Montpelier trails

Have you ever wanted to hike the trails of Montpelier?

James Madison’s Montpelier features more than 8 miles of hiking trails that highlight the geography and ecology of the Virginia Piedmont. Just a scenic 30-minute drive from Charlottesville, Montpelier’s landscape has not changed substantially since Madison’s era. Visitors can hike the trails amid towering 200-year-old trees and rolling farmland and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Montpelier’s trail network offers an opportunity to become immersed in a stunning landscape that not only complements the exhibits, tours and events at the presidential property, but also provides educational and invigorating exercise.

The Montpelier Loop Trail

The Montpelier Loop Trail offers a cross-section of the property’s features and geography. The moderate, 3.55-mile trail begins at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, rises through the Landmark Forest and its century-old hardwoods and weaves through Montpelier’s Demonstration Forest before emerging beyond the Constitutional Village. 

From there, the trail skirts pastures of grazing horses and pollinator meadows before circling back toward the scenic main house amid mountain views to the west. The trail concludes by passing through the Montpelier Burial Ground of the Enslaved and the Madison Family Cemetery before returning to the visitor center. 

This longest, on-site trail also offers additional opportunities for discovery and exploration via side trails and its proximity to other featured landmarks.

The Landmark and Demonstration Forest Trails

The Landmark and Demonstration Forest Trails comprise 2.5 miles of interlocking and instructive loops within old-growth and transitional forests. Four short trails—accessed from the Montpelier Loop Trail—illustrate the variety of deciduous species within the Virginia Piedmont. Helpful signs along the route identify oak, beech, dogwood and tulip poplar varieties that make up the forest canopy and note other native woodland wildflowers and shrubs. The trails can be hiked as part of the larger Montpelier Loop Trail or as smaller circuit hikes.

The Montpelier-Grelen Trail

The Montpelier-Grelen Trail links the property to nearby Grelen Nursery’s trail system across Chicken Mountain creating a network of more than 15 miles of family-friendly and varied hiking options. The connector trail begins at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center and descends westward through active archaeological sites before crossing Chicken Mountain Road and climbing through a protected forest. 

At the 1.6-mile mark, the trail connects with Grelen Nursery’s trail system which navigates more than 1,000 acres of scenic Virginia foothills. Note: trails are open during business hours at both Montpelier and Grelen.

Montpelier Civil War Loop and the Gilmore Cabin

The 1-mile Civil War Loop winds through the archaeological remains of an 1863-64 winter Confederate encampment and emerges at the Gilmore Cabin and Farm. George Gilmore was born into slavery at Montpelier, and after emancipation became a farmer and landowner, constructing his cabin on the site of an abandoned Confederate hut. Access the trail from parking adjacent to the Gilmore Cabin on Route 20 or Montpelier Road opposite the Montpelier Station Post Office.  

A property pass provides one-day admission to Montpelier’s trails, grounds, gardens and outside exhibits, including its landmark “The Mere Distinction of Colour” exhibition. Orange County residents may access the property (not including the house) for free. A property pass is included with the purchase of any guided-tour ticket.

Preview the Exhibits of Montpelier highlights HERE.

See our Visitor’s Overview of James Madison’s Montpelier HERE.

See the official site of James Madison’s Montpelier HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: For more than 25 years, Jeff Poole was the editor of his hometown newspaper—the Orange County Review. Most recently, he authored “Charles J. Stick and His Gardens.”