Appalachian Trail: Weverton to Gathland State Park
Length: 6.8 miles
Gathland State Park is a small state park located near Burkittsville, Maryland. The park is composed of the remains of the estate of George Alfred Townsend, a correspondent during the American Civil War who wrote under the pen name "Gath". Several buildings remain on the estate, including the War Correspondents Memorial Arch, and the Appalachian trail passes through the grounds.
Weverton is an unincorporated hamlet located in the southern tip of Washington County, Maryland, near the north shore of the Potomac River. Its population is approximately 500. Weverton is located at the intersection of MD Route 67 and U.S. Route 340. The nearest incorporated communities are Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and Brunswick, Maryland. Weverton's approximate elevation is 475 feet above sea level. A local feature is Weverton Cliffs, which are located at the southern end of South Mountain where that ridge is interrupted by the Potomac River. These cliffs are a landmark on the Appalachian Trail located nearly at the halfway point of the trail and well known to through hikers.