rates. Just ask the Manager for details.
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There are several nearby rafting companies, the closest being River and Trail Outfitters which is a quarter mile from the hostel (tel. 301-695-5177). There's also Blue Ridge Outfitters (tel. 304-725-3444), Butts Country Store (tel. 1-800-836-9911), Harpers Ferry River Riders (tel. 304-535-2663), and Historical River Tours (tel. 410-489-2837).
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There are several beautiful hiking trails in our neighborhood. I recommend the Appalachian Trail, the Maryland Heights Trail, and the Loudoun Heights Trail. All are within walking distance of the hostel. There are also several State Parks within ten miles of the hostel.
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Visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, site of John Brown's famous raid. It's a beautiful 2-mile walk from the hostel to the park, and once there you'll also find restaurants, antique shops, a wax museum (tel. 304-535-6342), the national headquarters for the Appalachian Trail (tel. 304-535-6331), and The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry can equip you with camping gear (tel. 304-535-2087). At night, get spooked by a scary Ghost Walk (tel. 304-725-8019).
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You can ride horseback near the hostel at Elk Mountain Trails (tel. 301-834-8882), or at Blue Ridge Trail Riding (TEL 540-668-6113). If you're into horseraces, you can drive ten miles to the Charles Town Races (tel. 304-725-7001). While in Charles Town, you may want to indulge in some live theatre.
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The Potomac River is swimmable, but it is strictly at your own risk. The Brunswick Community Pool is a safer bet, and it's about five miles from the hostel (tel. 301-834-7567). They're open May to September, Noon to 6 PM, admission $2.25 for adults, $1.25 for kids last time we checked.
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Visit the Erhardt Organic Farm, get a tour, sample the produce (e-mail to ECOAG@IGC.APC.ORG or tel. 301-834-7520).
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If you've got a car to get around in, and you're a train fanatic, you might want to check out the Harpers Ferry Toy Train Museum (tel. 304-535-2291). Also, the Brunswick Railroad Museum (tel. 301-834-7100) is about five miles from the hostel, along the C&O Canal Path.
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The C&O Path is a bicyclist's heaven. The path runs along the river, so it is flat, and you won't have to huff and puff up and down hills. You may want to bike 13 miles from the hostel upstream to Shepherdstown, West Virginia which is a fascinating old college town. While you're at it you might want to take in the sites at the historic Antietam Battlefield National Park (tel. 301-432-5124) which is very close to Shepherdstown. There are many other bike paths in this area, and you can find descriptions in The Greater Washington Area Bicycle Atlas (we have a copy here at the hostel). Our hostel can also provide you with information about mountain biking opportunities in nearby Gambrill and Greenbrier State Parks in Maryland.
Bicycle rentals may be available from The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-535-2087), the Back Street Cafe in Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-535-2772), Blue Ridge Outfitters in Harpers Ferry (tel. 304-725-3444), and also at O'Hurley's General Store in Shepherdstown (tel. 304-876-6907). Also, C&O Canal Bicycling (tel 301-834-5180) provides bike rentals in this area; they are located in downtown Brunswick next to the Railroad Museum and near the new National Park Service C&O Canal museum (they can deliver bikes to anywhere in this area for groups). Other bike rental and repair shops are located along the C&O canal path.
If you would like to be able to buy a train ticket for both you and your bike from Harpers Ferry to Washington D.C., then you can write a letter requesting that the trains start providing this service on a trial basis. Write to AMTRAK Customer Relations, 60 Mass. Ave. NE, Wash. D.C. 20002. You can also write to Ms. Kathryn Waters, Manager of MARC Operations, PO Box 8718, BWI Airport, MD 21240-8718.
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Lots of cliffs around here. Call Riverside Rock Adventures, tel. 304-535-2343.
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There's a pretty impressive cave fifteen miles from here, called Crystal Grottos (tel. 301-432-6336).
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Learn how to go fly fishing, with Mark Kovach Fishing Services, tel. 301-588-8742. Also, Blue Ridge Outfitters has a Bait and Tackle Center (tel. 304-725-3444).
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Non-members as well as members of Hostelling International are welcome to stay here, and we also sell memberships which are good at HI hostels worldwide. We do not currently accept payment by credit card.
To stay indoors, our member rate is $14.00 per night, and the non-member rate is $16.00 per night. If you need to rent sheets, that's a dollar extra. Groups of ten or more people automatically get member rates, as do members of the Appalachian Trail Conference. Children under ten are charged half of what they would otherwise be charged. Laundry is $2.00 for a complete wash and dry including detergent. The member rate for "deluxe" camping is $6.00 per person and the non-member rate is $9.00 per person, and that includes full use of the hostel including showers, kitchen, and lounge. The member rate for primitive camping is $3.00 per person and the non-member rate is $4.50 per person, and the only indoor facilities available to primitive campers are the toilets.
Memberships are good for a year, except for life memberships, which cost $250.00. Regular memberships cost $25.00.
We recommend reservations, but they are not mandatory. If there are beds available, you can probably stay here without a reservation, although members get preference over non-members if there are too many people clamoring to get in. If you want to make a reservation, you must either give us a 50% deposit in advance, or alternatively a credit card number to hold your reservation. We would only use that credit card number if you fail to arrive (remember we ordinarily do not accept payment by credit card).
Ask the Manager about rental rates for equipment and other things. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at any time, in order to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests.
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The closest HI-AYH hostel to this one is the Bears Den Hostel in Bluemont Virginia, about 20 miles south along the Appalachian Trail (tel. 540-554-8708). Other nearby HI-AYH hostels include the Ironmaster's Mansion along the Appalachian Trail at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Pennsylvania (tel. 717-486-7575), and the Washington D.C. Hostel (tel. 202-737-2333). The Washington D.C. Hostel is about sixty miles from Harpers Ferry.
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United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas was the featured speaker at the hostel's dedication in 1962. Before then the building was used as an auction house, and before that the history is a bit murky. You may be aware that Justice Douglas was a prime mover behind the creation of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, which extends 184 miles from Washington D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland along the Potomac River.
Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels was founded in 1934 as a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation ("Hostelling International" is the official seal of approval of the IYHF). IYHF currently has almost 5,000 member hostels in 70 countries.
The mission of this hostel is to promote educational values by encouraging in our guests a greater knowledge, love, and care of the countryside, as well as a better understanding of each other. This hostel has been designated a "Sustainable Living Center" by being a model of good environmental practices, which include recycling, composting, and fluorescent lighting.
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We gratefully accept donations. This hostel is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. We currently are trying to raise money to install a damper in the fireplace and to repair and resurface the wood floors. We are also on the lookout for used sofas, dressers, chairs, and mattresses. Longer term projects include buying adjacent lands in order to preserve the hostel's rustic character and wildlife. Contact the Manager if you're in a generous mood!
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We are happy to accomodate the intrepid hikers going from Georgia to Maine or vice-versa.
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The Manager of the Harpers Ferry Hostel is Don Youngblood, starting in September of 2000. Immediately before managing the hostel, Don was in the Peace Corps in Africa. Before Don's arrival, the hostel was managed from May of 1995 thru June of 2000 by Andrew Hyman.
If you are interested in learning more about hostelling, or if you would like to volunteer to help out at the hostel, please mention this to the current Manager, and we'll see if we can work something out.
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Our neighborhood is located in a valley called Pleasant Valley, down the middle of which runs Israel Creek. Pleasant Valley is bounded in the West by Elk Ridge, in the East by South Mountain, and in the South by the Potomac River. Elk Ridge extends northward from the Potomac River about eight miles, as do Pleasant Valley and Israel Creek. Pleasant Valley is located in the Southeast corner of Washington County, in Maryland.
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If you visit John Brown's ghost, please give him our regards.