Take an Easy Hike at Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield in Bluemont, Virginia
t was July 12, 1864. After leading a somewhat successful raid into Washington, DC, with the US Capitol in his sights, Confederate general Jubal Early made the decision to withdraw back into Virginia upon hearing about additional Union reinforcements on their way to defend the nations capital. Nonetheless, Early still considered their campaign a success. Calling his staff together to inform them of his decision to return to Virginia he declared "Major, we haven't taken Washington, but we scared Abe Lincoln like hell!" Four days later he and his troops crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains at Snickers Gap and entered the Shenandoah Valley hoping for a bit of rest. On July 16-17, he and his men crossed the Shenandoah River and established a temporary base near Berryville, Virginia, hoping for a bit of rest. That rest never came. Hearing reports of a Union cavalry pursuing through the Blue Ridge, Early ordered Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge to send two divisions back to block any Union attempts to cross the Shenandoah River at nearby Castleman’s Ferry (now known as Cool Springs). Meanwhile, Union commander Wright decided to attack and force a river crossing on July 18, 1864. The ensuing battle became the largest and bloodiest Civil War battle fought in Clarke County and was a victory for the Confederates.
Fast forward 150 years. As our favorite hiking places around Northern Virginia and Shenandoah National Park have become more popular and attract increasing numbers of visitors, my family and I have sought out new places to hike and enjoy nature in solitude. About seven years ago my husband was traveling a lot for work and before he headed off for another long trip we were looking for somewhere we could celebrate our anniversary with a hike and picnic. He opened up his AllTrails app and after a bit of research found the Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield near Bluemont, Virginia. I was a bit skeptical at first because it looked like it was going to be more of a walk then an actual hike, but I figured it is sometimes okay to take it easy and have a relaxing stroll.
So off we went – and have been back several times since then! It’s turned into one of our favorite places to go when we need to get away for a few hours and reconnect with nature. I do realize that the more I talk about this place the more people might start discovering it and it will no longer be a hidden gem, but after a lot of thought, I decided it’s okay. Maybe if more people experience places like Cool Spring Battlefield, they will support more conservation efforts so that we all have more places to get out and enjoy nature.
Paved Hiking Loops at Cool Springs Battlefield
Fun fact – the nearly 200 acres that now comprise Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield was once home to the Virginia National Golf Club. The golf club ceased operations in 2012 and the Civil War trust purchased the land in conjunction with Shenandoah University and the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2013 the property officially became part of Shenandoah University. Since then the university’s main purpose is to preserve the natural and historical aspects of the Cool Spring Battlefield site.
You can still see bits of the golf course here and there, the most obvious are the paved walking trails which served as the golf cart paths, which makes it family-friendly as well as a great place to run and bike. These two paved loops are aptly the Northern Loop Trail and the Southern Loop Trail. Each loop is less than three miles, but the northern loop is more popular since it contains self-guided walking trails, a gorgeous Shenandoah Valley overlook and a waterfall. The Southern Loop trail is a relatively flat walk that also runs along the Shenandoah River and is great for a quiet walk and birding. No matter which trail you choose to do first, they both begin at the information kiosk!
At the information kiosk, you will see paved paths set off on either side to begin the Northern Loop trail. You can start your walk either way, but we always begin on the path that leads to the left of the kiosk, which follows along the river to your left, and the open meadow on your right. This part of the hike is a relatively easy but enjoyable walk with wildflowers and the occasional bird sighting. You might also come across a snake in the grass, so be careful if you walk in the meadow. Once in a while you will hear bells tolling from the nearby Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville. As you walk along the path, keep a lookout for clearings in the trees that have short paths that lead down the river.
At about a mile down the path you will come to a fork in the road. You can continue to eventually reach the waterfall, or you can go right for Shenandoah Valley overlooks views. Be warned, it is very steep going up and coming back down! If you choose to this route, you will come across another battlefield interpretive sign and eventually find a bench with far-reaching views across the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains way off in the distance. This is a good place to sit, catch your breath, and enjoy the view! Literally, the bench tells you to do this.
Once you are ready to continue, you have the option to continue up another path for more valley views or you can walk back down to the river. Once you emerge from the trees at the bottom of the hill you’ll see a sign for the Ridge to River Trail. Follow the dirt path into the woods to see a very pretty waterfall located in the Rolling Ridge Conservancy. Miles of hiking trails are located within this 1,500-acre wilderness preserve just north of Cool Spring Battlefield. You are free to explore them all or just walk about ¼ of a mile to a small but pretty waterfall. After spending however long you want at the waterfall, re-trace your steps to the paved Northern Loop Trail. Eventually you will find yourself back at the welcome kiosk, completing your hike!
The Great Heron Rookery
The rookery is one of the highlights of Cool Spring in my opinion. It’s quite a beautiful sight! Each summer, more than two dozen great heron families raise their young in a rookery of nests at the top of a cluster of trees along the river. As you walk along the river you will hear them before you see them. Once you reach the stop, walk down a short little path down to the river where you can see the main cluster of nests. The nests are easier to see in winter and early spring before the leaves cover them up. We have also been there when the sky has been cloudy and gray they look like vampires hanging out on the branches with their nests.
Cool Spring Self-Guided Civil War Trail Guides
For those interested in the history of the battle of Cool Springs, there are three interpretive signs along the walking paths explaining the Battle of Cool Spring, but online you can find a lot more detailed information about the battle. Visit the Shenandoah University’s website for more history about Cool Spring Battle and download a very informative PDF self-guided tour and audio tour app.
Bluebells at Cool Spring Battlefield
Cool Spring Battlefield is also a fantastic place to see the Virginia bluebells each spring without all the visitors that flock to the more popular hiking trails in Northern Virginia. In this case, the Southern Loop is the better trail to walk along and photograph them.
In all, Cool Spring Battlefield is an enjoyable hike that takes less than 2 hours to complete (unless you are like me and spend time bird watching and taking photographs). It’s a great hike for beginners and families since it’s relatively flat unless you want to take the challenge of hiking to the overview and waterfall and also a great place for jogging and biking. I hope you really consider checking out Cool Spring Battlefield sometime this year!
Know Before You Go
Website: https://www.su.edu/cool-spring/
- Cool Spring Battlefield is located at 1400 Parker Lane, Bluemont Virginia. Enter Shenandoah University River Campus in your GPS.
- Open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Admission is free and there is ample parking
- There are no bathroom facilities but there are a couple of portable toilets in the parking lot.
- Bring binoculars for birding. If you go in the summer, don’t forget to put on sunscreen and bug spray. Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a leash and pick up their poo!
- Remember to leave no trace and take all trash with you.
- There is a covered pavilion with picnic tables
- Bring binoculars for birding.
- If you go in the summer, don’t forget to put on sunscreen and bug spray.
A version of this article appeared in the June 2025 edition of the Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine.
