Devin Trail map (click to enlarge)

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See the Five Forks Battlefield Trails web page to download a PDF trail map

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Length: .4 mile one way
Time: 30 minutes, round trip
Difficulty: Easy

The Devin Trail at Petersburg National Battlefield is an out-and-back trail that runs between the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Contact Station and Stop 3 on the Five Forks Battlefield Driving Tour, the Five Forks Intersection. Because the contact station is not open anymore (at least at the time of this writing), there’s not much point in hiking the trail. If the contact station were open, visitors could park there, check out the exhibits and watch a short film about the park, and then make the hike out to the Five Forks intersection.

Most of the trails in the Five Forks Battlefield Unit are named after officers, both Union and Confederate, who fought at the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865. The exceptions are the Pine Rock Trail and the Ford’s Trail (named after a road). The Corse, Pegram, Mumford, and Steuart trails are named for Confederate officers and the Crawford, Griffin, Devin, and Winthrop trails for Union officers. Devin refers to Brigadier General Thomas Devin, the commander of a cavalry division that attacked the Confederate line in the vicinity of the intersection. He came from the south where the Visitor Contact Station is now located, so the trail follows his general path into battle.

Both trailheads for the Devin Trail are a little difficult to find. If you start from the southern end at the contact station, when facing the building, the trailhead is at the edge of the forest to your left by the picnic tables.

Southern trailhead for the Devin Trail at the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Contact Station, Petersburg National Battlefield

If you start the hike from the northern end at the Stop 3 parking lot on White Oak Road, the trailhead is at the edge of the forest on the other side of Wheelers Pond Road, the road to the right of the parking lot if you are facing the Five Forks intersection. Look for a clearing between a large “Christmas tree” and a road sign pointing the way to the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Contact Station. You can see the trailhead from the parking lot if you know where to look. This is where I started the hike, and this report is written from that perspective.

View towards the northern trailhead for the Devin Trail from the Five Forks Intersection parking lot, Petersburg National Battlefield

Northern trailhead for the Devin Trail at the Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

The trail sign is actually pointing away from the forest, as if it has been turned around by accident. In fact, you’ll see a few other signs along the way, and they are all pointing north, back towards the Stop 3 parking lot. It appears that the signs were meant for northbound hikers coming from the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Contact Station. Anyway, don’t be confused by them, as this is the Devin Trail regardless of which way you are traveling.

Other than a very short section of trail that is out in the open not far from the start, the Devin Trail runs through the forest. It is interesting to note that while there are now forests everywhere on the Petersburg battlefields, many of these did not exist during the Civil War. The trees had either already been cleared for farmland or were cleared by soldiers who wanted an unobstructed view around their earthen forts and batteries. One exception is the forest in the area of the Devin Trail. It actually existed during the Civil War.

Open section at the north end of the Devin Trail, Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

Just before reentering the forest from the open section of trail, the path splits, with a mowed grass swathe heading along the tree line to the left. Both trails merge farther down near the contact station, so it doesn’t matter which way you go. I stayed to the right and continued through the forest, which is actually the official trail.

Grass path section of the Devin Trail in the Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

The terrain along the Devin Trail is mainly flat, and any hills are negligible. If paved, there are very few sections that wouldn’t qualify as wheelchair accessible. The surface is relatively smooth, free of roots and rocks that can trip you up. It is a very well maintained trail.

Typical terrain along the Devin Trail in the Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

There are a few signs along the way with quotes from soldiers who fought in the Battle of Five Forks. Many of the soldiers mention the woods in the area, which is how I know this forest was here during the war.

Sign along the Devin Trail, Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

The trail dead ends into a T-intersection near the southern end. This is the intersection where the forest and grass-path trails merge. From here, take a right to get to the contact station, which is just a few minutes farther ahead.

Split in the Devin Trail at the south end near the Five Forks Battlefield Contact Station, Petersburg National Battlefield

If you are making the round trip, to change things up a little on the way back, take the grass path—right at the fork. However, keep in mind that you are more likely to pick up a tick in the grass than in the forest, and I did indeed get one on me. From my experience, Virginia is the tick capital of the United States. According to one study, Virginia is #9 in the United States for tick-borne diseases.

View of the split in the Devin Trail when hiking north from the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Contact Station at Petersburg National Battlefield

Intersection of the grass and forested sections of the Devin Trail, Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

Northern trailhead for the Devin Trail at the Five Forks Battlefield Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield

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