Natural Features & Ecosystems

When visiting the park, the natural features of the area can almost be overwhelming. From the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains that steeply rise above the historic district to the rushing waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers bordering the town, one is in awe of the surrounding beauty. Seventy percent of the park is covered with eastern deciduous forest with the predominant soil type here being a shaly silt loam. Quartzite, phyllite, and limestone are the predominant rock types, each playing a role in the formation of such popular sights as the Stone Steps and the water gap. Floodplain communities line the banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Visitors can experience these plus many more beautiful and exciting natural features.

 
  • Forested river bank
    Flood Plains

    Environment along the shores of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers

  • Forested mountains
    Forests

    Approximately 70 percent of the park is covered in eastern deciduous forest

  • Stone steps leading to St. Peter's Church
    Geologic Formations

    Formations include chevron folks of Maryland and Loudoun Heights and the famous Stone Steps

  • View of Lower Town Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights
    Mountains

    The park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachian Mountain Range

  • Potomac River runs through wooded mountains
    Rivers and Streams

    Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers

  • Layers of soil in an archeological dig
    Soils

    Common soil associations found within the park

  • Great blue heron standing in a wetland
    Wetlands, Marshes, and Swamps

    Harpers Ferry contains over 100 acres of wetlands

Last updated: April 6, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Park Service
PO Box 65

Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Phone:

304 535-6029

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