General Bragg Trail Map (click to enlarge)
Download the National Park Service’s General-Bragg-Trail map and/or pick up a color copy at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. The map above is just to help readers follow along with the trail review. You can print my instructions for this hike, but aside from a few hints as to how not to get lost and my Yellow Trail shortcut, the directions are the same as on the park trail map.
Length: 5 miles
Time: 3-4 hours, depending on whether you stop to read the tablets and monuments along the way
Difficulty: Flat and easy
I am not certain of the idea behind the creation of the General Bragg Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, but I assume this trail covers sections of the park pertinent to General Bragg, the leader of the Confederate army at Chickamauga. The trail does take you to the spot where his headquarters was located.
While nearly all of the trails are well marked and lead to little confusion, the start of the General Bragg Trail had me hiking in circles for about fifteen minutes. To avoid my mistakes, park your car in the lower parking lot at the Visitor Center. From there, look across the field for a foot bridge and start hiking towards it (though not marked with signage, this is the Green Trail). When you get to the foot bridge, do not cross it. Go towards and under the arched bridge on your left that takes you under LaFayette Road. There may be some water running under the bridge, but there shouldn’t be much unless it just poured rain. A defined trail leads to the bridge and emerges on the other side. This is the Red Trail, which is the trail the hike starts out on.
General Bragg Trail begins at the foot bridge across the field from the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center parking lot, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Passageway under LaFayette Road near the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
The second point of confusion comes immediately after going under the bridge. When you emerge and walk up a slight hill, you will see a Red Trail maker with an arrow pointing to the right towards the ornate Florida Monument. This is a mistake, as you won’t see any trail leading that way. The obvious trail goes straight along a tree line. Go straight! That’s the Red trail.
Red Trail marker near the start of the General Bragg Trail on the Chickamauga Battlefield pointing in the wrong direction, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Florida Monument in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
The path takes you along the tree line in a J-shape pattern before finally turning into the woods.
Follow the tree line to stay on the Red Trail segment of the General Bragg Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
General Bragg Trail enters the woods, leaving open fields behind for good, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Which brings up the question, “Do I need sunscreen?” Starting out, it appears that the hike will be across exposed fields. However, the only field you have to cross is this one; after that the trail goes mainly through the woods. Yes, there is still some exposure, so if you have fair skin and it is a bright, sunny day, apply sunscreen. Otherwise, I don’t see much need for it.
The official General Bragg Trail brochure has you staying on the Red Trail until you come to the Green Trail, which is what I did. In retrospect, however, I suggest turning left on the Yellow Trail, which isn’t too far after crossing LaFayette Road. The reason for this is twofold. First off, you will hike back on the Red Trail, thus covering the same ground twice. Second, when you get to the Green Trail and turn left per the brochure instructions, all you are doing is hiking north back to the Yellow Trail. Taking the Yellow Trail to begin with cuts about a quarter mile from the hike. You will miss a Georgia troop monument along the Green Trail, but you will see plenty of the same monuments on the way back along the Red Trail.
If you take my Yellow Trail shortcut, just keep hiking on the Yellow Trail until you come to the Blue Trail, at which point you will turn right, away from Reed’s Bridge Road (on your left). If you followed the original General Bragg Trail instructions, continue hiking on the Red Trail, past the Yellow Trail, until you come to the Green Trail, then turn left and head north. Go a half mile and turn right when you come to the Yellow Trail. In .75 mile, turn right on the Blue Trail.
The trip along the Blue Trail will take you past a monument and cannons for the First Michigan Artillery and the 9th Regiment Ohio Infantry, a small monument for the 11th Regiment Ohio Infantry, and a large monument to the 74th Regiment Indiana Infantry.
First Michigan Artillery Monument at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Monument to the 9th Regiment Ohio Infantry at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
74th Regiment Indiana Infantry Monument at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Cannon exhibit along the Blue Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
When the Blue Trail ends and meets with the Yellow and Red Trail, go straight and stay on the Red Trail. After a half mile you will be at Brotherton Road. At this point you are close to the site of General Bragg’s headquarters. In fact, as soon as you hit the road you will see a sign on your left directing you to the site.
Sign directing visitors to the General Bragg’s headquarters in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
You can jog to the left and follow the sign or stay straight and follow the Red Trail maker. You’ll get the the Bragg Headquarters site either way. I actually went left and followed the Bragg Headquarters sign and returned back to Brotherton Road on the Red Trail. The headquarters site is the halfway point of the hike, so now you’ll be heading back to the Visitor Center.
Marker for General Bragg’s Headquarters in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Tablet with information about the Bragg Headquarters area in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Once back at Brotherton Road, take the Blue Trail, which starts right next to where the Red Trail hit Brotherton Road. This takes you to the east, along Brotherton Road. In a third of a mile, take a left on the Yellow Trail.
Typical terrain of the trails making up the General Bragg Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
By now you may have figured out that the hike is in a Figure-8 pattern. The Yellow Trail leads back to the Blue/Red Trail intersection that you came to earlier; take the Red Trail, which is straight ahead once the Yellow Trail ends.
Follow the Red Trail back to the Visitor Center. Along the way you will see the site of Lieutenant General Polk’s headquarters, a memorial to fallen officer Peyton Colquit, and the Helm Monument, a memorial to a mortally wounded Confederate general who also happened to be Abraham Lincoln’s brother-in-law.
Marker for General Polk’s Headquarters in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Memorial marker for Colonel Peyton Colquit, killed in action on September 20, 1863, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Memorial to General Benjamin Helm, brother-in-law of President Lincoln, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
There are also a few short spur trails along the way, marked by beige lines on the map. In at least one instance, the spur is so short that you can see monuments down the path, so feel free to check them out. Also, you will eventually pass all of the Georgia troop monuments I promised you would see even if you took the Yellow Trail shortcut.
Georgia troop monuments along the Red Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
One of many Georgia troop monuments at the Chickamauga Battlefield, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Overall, the trail is about 5 miles in length. Most people can hike this distance in two hours or less. However, if you stop at the monuments and read the tablets along the way, add thirty minutes to an hour to your normal hiking speed. The hike took me 3 hours and 45 minutes. The trail itself is completely flat, so as long as you can walk for 5 miles, it should be no problem to hike the General Bragg Trail.
Typical terrain of the Bragg Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
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Last updated on July 3, 2024
