Harpers Ferry Ins and Outs

By Ginny and Gary Quam

For the Needles run on the Potomac, CCA has again this year negotiated an agreement with River Riders to allow CCA members to park and launch from their Bakerton facilities under specified circumstances. 

CCA and River Riders have an arrangement allowing members to use the Bakerton campground/put-in. CCA pays River Riders for this privilege; it's a benefit for CCA members only. You need to print a copy of the parking permit and display it on your windshield. The printable 2025 permit is available on the CCA parking permits page. (From the Home Page left-hand navigation pane, select Members Only > Parking Permits. You need to be logged in to see Members Only options.)

Be sure to consult the River Riders Parking Policy document posted on the permits webpage, because special restrictions apply on the weekend and with regard to the ramp. Please minimize the number of vehicles parked at the River Riders facility per the parking policy. River Riders staff may specify where they would like vehicles parked. The campground/put-in area is kept in good condition. Keep it that way by putting all your trash in cans or taking it with you, and be polite to River Riders staff and customers. 

A word on Harpers Ferry Adventure Center's river access points: HFAC may allow private boaters to use their Millville Staircase put-in and/or their takeout just below Potoma Wayside. There is no special agreement between CCA and HFAC—rather you must speak with them to get their permission and restrictions for that day. 

They have let private boaters park at their Millville Staircase put-in on weekdays (Monday through Thursday, except holidays), but you must call in advance (540-668-9007) or ask at the main office (Adventure Center Lane across from the Wayside). When they have allowed private boaters to park and launch at Millville, they usually have charged $10 per vehicle. 

HFAC has also allowed private boaters to use their Potomac River takeout Monday through Thursday (except holidays) during the summer as long as the campground is not full or they do not have too many trips going out. They may charge a parking fee of $10 for each car parked at the bottom of the hill. Again, it is on a case-by-case basis, and you must get prior approval by calling in advance or stopping at the main office. For loading to go home, HFAC has been allowing drivers to go down the hill to retrieve boats. You must call the HFAC office (the number is posted on signs) before driving down or up the hill to avoid meeting any HFAC truck that might be proceeding up or down.

As for River & Trail Outfitters' facilities at Millville, they allow no private boater parking or putting in there between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and that includes weekdays. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, paddlers can put in there for free, parking in their lot if the gate is open, or if it is not, on the grass across the road (adjacent to, but sufficiently clear of, the railroad tracks).

Staircase paddlers do have the option, at any time of year, of parking and putting in at the Millville Dam, a mile and a half upstream of the outfitters' put-ins—extra flatwater, to be sure, but with the advantage of a good parking lot and boat ramp.