Battlefield Trail Map
We welcome your visit!
- The battlefield is open to visitors from dawn to dusk year around.
- The Visitor’s Center is open Saturdays from 10 am – 4 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm – stop by to learn more!
- Parking is available at 9465 General Winder Road, where you will find the trailhead and a kiosk with maps. Please do not park along the road or anywhere on the battlefield.
- Please follow COVID-19 precautionary guidelines, such as physical distancing from other visitors.
- Wear comfortable and sturdy shoes as the terrain can be uneven. In the summer you may want to wear a hat and apply insect repellent.
- You are welcome to picnic in designated areas. There are tables located near the parking area at 9465 General Winder Road. Please respect the battlefield’s pristine environment, do not drive on the battlefield, and leave no trace of your visit. All trash should be packed out or disposed in the trash receptacles located in designated areas.
- Please note that the portion of the Cedar Mountain Battlefield owned by the American Battlefield Trust and stewarded by the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Foundation is a protected historic and cultural resource, and, as such, recreational relic hunting or metal detecting are not permitted.
Planning your visit
Request a tour with a guide. Tours are available to individuals, families, and groups. Cedar Mountain Battlefield guides can provide an overview of the battle or respond to your particular interest. Please contact us in advance of your visit to set up your private tour.
“It was a great tour, conducted by two expert battlefield guides!” –2021 tour participant
Explore the battlefield on your own. To prepare for your visit, take a look at the trail overview written by guide and board member Brad Forbush. On your visit, you’ll be walking scenic trails marked with interpretative signage. Watch for monuments placed by veterans groups to mark key battle locations. Imagine the clamor of battle while looking at the 120-year-old replica cannon placed where Confederate cannon were positioned and fought over. Download the battlefield trail map or pick up a map in the kiosk at the start of the trailhead.
There are two known cemeteries on the battlefield. The Throckmorton cemetery is the resting place for members of a family who lived on the battlefield immediately after the war. Read about the Throckmortons.
The second cemetery was found during a Park Day clean up effort, and little is known about it. The one readable headstone shows the name Mariah Willis. It appears there may be more graves in this small cemetery.
Bring your binoculars and camera. Strolling the trails also offers opportunities for spotting wildflowers and birdwatching (the battlefield is an eBird hotspot). Pets are welcome; in consideration of other visitors, please keep your pet on a leash.
Want to learn more? The American Battlefield Trust‘s website is a useful resource for additional information about Cedar Mountain. Click to view the interactive trail map with interpretative signage on the ABT site.
To prepare for your visit, you might also want to watch the American Battlefield Trust’s Cedar Mountain Virtual Tour with ABT’s director of history and education director Gary Adelman.
Visiting from out of town? Take a look at visitculpeperva.com for information on great places to stay, dine, and visit that are located near Cedar Mountain Battlefield. Visit the Museum of Culpeper History to learn more about Culpeper’s rich history.