I got an email from a Florida resident who saw my page on Mosby's Rangers at Loudoun Heights. He is thinking of making another visit to Harper's Ferry and wanted to know what there is to see at Loudoun Heights (although he spelled it Loudon), which is in Virginia across the Shenandoah River from Harper's Ferry.
I referred him to washingtonheritagetrail.org for a map and explained the following:
The photos I took on a Mosby tour of Loudoun Heights were on private land. We had permission to visit the property, site of Mosby's worst defeat.
You can cross Loudoun Heights on a trail for an in-depth visit. I have not done this although I have visited by car. You don't see that much from the road though. Civilwar-va.com states that "Trails on Maryland and Loudoun Heights also offer wartime interpretation and views."
As near as I can tell, the trail was formerly part of the Appalachian Trail but is now called the Loudoun Heights trail.
I'm sure you can get detailed info from the National Park Service or from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Also, I see a description on Gorp that mentions poison ivy on the trail so be careful.
There's also a terrific view of Harpers Ferry across the Potomac from the rocks on the Maryland side (is that called Braddock Heights?). That trail is open to the public, although quite strenuous, and includes some remnants of gun emplacements and other features of historical interest. For those who don't know, Harpers Ferry sits on the the point of land at the confluence of the Shenandoah and the Potomac. Loudoun Heights is across the the Shenandoah on the Virginia shore.
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