Washington, DC: First Manassas Trail

March 4.2 miles back in time to July 21, 1861, where General Stonewall Jackson led an epic battle on this ground at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

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Thirty miles from DC, Manassas National Battlefield Park offers history buffs and hikers alike an opportunity to take a firsthand tour of the Civil War’s first major land battle, Bull Run. From the Visitors Center, this 4.2-mile loop wanders thin cedar forest and open meadows while touring restored remnants of the battle: canons, farmhouses, an inn converted to a battle triage, and a family cemetery (among others).
-Mapped by Fletcher Caldwell

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 6.7

Waypoints

Fence Posts

Location: 38.8233184814453, -77.5299301147461

©Fletcher Caldwell

Split Rail Fence

Location: 38.8220558166504, -77.5280151367188

©Fletcher Caldwell

Path through the trees

Location: 38.8202705383301, -77.5264892578125

©Fletcher Caldwell

Stonewall Statue

Location: 38.8204650878906, -77.5264892578125

©Fletcher Caldwell

Cannon

Location: 38.8214378356934, -77.5269775390625

©Fletcher Caldwell

MAN001

Location: 38.8134613037109, -77.5209426879883

Charge E on grass path flanked by blue-green bronze cannons; In 810 ft., head straight @ 4-way into pines

MAN002

Location: 38.8132705688477, -77.5128402709961

Cross stream tributaries; turn L @ T in 600 ft., passing sun-speckled forest into windy fescue meadow

MAN003

Location: 38.8224296569824, -77.5110778808594

Cross US 29; veer R up farmland knoll where cannon fire lit haystacks during the First Manassas Battle

MAN004

Location: 38.8245506286621, -77.5118026733398

Marker: At first light on July 21, 1861, Dixie gunshots riddled a Yankee’s farmhouse (now long gone); veer L @ Y

MAN005

Location: 38.8295402526856, -77.5179977416992

Cross access road into cedar forest where two captains dueled to the death. In .3 mi., L past farmhouse remains

MAN006

Location: 38.8288116455078, -77.521598815918

On L, stone enclosure marks 1801 cemetery. Continue on trail past hundreds of unmarked slave graves on R

MAN007

Location: 38.8269462585449, -77.5279083251953

Confederates fired on their own lines @ Matthews
Hill; more battles ensued when bluecoats crept over the crest

MAN008

Location: 38.8252410888672, -77.5294570922852

Retrace the flight of the confederates S to safety @ Henry Hill

MAN009

Location: 38.8238143920898, -77.5302124023438

L @ T

MAN010

Location: 38.8190383911133, -77.5260772705078

Restored 1840s stone house: local tavern converted into refuge for the Union’s wounded. Ahead, cross US 29

MAN011

Location: 38.8162002563477, -77.5234222412109

Straight @ 3-way with Henry Hill Loop Trail

MAN012

Location: 38.8147468566894, -77.5226135253906

Henry House: Judith Henry, only civilian casualty of battle (victim of a runaway bullet). Head S past iron artillery to car