Tackle This One 300-Yard Stairway Trail Past Six Fascinating Historic Sites In West Virginia

If you love beautiful views and interesting history and your leg muscles need a good work-out, we've found just the place for you! It's a short but steep stretch of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Harpers Ferry, West Virginia — and you'll be surprised at all the things you'll find packed into these just over 300 yards of staircases!

Begin your climb in Harpers Ferry's famous Lower Town, a spot packed with more history per square mile than just about anywhere else in the state. If it's open, for example, take a tour of the African American History Museum at the base of the stairs you are about to tackle.

And then start climbing. At the top of the first set of stairs you tackle on this short but steep jaunt through history, you'll find St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, the iconic steeple that presides over Harpers Ferry.

From here, make sure to stop, catch your breath, and appreciate the view of the valley below!

And then get ready to resume your climb, because the stairs don't end here. Oh, no.

On up the next long flight of steps, you'll pass the worn ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Then, just beyond the crumbling old church walls, you'll see a small side trail to Jefferson's Rock. Here, it is said, Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the view worth crossing an ocean for.

Beyond and above Jefferson's Rock are yet another set of stairs that lead up to Harper Cemetery, the final resting place of Harpers Ferry's founder Robert Harper and others. It is said to be one of the best graveyard views in the country, and we don't doubt it.

And then finally, within the cemetery itself, you can climb yet one last flight of steps to Lockwood House, a 19th-century home that served as a hospital, headquarters, prison, and ballroom during the Civil War.

Each site is marked well with signage to help you appreciate the history you are seeing.

Whew! Are your legs burning yet? But it's worth it to experience these 6 amazing historical sites (at least!) in just over 300 yards. Have you attempted the full climb before? Which of these historical attractions was your favorite?

Of course, there are other staircase hikes in West Virginia, including this one that's probably just as famous (or infamous, actually) and also prominently features a graveyard...