Places To Go

A scene on Henry Hill showing a lone cannon with the Henry House and Patriots' Monument in the background.

NPS Photo / Moore

The historic landscape at Manassas National Battlefield Park provides opportunities for you to explore and understand both major Civil War battlefields that were fought here and how these battles affected the civilians who called this place home.

 

Visiting the Battlefield

Click on the panels below to learn about the park's visitor services, driving tour, and trails, which provide opportunities for exploring and connecting with the history of the soldiers who fought here and the civilians who called this place home. 

Visitor Services

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center to begin your visit to the battlefield. 

Check our Operating Hours & Seasons page for current hours of the Henry Hill Visitor Center. 

Interested in joining a ranger-led program?  Check out our list of guided tours to see what programs may be being offered during your visit. 

Driving Tour

The Second Manassas self-guided driving tour is a 12-stop tour that takes you to key locations in Second Manassas.  A map for the driving tour may be picked up at the Visitor Center or on our park map page.  
 

1. Brawner Farm: Begin the driving tour on the grounds of the Brawner Farm where the opening clash of the Second Battle of Manassas occured on 28 August 1862. 
2. Battery Heights: Visit the position where Federal and Confederate artillery were positioned on two days of the Battle. 
3. Stone House: This iconic battlefield landmark, one of three pre-war buildings in the park, servied as a Federal field hospital during both battles. 
4. Matthews Hill: This hillside saw the opening engagement during the First Battle of Manassas. 
5. Sudley: The peaceful pre-war community of Sudley saw fighting throughout 29 August 1862, as Federal soldiers attacked the left end of "Stonewall" Jackson's line positioned near here. 
6. Unfinished Railroad: The defining feature of "Stonewall" Jackson's defensive line, covering a front of about one and one-half miles, extending from near the Sudley Church to a point near the Brawner Farm. 
7. Deep Cut: On 30 August 1862, this area was the scene of the largest Federal assault of Second Manassas, as nearly 10,000 soldiers attacked across this open ground toward the Confederates positioned at the Deep Cut. 
8. Groveton: The small frame Lucinda Dogan house is all that remains of the crossroads villiage of Groveton which saw severe fighting during multiple days of Second Manassas. 
9. New York Avenue: On the afternoon of 30 August, a New York brigade commanded by Colonel Gouverner Warren made a brief stand against Confederate General James Longstreet's massive counterattack. 
10. Chinn Ridge: Stretched along this ridge, Union soldiers desperately struggled on 30 August to delay Longstreet's counterattack on the Union army's vulnerable left flank. 
11. Portici: The grounds of the plantation house of Francis Lewis witnessed a cavalry clash on the afternoon of 30 August. 
12. Stone Bridge: Under the cover of darkness, John Pope's defeated Union Army withdrew in this vicinity toward the defenses of Centreville. 

Trails

There are over 40-miles of hiking and equestrian trails throughout the park.  Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a copy of the trail guide or visit our hiking page for a printable version. 

 

• First Manassas Trails
  • First Manassas Trail: 5.4 mile loop. This trail allows you to explore the First Battle of Manassas in detail.  
  • Henry Hill Trail: 1.1 mile loop. This trail takes you around the area of the heaviest fighting at First Manassas. 
  • Stone Bridge Trail: 1.3 mile loop. This trail along Bull Run explores the area where the first shots of First Manassas were fired. 
  • Matthews Hill Trail: 1 mile loop. This trail traverses the ground where the morning clash at First Manassas took place. 
  • Sudley Trail: .6 mile loop. This trail takes you by the pre-war Thornberry House and to the spot where 13,000 US soldiers crossed Bull Run on their way to First Manassas. 
• Second Manassas Trails 
  • Second Manassas Trail: 6.6 mile loop. This trail allows you to explore the Second Battle of Manassas in detail. 
  • Brawner Farm Trail: 1.6 mile loop. This trail traces the opposing battle lines during the August 28, 1862 clash on the Brawner Farm. 
  • Unfinished Railroad Trail: 1.2 mile loop. This trail takes you along part of "Stonewall" Jackson's line on the Unfinished Railroad in an area where Federal soldiers momentarily broke through on August 29,1862. 
  • Chinn Ridge Trail: 1 mile out-and-back.  Explore the grounds of the heaviest fighting of Second Manassas in the late afternoon hours of August 30, 1862.