Jack-O’-Lantern Trail

Explore the Jack-O’-Lantern Heritage Branch Trail. The tour begins after you pass the tobacco barn. In approximately 0.2 miles, you will reach an intersection that marks the start of the loop, which may be followed in either direction. Trail guides are available at the visitor center.

NPS

The Jack-O’-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail extends for one and a half miles through the fields and forests of Piedmont, Virginia. Along the trail, you will observe evidence of both historical and current land use. Much of this land was once part of the Burroughs plantation. The trail passes through habitats that support a diverse array of birds, plants, wildflowers, and small animal species within forest and stream ecosystems. Human activities continue to interact with natural processes today. To help preserve these ecosystems for future visitors, please refrain from removing or disturbing any plants or animals.

For centuries, Indigenous peoples and later early European American settlers utilized this land in diverse ways. The site also represents hundreds of years of African American history. The precise arrival date of the first enslaved individuals is unknown and not documented in historical records. Slavery at this location predates the Burroughs family's acquisition of the farm in 1850. This historical narrative encompasses slavery, emancipation, and continues to the present day as part of Booker T. Washington National Monument.