Tablet marks the spot of Robert E Lee’s headquarters site 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:  .25-mile loop
Time:  10 minutes
Difficulty: Somewhere between easy and moderate, as the trail does go up a hill

The Lee’s Headquarters Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a short loop trail that leads to the site where Confederate general Robert E. Lee made his headquarters just outside of Appomattox Court House on the night of April 8, 1865. This was his last headquarters of the Civil War, for he surrendered the next day. There is no point in hiking the trail except to see the headquarters site, which is nothing more than a spot in the forest marked by a metal tablet.

The trail begins at the Lee’s Headquarters stop on the Appomattox Court House Battlefield Tour. This is at the north end of the park on Highway 24. Look for the trailhead identification sign behind the wayside exhibits. The Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail also begins here.

Wayside exhibit at the Lee’s Headquarters stop on the Appomattox Court House Battlefield Tour

The trail heads uphill from the start on one of the few true hiking trails in the park. Most of the trails are former dirt roads or mowed grass paths cut through fields.

Typical terrain on the Lee’s Headquarters Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Lee’s Headquarters site is about a tenth of a mile up the trail. While now in a forest, most likely this area would have been clear of trees when Lee was here. It is doubtful he’d make a headquarters in the forest where he can’t see anything, but that’s just my speculation based on being at many Civil War-era headquarters sites. Most are on hills with a good view of the battlefield. The fact that the headquarters is at the top of a small hill somewhat corroborates my hypothesis.

Once you see the headquarters site, you can either return to the parking lot the same way you just came or continue around the loop. If the loop is your choice, the trail continues uphill until the far end, then starts working its way back down to the parking lot.

You will have an opportunity to hop onto the Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail before arriving back at the parking lot. This is a 1.2-mile loop trail that is fairly decent as far as nature trails go. The intersection is within eyesight of the parking lot.

Intersection of Lee’s Headquarters Trail and the Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

As stated earlier, unless you are gung-ho about seeing where Lee’s headquarters was, there’s no reason to hike the Lee’s Headquarters Trail. I admit that it is short enough not to be a big waste of time regardless of your intentions, but if exercise is what you are looking for, be sure to combine it with the Tobacco Prizery Nature Trail.

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