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Crossing at Harper's Ferry.
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Awf Hand from Chippewa Falls, WI on 8/22/2016 1:59:01 PM:
I'm riding this area in a couple weeks and was wondering about the crossing at Harper's Ferry from trail to town. Is there an easy way to do this with a tandem bike and trailer?
 
Rick from Grafton, Va on 8/23/2016 5:09:54 AM:
The short answer is no. The spiral staircase just across from town is doable but tough with a "normal" bike much less a tandem and trailer. You might want to consider getting on the Rt. 340 bridge at Sandy Hook and riding Rt. 340 into town. It's kind of a busy road but doable. Sandy Hook is east of Harpers Ferry and I know the Appalachian Trail use to cross the bridge before they built the walkway your referring to. I guess since there are 2 of you you could haul the trailer up by hand then set the tandem on it's rear wheel and get it up the staircase. Once you get to the footbridge your golden. Rt. 340 is busy lots of fairly high speed traffic including big trucks. Hope this helps.
 
Awf Hand on 8/23/2016 10:59:31 AM:
We might end up skipping HF then as we are headed west to east. My tandem partner will not be able to help me haul a loaded bike, trailer and gear. Any other towns that we could (should) easily visit?
 
Rick from Grafton va on 8/25/2016 3:29:43 PM:
The rest of the towns along the route are easy to get to. A year or so ago they were doing construction on the bridge leading into Shepherdstown. Not sure if it is completed. There are other towns with easier access and more options. Hancock is great, as is Williamsport.
 
Anonymous on 8/28/2016 11:45:56 PM:
Shephardstown is easy access. A bit of a hill before town, Betty's Restaurant was good, loaded up on fruit at an organic place around the corner.
 
Anonymous on 8/29/2016 2:04:13 PM:
There are bike racks on the trail side of the bridge. You could lock you bike & trailer there unless you need them in town for some reason. It's a nice town and worth the walk across the bridge.
 
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