Petersburg Battlefield

Is your pup in need of a nice long foot march? If they are, a great place to take them is on the trails in the Petersburg Battlefield National Park. Your pup won't need to stand to attention while you're there, but must be on a leash while you're out on the trails. There are various trails which run through this historic battlefield area, and they interlink to form a loop which is over seven miles long. There are also plenty of spurs leading off the main track which are great for exploring.

You and your pup can get on the Petersburg Battlefield trail at the Fort Lee trailhead on Mahone Avenue. You'll find a parking lot there too. You can also join a smaller section of the trail, called Attack Road, further along the street which is a third of a mile long and connects to the main loop. While the countryside in this area does have a sad past, that hasn't detracted from its natural beauty. You and your best fur buddy will be hiking over rolling hills, through acres of open grass fields, and strolling through the dappled light of the forest which is beautifully shady, even during the height of summer. Bring your pup some water as there isn't any available once you're on the trails, and marching is thirsty work!

Other parts of the loop are Poor Creek, Battery 7, Encampment, and the Prince George Courthouse Trail. No matter which one you and pup travel along, you'll discover evidence of the region's military history and the remains of the battle installations. There's a lot of wildlife to see too, and if you keep your eyes peeled and pup quiet, you may see some of the local deer population as well as a few squirrels. All in all, the Petersburg Battlefield trails add up to make a fur-ific day out for you and your pup.