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

Human activity has shaped this landscape. When you observe the open fields and the transition into forested areas, you see evidence of past cultivation. When entering the forest, remember that for centuries, Indigenous peoples and early European American settlers used this land in various ways. The site encompasses hundreds of years of African American history. The exact arrival date of the first enslaved people is unknown and not recorded in historical records. Slavery on the site predates the Burroughs family's acquisition of the farm in 1850. This historical narrative extends from slavery and emancipation to the present day as part of Booker T. Washington National Monument.

Along the trail, signs of both historical and current land use are visible. The Jack-O’-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail extends for one and a half miles through the fields and forests of Piedmont, Virginia. 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.