Last updated: August 11, 2023
Thing to Do
Follow Trenches on the 19th Corps Trails
Woodland trails follow a line of trenches built by the US 19th Corps in the fall of 1864. Heavy fighting happened there in the early morning of October 19, as a Confederate surprise attack overwhelmed Federal defenders during the Battle of Cedar Creek.
The 19th Corps Trails connect the 128th New York Monument with Belle Grove Plantation. Remnants of trenches and earthworks are still visible along the trails. The trails are on lands preserved by Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (CCBF) and Belle Grove, Inc. Enter the trails at either end:
- At the 128th New York Monument, along US Route 11, US Route 11, 2.4 miles south of the NPS Visitor Center in Middletown, Va. Parking and the trail entrance are just past the monument inside the pull-off.
- At Belle Grove Plantation, across Belle Grove Road from the Beverly B. Shoemaker Welcome Center. There is a parking area by the trail entrance.
The trenches are the long, shallow depressions seen along the trails. Help preserve them by staying on the marked path.
Details
Duration
30-120 Minutes
Activity
Front-Country Hiking
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pets must be leashed. Clean up after pets.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
19th Corps Trails
Enter the trails at either end:
- At the 128th New York Monument, along US Route 11, US Route 11, 2.4 miles south of the NPS Visitor Center in Middletown, Va. Parking and the trail entrance are just past the monument inside the pull-off.
- At Belle Grove Plantation, across Belle Grove Road from the Beverly B. Shoemaker Welcome Center. There is a parking area by the trail entrance.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Day
The 19th Corps Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
Accessibility Information
The trails are mainly dirt trails through woodland over gentle terrain. The trail at the 128th New York Monument entrance has a gravel surface. Where the trails cross the trench lines there are short plank bridges that require a step to get on or off.