Finding Peace and Quiet in Northern Virginia - National Battlefield Park

Start of the trail.

I'm a displaced Montana girl. I like mountains and nature and peace and quiet. That's hard to come by in Northern Virginia. Lately, I've been actively searching for what vestiges of nature I can find in the ever-bustling DC metro area. This week, Sasha the Dog and I took the 15 minute drive to Manassas to visit National Battlefield Park (@ManassasNPS on Twitter).

Stonewall Jackson Memorial

We walked the the Henry Hill Loop first, about a mile, because I am completely incapable of bypassing a historical marker sign without stopping. There were so many markers to look at. They were so shiny.

It was a bit muddy, but not so much that it was an unpleasant walk. Sasha never minds the mud, especially not when she gets it on my pants, in my car, on my carpet, on my sofa...

After we started the First Manassas Trail, it was like walking out of suburban NoVA, and into rural Virginia. Of course, Sasha insisted upon stepping in every mud puddle on the entire trail.

It was much easier to escape people at the National Battlefield Park than at Great Falls National Park in Northern Virginia. Great Falls is in the middle of a residential neighborhood and it difficult to get more than 15 feet from another person. There is a lot more room to spread out at Manassas and absorb the surroundings. 

Walking in the winter means that you usually have brown and gray color palates, but we did find a few splashes of color here and there. We also found ice along the edges of the creeks.

We took several of the ancillary trails to some historic sites, so all total, Sasha and I walked about eight miles today, though she is sleeping like I walked her 80 miles instead of eight.

 I forgot to look at the time when we started, but I think it took about four hours to walk the Henry Hill Loop and the First Manassas Trail combined. We took a couple of breaks for water and treats. Okay, Sasha got the treats. Overall, we didn't stop much once we got out on the First Manassas Trail other than to snap a picture or read a marker.

Early on the First Manassas Trail