Manassas National Battlefield - Stone Bridge Trail

Map of TRACK Trail through Manassas National Battlefield

Manassas National Battlefield's Stone Bridge TRACK Trail is a 1.3 mile loop that follows the Stone Bridge Loop Trail, next to Bull Run. The trail showcases the biodiversity at the park.

The name of the river itself has national significance as many connect the name of Bull Run with the first major land battle of the Civil War; the Battle of Bull Run, also known locally as the First Battle of Manassas.

The elevated floodplain levees and terraces along Bull Run, a lush herb layer, and a seasonally flooded bottomland hardwood forest all result in a unique location in the park. Virginia bluebells carpet the forest floor in blue, violet, and pink shades from March through June, releasing nectar that attracts local bees and humming birds.  A walk by the Stone Bridge and boardwalk allows visitors to enjoy this spring display as well as hear the sound of spring peepers in nearby vernal pools, and maybe even glimpse a spotted salamander.  This trail also offers a unique brochure, called Civil War Tales, where you can learn about how the Civil War soldiers related to nature.

For more information on the park please visit www.nps.gov/mana

Track an adventure here
Collectible sticker for Manassas National Battlefield

Location Details

Recreational Features: Picnic Tables, Interpretive Programs, Birding
Amenities: Restrooms, Visitor Center
ADA Compliant:
Seasonality:
Path through the forest
Red fox in field
Water flowing under a stone bridge
View across field
Turkeys in field
Bluebell flowers in front of stone bridge
Rocks on Bull Run
Cannons in the mist
Old black and white picture of the Stone Bridge
Bluebell flowers flanking both sides of a straight dirt path
Stone bridge

Adventures for Manassas National Battlefield - Stone Bridge Trail

Birds of DC brochure thumbnail
Hiking

Manassas Birds

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.40
The Birds of the Greater Washington DC Area brochure shows kids where to look for different birds along the trail. The brochure contains illustrations of some of the more common woodland birds and information on how to identify them through various clues.
Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.40
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
Need for Trees brochure thumbnail
Hiking

Manassas Need for Trees

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.40
By following the picture and text clues found in "The Need for Trees" brochure, kids will discover six of the more common trees found along the trail. During their adventure, kids will learn about the need that people and other animals have for trees and about the roles trees play in the forest.
Stone Bridge Trail Civil War Tales brochure thumbnail
Hiking

Manassas Stone Bridge Trail Civil War Tales

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
1.40
Stone Bridge Trail's Civil War Tales is an adventure through history, where kids can discover the important events that occurred on Manassas Battlefield during the Civil War, and what it was like for soldiers living in nature.

Directions

Henry Hill Visitor Center
6511 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
Latitude: 38.825093000000
Longitude: -77.501573000000

Manassas National Battlefield's Stone Bridge TRACK Trail is located at the Stone Bridge Parking Area on Lee Highway/Route 29. 

For park maps and more information visit www.nps.gov/mana/planyourvisit/index.htm or call 703-754-1861

The Park's Henry Hill Visitor Center is located at:

6511 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109

Car
From Washington D.C. and Points East: Travel west on I-66 to Exit 47B, Route 234 North (Sudley Road). Proceed through the first traffic light. The entrance to the Henry Hill Visitors Center is on the right, just past the Northern Virginia Community College.

From Points North: Travel south on I-95 to the Capital Beltway (Route 495). Travel west towards Silver Springs, MD. Continue on the Beltway for approximately 10 miles, crossing the Potomac river into Virginia. Take the exit for I-66 west to Manassas. Take Exit 47B, Route 234 North (Sudley Road). Proceed through the first traffic light. The entrance to the Henry Hill Visitors Center is on the right, just past the Northern Virginia Community College.

From Points South: Travel north on I-95 to Exit 152, Route 234. Turn left at the traffic light on to Route 234 North (Sudley Road). Stay on Business Route 234 (do not take the by-pass) and travel for approximately 20 miles just beyond the city of Manassas. The entrance to the Henry Hill Visitors Center is located on the right, just past the entrance to the Northern Virginia Community College.

From Points West: Travel east on I-66 to Exit 47, Route 234 North (Sudley Road). Turn left on Route 234 and proceed through the first traffic light. The entrance to the Henry Hill Visitors Center is on the right, just past the Northern Virginia Community College.

Plane
Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located about 15 miles northeast of the park, off Route 28 North. Rental cars are available at the airport. Take Route 28 south to I-66 west. Take Exit 47B, Route 234 North (Sudley Road). The entrance to the Henry Hill Visitors Center is on the right, just past the Northern Virginia Community College.

Partners

The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The Manassas National Battlefield Stone Bridge TRACK Trail was made possible by a partnership between the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program. This project was financed in part by the National Park Service’s CONNECT TRAILS TO PARKS program, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018.