Follow Trenches on the 19th Corps Trails

Exhibit and bench on the 19th Corps Trails

NPS Photo

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, 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.

View our calendar for ranger-led walks of the 19th Corps Trenches. 

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. 

A map of trails along US Route 11 south of Middletown shows the 19th Corps Trails, Morning Attack Trails, and trail loops at the CCBF Museum.

NPS