Hybrid Trail Map (click to enlarge)

Length: 7-mile loop
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Flat and easy with one moderate hill to climb

Of the three hikes I went on in the Chickamauga Battlefield Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the Hybrid Trail is my favorite (of course, I came up with it!). It passes many monuments, six of the eight Chickamauga Battlefield Tour stops, follows roads, park trails, and even goes off trail across open fields. The hike took me 5.5 hours to complete, but I photographed dozens and dozens of monuments, stopped and studied the battle at the Battlefield Tour stops that the trail crossed, made a few wrong turns, spent 15 minutes looking for the Dyer Cemetery, and took a couple of breaks. All of this amounted to at least 1 hour of the 5.5 hours. A fast walker who does not stop could probably do this in 3-4 hours.

Start the tour by parking in the lower parking lot at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. Locate the footbridge in the field in front of you and head towards it. This is the Green Trail, though there is no identification signage.

Footbridge near the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Cross the bridge and continue hiking towards the parking lot you can see in the distance. This leads to the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour Stop 1, Breckinridge’s Assault. If you haven’t yet done the battlefield tour, take the time to read the wayside exhibits and listen to the Cell Phone Tour (dial the number on the sign posted at the stop and follow directions). Most messages on the Cell Phone Tour last between 3 and 5 minutes.

Breckinridge’s Assault stop on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

When finished at the tour stop, keep walking straight towards a group of monuments and cannons. This will put you at the three-way intersection of Lafayette, Alexander’s Bridge, and Glenn-Kelly roads. To continue hiking on the Green Trail, cross the roads and head towards the Kentucky Monument, a tall, pillar-type monument with a statue on top. You can’t miss it.

Intersection of three roads at the Kentucky Monument, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Kentucky Monument at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Once across the road and near the Kentucky Monument, look for a three car parking lot. The next segment of the Green Trail is directly in front of the lot.

Pick up the Green Trail at the parking lot near the Kentucky Monument in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Follow this trail through the woods for a quarter mile until coming out at the parking lot for the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour Stop 2, The Battle Line, which is near the beginning of Battleline Road. The stop comes .6 mile from the start of the hike. There are many exquisitely sculptured granite monuments in this area as well as all along Battleline Road, which is where you will be heading next.

Typical terrain on the Green Trail at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Green Trail at the Battle Line stop on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Monument for the 16th US Infantry at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Monument for the 18th US Infantry at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

At this point, walk along Battleline Road until it ends at Lafayette Road, roughly a .75 mile hike. This is a lightly traveled park road, not a main road like Lafayette. Cars drive by at slow speeds to see the monuments, and on weekdays you won’t see many cars at all. It is as safe a road to walk along as any, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful. The road is lined with monuments, tablets, and artillery pieces.

Monuments and cannons along Battleline Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Battleline Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

21st Wisconsin Infantry monument on Battleline Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

A very short side trip leads to the memorial for one of eight high ranking officers killed in the battle, Colonel Edward King. In the background across the field is the Kelly Cabin, which sits along Lafayette Road.

Memorial marking the spot where Colonel Edward King was killed on September 20, 1863, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

At the end of Battleline Road, cross over Lafayette Road to Poe Road.

Intersection of Battleline, Lafayette, and Poe Roads in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Like Battleline Road, Poe Road is lined with monuments and artillery. It is also the home of Stop 3 on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour, Poe Field.

Monuments and cannons along Poe Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Once finished exploring the area around Battlefield Tour Stop 3, continue down the road. When you go around a wide turn to the left, start looking to your right into the woods for the Orange Trail. This is not too far from where Poe Road dead ends into Lafayette Road.

Orange Trail trailhead near Poe and Lafayette roads in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Typical terrain on the Orange Trail in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

However, before heading into the woods on the Orange Trail, look across Lafayette Road to see the Georgia Monument, the tallest monument in the park. Take a side trip across Lafayette to get close enough for a good photo. Keep in mind that it is difficult to photograph the monument in the morning hours due to the sun being directly behind it, so if you are hiking in the morning you may want to come back in the late afternoon for a better photo. My two photos were taken at 10:30 AM (first photo) and 3:15 PM (second photo) in late October.

Georgia Monument at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park photographed in the morning

Georgia Monument at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park photographed mid-afternoon

Once finished at the Georgia Monument, return and head into the woods on the Orange Trail. In .2 mile, the trail dead ends at Dyer Road. Take a left and head towards the log cabin on the corner of Dyer and Lafayette roads. This is the Brotherton Cabin at Stop 4 on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour. The cabin is a reproduction of the original.

View of Brotherton Cabin from the intersection of the Orange Trail and Dyer Road, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The area surrounding Brotherton Cabin is where the most important event in the Battle of Chickamauga took place. It is here that 11,000 Confederates charged from the woods and into a gap in the Union line, splitting Union force in two and turning the tide of battle in their favor.

Brotherton Cabin at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

At this point you need to take the Yellow Trail, but you won’t find the trail marker. There is a large field at the Brotherton Cabin. Follow the line of monuments across the field and towards the woods on the far side. There are many ornamental monuments along the path, and they are really lit up nicely in the morning hours.

Monument field next to Brotherton Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

At the end of the field is a gap in the fence, and beyond that, a path that cuts through the tall grass and leads to the forest.

Gap in the fence at the end of monument field at Brotherton Cabin, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Grass path section of the Yellow Trail leads into the forest south of Brotherton Cabin, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Yellow Trail terrain south of Brotherton Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Follow the Yellow Trail into the woods and stay on it until you come to the intersection with the Red Trail (2.8 miles into the hike). It is here that you have two choices. Regardless of what choice you make, the rendezvous point is the intersection of the Red Trail and Glenn Kelly Road, which is west of where you are now standing (near the Recreation Field parking lot).

1) Turn right on the Red Trail towards Glenn Kelly Road and the Recreation Field parking lot.

2) Take the Yellow Trail south to the Heg Memorial. Heg was a colonel who was killed in the battle and the highest-ranking Wisconsin soldier killed in the fighting.

The shortest route, and one that will cut as much as a mile from the hike, is to turn right on the Red Trail and head towards Glenn-Kelly Road. This is a tempting option if you have already been to the Heg Memorial on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour or if you just want a shorter hike. Keep in mind that there are monuments other than the Heg Memorial on the Yellow Trail.

If you decide to take the shorter, Red Trail route, skip down to the paragraph marked RENDEZVOUS.

To continue the hike towards the Heg Memorial, take the Red Trail—which is a gravel road—to the left for a very short distance until you see another Yellow Trail marker just before the paved Lafayette Road. Once back on the Yellow Trail, follow it south along a creek for a hundred yards until is spills out into an open field.

Intersection of the Yellow and Red trails near Lafayette Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The risk of taking the Yellow Trail is that the field may not be mowed. I’ve hiked the trail twice, and once it was mowed and once it was not. When the grass is tall, you stand a better chance of picking up a tick, though that could happen on a mowed field as well. I didn’t get a tick on me on either of my Hybrid Trail hikes, but I did pick up one on another of the Chickamauga trails, so they are in the park. Regardless of the field’s condition, hike towards the trees, and when you get there, turn left towards Lafayette Road and be on the lookout for another Yellow Trail marker. The trail continues into the forest.

The Yellow Trail at Chickamauga passes through a field just north of the Heg Memorial, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The Yellow Trail at Chickamauga passes through a field just north of the Heg Memorial, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Yellow Trail just north of the Heg Memorial in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Once back in the forest on the Yellow Trail, it is a .2-mile walk to the Heg Memorial, Stop 5 on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour.

Monument to Colonel Hans Heg, one of eight high ranking officers killed in the Battle of Chickamauga, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

At this point you have hiked 3.25 miles, a little less than halfway around the Hybrid Trail. There aren’t many places to sit down on this hike, other than on the ground or on the edges of monuments, so this is a good place to take a break. It sure would be nice to see a bench every mile or so, but I doubt that’s happening any time soon with the way the government handles money.

You now have three choices:

1) Hike back north on the Yellow trail and take a left on the Red Trail towards Glenn-Kelly Road and the Recreation Field parking lot

2) Cross the open fields, “off trail,” towards Glenn-Kelly Road and the Recreation Field parking lot

3) Continue south on the Yellow Trail to Glenn-Viniard Road and walk on the road all the way to the Recreation Field parking lot

Option 3 adds a lot of distance to the trip. Option 1 puts you back on the same trail you just came in on, and I hate seeing the same things twice. Thus, Option 2 is my suggested way to go, provided that you don’t mind crossing another open field—much larger than the previous one—where it is possible to pick up ticks and other bugs, especially during the summer. On my late October hike I didn’t get any ticks on me, but I did find two unknown red bugs in my shoes (took off my shoes and checked once I crossed the field). If you are looking for the shortest route and don’t want to cross the field, Option 1 sure beats Option 3. Option 3, however, does pass the Wilder Brigade Monument, which is Chickamauga Battlefield Tour Stop 6. The Hybrid Trail eventually crosses Stop 8, so the only tour stops not visited on this hike are Stops 6 and 7.

If you opt to cut across the field as I did, look directly behind the Heg Memorial for a footbridge over a gully. This leads to an open field with a few monuments on it, but there is a mowed path at this point. Head towards the forest and the monument directly in front of you. When you get to it, turn right and hike along the tree line towards more monuments and three cannon. This path is mowed as well.

Footbridge behind the Heg Memorial in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Mowed path to more monuments in the field behind the Heg Memorial, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Monuments and cannons in the field behind the Heg Memorial, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Smaller monument for the Wilder Brigade in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

When you get to the very last cannon you will be at the large, rectangular field that you must cross—Recreation Field. Turn to face the cannon. Your destination is diagonally across the field at your 1 o’clock position, the Recreation Field Parking lot. It’s hard to see unless there are cars parked in it.

Cannon at the southeast edge of Recreation Field in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Cross Recreation Field towards the parking lot, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Recreation Field is the only area in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park were you can throw a Frisbee, fly a kite, play ball, etc., and thus it is usually mowed. But as with the first field, one time I did the hike and it was mowed and one time it was not. I did not get any ticks on me during either hike.

Hike across the unmowed Recreation Field at the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Once at the Recreation Field parking lot, take time to remove your shoes to brush off the grass seeds and check for ticks and other bugs. You now need to get to Glenn-Kelly Road, which is the road directly above the parking lot, not the road to the left (Chickamauga-Vittetoe Road) near the entrance. If you are at the far end of the parking lot, which is where you are most likely to be after crossing the field, there is a dirt path that connects directly to Glenn-Kelly Road.

Path from the Recreation Field parking lot to Glenn-Kelly Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

RENDEZVOUS—Red Trail near Lytle Memorial

Directly across the road is the Red Trail and a sign that reads TO POINT WHERE LYTLE FELL. Take this to the Lytle Memorial, which is a couple minutes down the path.

Red Trail to the Lytle Memorial in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Red Trail to the Lytle Memorial in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Memorial to General William Lytle, killed in battle on September 20, 1863, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Continue on the Red Trail. You will eventually come to another field that is along a ridge. There are a few monuments, including the site of Major General Rosecrans headquarters and the 15^th Pennsylvania Anderson Calvary Monument.

Rosecrans Headquarters marker in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

15th Pennsylvania Anderson Cavalry monument, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Red Trail north of the Lytle Memorial, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The Red Trail crosses Dyer Road. On the park’s trail map, the Dyer Cemetery site is noted. Don’t bother looking for this as there are no tombstones and the cemetery is unmarked and is not maintained. According to the Ranger I spoke with, there are a few field stones marking graves, but they are covered by brush and forest and nearly impossible to spot.

Intersection of the Red Trail and Dyer Road on the west side of the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Cross Dyer Road and stay on the Red Trail. Up until now, the terrain has been flat and easy to hike. Things get much hillier north of Dyer Road all the way to Snodgrass Hill.

Typical terrain on the Red Trail north of Dyer Road in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The Red Trail crosses two gravel roads. When you get to the second one, which is the location of the 121^st Ohio Infantry Monument, take a right. This is a .75-mile walk, and along the way is one of the few monuments in the Chickamauga Unit of the park that is dedicated to an individual soldier. This was placed by the family of Lieutenant George Landrum.

Personal monument to Lieutenant George Landrum in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

121st Ohio Infantry Monument in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

After a short walk down the road, be on the lookout for two cannons along a trail that leads into the woods. This is the Yellow Trail to Horseshoe Ridge, Snodgrass Hill, and Snodgrass Cabin, the Union Army’s last positions before retreating to Chattanooga and ending the battle. The hike up the hill along the Yellow Trail is moderate in difficulty but should not be a hindrance to anyone who has made it this far. Horseshoe Ridge and Snodgrass Hill are the last stops on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour.

Yellow Trail to Horseshoe Ridge continues through the woods, Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The crest of the first hill is Horseshoe Ridge. There are many monuments on the ridge.

84th Regiment Indiana Infantry monument at Horseshoe Ridge in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Once finished visiting Horseshoe Ridge, walk down the hill towards the parking lot. This will put you at the bottom of Snodgrass Hill where many more monuments await.

Parking lot at Snodgrass Hill in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Snodgrass Hill at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

9th Ohio Infantry monument on Snodgrass Hill in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Monument on Snodgrass Hill in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

From Snodgrass Hill, continue down the paved road to Snodgrass Cabin. The cabin sits atop a grassy hill, now home to many artillery pieces and monuments.

Snodgrass Cabin at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument near Snodgrass Cabin at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

From here the next destination is another gravel road east of the cabin that runs along the forest. To get there, walk through the long row of monuments. Beyond the monuments is a short stretch of field to cross before getting to the road. The National Park Service may not have cut a path to the road through the tall grass, but it’s not a big deal since this is a very short stretch of field. As with the other fields I crossed on this hike, there was a path cut on one hike and no path on the other.

Monument field at Snodgrass Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

When you get to the gravel road, take a left. From here on out the terrain is back to being very level and easy to hike.

Gravel road east of Snodgrass Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

In a quarter mile, the gravel road curves to the right and soon thereafter comes to the intersection with the Green Trail. Turn onto the trail, which is a level walking path through the forest.

Green Trail northeast of Snodgrass Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Typical terrain on the Green Trail northeast of Snodgrass Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The Green Trail heads straight north and passes four building foundations. Some of these are very large, but I have no idea what they once were.

Building foundation on the Green Trail northeast of Snodgrass Cabin in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

The Green Trail runs for .3 mile until dead ending into a dirt road. Take a right and you’ll soon be back at Tour Stop 1 on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour. Once there, just follow the Green Trail back to the Visitor Center, less than a ten minute walk.

Gravel road west of Stop 1 on the Chickamauga Battlefield Tour, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Green Trail just south of the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Other than the hills in the Snodgrass Hill area, one of which is very steep, the Hybrid Trail is flat and easy like all other trails in the Chickamauga Unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park . There is more exposure to the sun on this hike, especially if you cross the fields near the Heg Memorial, so apply sunscreen and wear a hat if avoiding the sun is important to you.

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