Silhouette of a man with backpack standing on McAfee Knob at sunset with mountains in the distance.

McAfee Knob is one of the most popular locations along the A.T. to take photographs.

Appalachian

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the

Bluestone River

Bluestone National Scenic River offers a quiet getaway.

Bluestone

The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors

The rushing river cascades over the rocks of the Potomac

The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products

A view of docks and boats in the waterside town of Cape Charles VA

Cape Charles on Virginia's lower Eastern Shore is a bayside gem with many opportunities for visitors to enjoy the water.

Chesapeake Bay

Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast r

Rafters enjoying the Gauley River

Gauley River is a popular whitewater river in the fall

Gauley River

The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the

View of Lower Town Harpers Ferry as seen from Maryland Heights

View of Lower Town Harpers Ferry as seen from Maryland Heights

Harpers Ferry

At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education

Small waterfall with brown rocks and green moss

Giant springs is a site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Site located in Great Falls, Montana

Lewis & Clark

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani

sun rising over the New River Gorge

Sun rising over the New River Gorge from Diamond Point on the Endless Wall Trail.

New River Gorge

A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an a