See the Eastern Front Trails web page for a complete trail map.
- Length: 1 mile
- Type: Hikers and Bikers on the western side from intersections X to M; and Hikers, Bikers and Horseback Riders on the eastern half from intersections M to L
- Difficulty: Mainly easy with two moderate hills to climb
The Friend Trail in the Eastern Front Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield runs east to west from just north of Fort Stedman in the west to just south of Route 36 / Washington Street in the east. To access it from Fort Stedman, Stop 5 on the Eastern Front Driving Tour, go to the right hand corner of the parking lot and take the paved trail to the right, the one heading away from the fort. This is a hikers-only trail, so if you have a bike, you must push it.
When the pavement ends, keep straight across a narrow gravel path, then take the first right onto a much wider gravel path, Prince George Courthouse Trail. The turn is 50 yards from where the pavement ends. If you get to the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery monument, you went way too far. (Note: This Prince George Courthouse Trail has no physical connection to the Prince George Courthouse Trail on the east side of the park.)
In less than 200 yards from the turn onto Prince George Courthouse Trail is the W intersection, and just beyond that is the X intersection where the western end of the Friend Trail begins.
The Friend Trail starts out as a wide and flat gravel path. Tire tracks worn into the ground indicate that it was once used for vehicle traffic. It crosses a paved road a third of a mile from the start, then in another .2 mile comes to Harrison Creek at Intersection M. Right before the creek, it dips down into a ravine—the creek is at the bottom. The descent, which only lasts 200 feet, isn’t bad, but the climb out of the ravine, which is double in length, is quite steep, more than moderate in difficulty but never strenuous.
The Friend Trail continues northeast at Intersection M. The map makes the intersection look like a T, but in reality, the Friend Trail continues straight. You must turn right to get onto the Harrison Creek Trail. If you want a good view of the creek, walk 50 feet down the Harrison Creek Trail to a footbridge that spans the water.
After the Confederates were overrun from their batteries and other defensive trenches on the east side of Petersburg during the first day of fighting, June 15, 1864, those who got away retreated to the west side of Harrison Creek and starting digging in. They used the creek as a natural defensive barrier. If you turn right on the Harrison Creek Trail, not too far down is the Harrison Creek tour stop on the Eastern Front Driving Tour (Stop 4).
Once out of the ravine at Intersection M, the Friend Trail narrows a little as it traverses slightly hilly terrain, though none of the hills will get your heart rate up.
Petersburg National Battlefield’s Friend Trail east of the intersection with the Harrison Creek Trail
About a tenth of a mile before the Friend Trail ends at Siege Road (Intersection L), there is another creek crossing and another ravine, this one being a little deeper. As with the first ravine, the climbs in and out never reach what would be considered strenuous, but they are definitely moderate in difficulty.
Creek crossing on the Friend Trail right before Intersection L on Siege Road, Petersburg National Battlefield
The Friend Trail ends at Siege Road, .5 mile from Intersection M. On the other side of the road is the start of the Battery 7 Trail.
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Last updated on March 27, 2023