Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

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See the Hiking Trails page for a trail map.

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Length:  1.5-mile loop
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty:  Easy

Grant’s Approach Trail passes by a number of interesting historical features, making it one of the better trails at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. It begins in the parking lot for the North Carolina Monument on the Appomattox Court House Battlefield Tour. It is a loop, and trailheads are located at each end of the parking lot. I began on the right side, hiking around in the counterclockwise direction on the segment of trail that heads into the forest. This trail report is written from that perspective.

Trailhead of the Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

After passing through the forest for about 500 feet, the trail emerges into the sunshine at two wayside exhibits, one of which details the final attack on April 9, 1865, by Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in not only the Battle of Appomattox Court House, but also in the Civil War. Lee surrendered later that day. The attack was made by General William Cox’s North Carolina Brigade. This is the closest the Confederates got to the vital railroad junction of Appomattox Station.

Site of the last shots fired by Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

The trail immediately reenters the forest on a gravel path and very quickly arrives at the North Carolina Monument, the only battlefield monument within the boundary of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. It was dedicated on April 10, 1905.

North Carolina Monument at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

From the monument, Grant’s Approach Trail continues west for a short distance before curving to the southeast. The terrain is relatively flat and the surface of the trail is smooth. It starts off as a traditional hiking trail but soon becomes a wide, gravel path, most likely part of a former dirt road.

Grant’s Approach Trail near the North Carolina Monument at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Typical terrain on the southwest side of Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

At .8 mile into the hike is the intersection with the Southside Connector Trail. This is a 2.4-mile out-and-back trail that connects to the Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail at the north end of the park. The only reason to hike it is for exercise. Combined with the Grant’s Approach Trail and the Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail, you can put together a 7.5-mile hike (assuming you return on the Southside Connector and don’t have a ride at one end).

Intersection of Grant’s Approach Trail and the Southside Connector Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Stay left at the intersection with the Southside Connector to remain on Grant’s Approach Trail. You are now on the eastern half of the loop and heading back to the parking lot. The trail is still easy to hike, though there are a few slight hills on this half of the loop.

Grant’s Approach Trail at the intersection with the Southside Connector Trail, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Typical terrain on the east side of Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Grant’s Approach Trail comes out of the forest and onto an open field a third of a mile from the Southside Connector. There is a slave cemetery here, though there are no visible tombstones or other grave markers. Its existence is only known because it once appeared on historical maps.

Slave Cemetery on the Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Just beyond the slave cemetery is the largest monument within Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, and it doesn’t even have anything to do with the Civil War. It is a memorial for the Raine Family, whose cemetery is at this spot. The monument was erected in 1912 by Hunter Raine in memory of his father, Charles James Raine, who was killed in action during the Civil War. The original tombstones are embedded in the cement that now covers the cemetery, and all those buried at the cemetery are inscribed on the base of the monument.

Raine Family Monument on the Grant’s Approach Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Tombstone in the Raine Family Cemetery at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Tombstone in the Raine Family Cemetery at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

One member of the Raine Family, John Raine, is the man who built what is now known as the McLean House in 1848. He operated a tavern from the building before selling it in 1862 to Wilmer McLean. The McLean House is where Lee and Grant met to sign surrender documents.

The North Carolina Monument parking lot is within sight of the Raine Cemetery.

Grant’s Approach Trail at the North Carolina Monument parking lot, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

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