Shenandoah University Students Cycle in Harpers Ferry

On Sunday, October 6th, I led a group of 6 eager students (partnered with SOAR, Shenandoah Outdoor Adventure Recreation) to Harpers Ferry, WV, for a scenic 12-mile biking trip along the C&O trail. We chose this location because of its proximity to Shenandoah’s campus. 

We started our day handing out snacks and liquid IV in the Brandt Student Center parking lot on Shenandoah’s main campus. Then, we began our 45-minute drive to Brunswick, VA, where we entered the canal path. The van ride was a great time. 

Once we arrived in Brunswick, we suited up and started our ride to Harpers Ferry. The path was mostly flat and rides parallel with (as its name suggests) the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as well as the Potomac river on the other side. So, no matter where you looked, there were gorgeous views. In fact, I ran off the road numerous times while admiring nature. As we rode, the group intuitively learned to use the “on your left” or “on your right” commands to warn fellow bikers, including myself. Lovely mountains and trees continued to pass us by, and before we knew it, we had arrived at Harper’s Ferry.

We taught the group how to use bike locks and some bike rack etiquette, started to take plenty of pictures, and headed into the town together for lunch. We ate at a place called The Rabbit Hole and talked about various programs at Shenandoah, what the National Park Trust is, and other topics. Trains were passing by, many patrons had cute dogs, and most notably, a spotted lantern fly landed in one of our participants’ cups of water. After lunch, we set them free to go shopping in town. Also, we arranged a historical scavenger hunt for the participants to complete while out and about. The two winners received hydroflasks sponsored by the Park Trust, which they greatly enjoyed.

We rallied back on the bikes and began our journey home. On our way back we had a shocking encounter with a runner who was on the ground crying. She was bleeding and had fallen into the gravel. We stopped the group to help clean and wrap up her wounds. Funny enough, a lady who said she was a surgeon biked right past us and offered her assistance, too, if needed. 

Overall, the trip was a great success. We had a fun small-group vibe and enjoyed another van ride home. All but one in our group had never been to Harpers Ferry before. I hope this experience inspired the group to rent our bikes and go explore on their own.