MD - Section hike help

My wife and I were planning on an upcoming weekend section hike through Maryland from Harper's Ferry to Pen Mar Park in early June. We were planning to fly in to Baltimore and rent a car and hire a shuttle to drop us off at a start point in Harper's Ferry.


Due to the pedestrian bridge over the Potomac being down and Pen Mar parking lot being closed our original plan now seems extremely difficult with our potential parking spot closed and a separate shuttle needed to cross the Potomac if we hiked south bound.


Can anyone help my brain figure out an alternative plan?

There's a parking lot just past the C+O cannel section on the MD side of the river. You could park there and shuttle to PenMar.

I did a training backpack last year doing the same section though I have dayhiked on the Md. AT numerous times. You can park outside of PenMar Park. There is a large dirt parking area there. Have a shuttle pick you up at PenMar (see shuttle provider list on Whiteblaze home page). I used Sawbriar's AT shuttle because she responded quicker. I also called Dennis Sewell. They could drop you off on Md. side of Potomac River to start your section hike northbound through Maryland. Good luck.

This is an excellent lot. I've used it a number of times.

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Originally Posted by Slo-go'en

There's a parking lot just past the C+O cannel section on the MD side of the river. You could park there and shuttle to PenMar.

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Check before you go. Both HF and the C&O state that the parking lots between locks 33-34 below MD Heights are still closed.

Do note that overnight camping is still closed along the AT here in MD: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/at.aspx

Sounds like they still want you to stay home, especially those traveling from out of state. With the early heat wave, not a great time to be hiking anyway. Wait until the fall or next spring.

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Originally Posted by Kaptainkriz

Do note that overnight camping is still closed along the AT here in MD: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/at.aspx

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Oh man. I had no idea. I thought I had read everything and was good as far as local advisories.

I was out on the trail in Maryland on Memorial Day weekend and yesterday. There are plenty of people out on the trail camping near the shelters. There are signs to not use the shelters. The trail is open for camping. The Backpacker Campground bathroom and showers near the Old South Mountain Inn were open and operational.