Plan Like a Park Ranger 1-Day Itinerary Manassas National Battlefield

Visitors to Manassas National Battlefield will be able to experience beautiful scenery.

NPS

Manassas National Battlefield Park is where the United States and Confederate armies clashed for the first time during the Civil War. Almost a year later, the armies would meet again on the very same battlefield. Today, in an increasingly urbanizing area, the park preserves the natural beauty and historic significance of this land and offers opportunities for both learning and recreation. While many visitors already know about popular spots like the Brawner Farm or the Stone House, we encourage you to explore areas throughout the over 4,500-acre battlefield.

Below we have crafted an itinerary that will take you to different locations throughout the park. You can experience one of the last native grasslands in the region, explore our extensive trail network, and see the sites where tremendous sacrifices were made in the struggle of the Civil War.

Just like any excursion into one of our parks, the NPS wants you to plan like a park ranger. Whether you’re driving, hiking, or biking, bringing what you need and knowing where you’re going are essential to your trip’s success.

What to bring

• Water: Bring enough for your entire trip.
• Snacks: It never hurts to have a snack, and if you find yourself out longer than you expect, you’ll be prepared.
• Good walking shoes: Wear appropriate footwear for what you plan to do. Most of the sites will require some walking.
• Appropriate clothes/ a hat: Always check the weather and current conditions before you go on a visit to one of our parks and dress accordingly.
• A leash: If you decide to bring a pet along for the trip, you must have them leashed at all times for the safety of your pet and the habitats we preserve.

Where to go

1. Henry Hill Visitor Center

   • Start your day at the visitor center which is open daily from 8:30am to 5p.m. Here you can pick up a park brochure, trail guide, or learn about the daily schedule of interpretive programs.
   • The Henry Hill Visitor Center offers a museum featuring artifacts related to both the first and second battles of Manassas along with an electronic map that shows the troop movements of the First Battle of Manassas. You can also see the park orientation film, “Manassas: An End of Innocence.”
   • Visitors can also hike along the Henry Hill Loop Trail, which is one mile long, and highlights the climactic fighting of the battle of First Manassas.

2. Matthews Hill

   • At Matthews Hill you can visit where the first major confrontation of First Manassas began.
   • The hill offers a good view of most of the battlefields of both First and Second Manassas as well as access to the Matthews Hill Loop trail, which is just under a mile long.

3. Brawner Farm

   • The Brawner Farm Interpretive Center has even more to offer! You’ll see an electronic map which shares the history of the Second Battle of Manassas.
   • The interpretive center also offers three rooms of exhibits on the second battle. The interpretive center is open seasonally, but the grounds are open year-round, including hiking trails.
   • The agricultural character of the land is still maintained to this day, and the farm offers trails through forest, grassland, and farmland where you can hike or run.

4. Deep Cut

   • The Deep Cut is a steep embankment along the Unfinished Railroad which was used for cover against a United States attack by Confederate soldiers during the Battle of Second Manassas. It offers trails, views of the battlefield, and a tangible example of some of the tactics used in the Second Battle of Manassas.
   • The Groveton Monument stands on the top of the embankment, memorializing the United States soldiers lost at the battle of Second Manassas with a sister monument on Henry Hill.

5. New York Monuments (5th New York Monument and 10th New York Monument)

   • At the New York Monuments, you will learn about the closing acts of the Second Battle of Manassas and find hiking trails that lead to the next stop on your visit, Chinn Ridge. The New York Monuments honor two United States regiments from New York who suffered severe casualties to protect withdrawing artillery in the face of a massive Confederate counterattack.
   • The 5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment suffered the greatest loss of life of a United States infantry regiment in any single action of the Civil War.

6. Chinn Ridge

   • Chinn Ridge saw fighting in both the First Battle of Manassas and the Second Battle of Manassas. However, it is more famous for its role in the second battle.
   • You can walk along a paved trail on the ridge featuring interpretive waysides telling the stories of the fighting on Chinn Ridge during both battles.
   • You will also find a monument dedicated to Col. Fletcher Webster of the 12th Massachusetts. Fletcher was the son of Daniel Webster, who once served as senator from Massachusetts. Daniel Webster was famous for his oratory skills and the controversial compromises he negotiated between the north and south in his ultimately failed effort to prevent tensions from boiling over into war.