DNR Home Page | Locator Map | Resource Center | FAQ | Events | Directory | Search

Trail of the Month Program
800-334-6946

Hikers' Comments on Battlefield Trail
Battle of Lexington State Historic Site

	Month Hiked	Comments from participants of the 2007 Trail of the Month Program
	October 2007	It was pretty well laid out. Just follow the 14 markers and learn about the battle.
	September 2007	Take a few more minutes to walk around the old home and see the cannon holes, and the herb garden. Lots of interesting information there.
	September 2007	Easy trail to hike. Make sure you have the interpretive map. Don’t walk it on a hot day in the afternoon as there isn’t any shade on the trail to speak of.
	September 2007	This was a VERY short trail, but the history lesson was great. We picked up the brochure and read about the battle as we walked. We also explored in town and saw the cannonball that is still lodged in the courthouse!
	August 2007	Heat with some humidity. I heard the noise of some machinery, in the distance. Later found it to be a river tug with a load going up river. Scat on the trail, maybe two days old -- you can see the bug shells in it. Trailhead is some distance from the headquarters. There is a parking lot there, too.
	August 2007	There is no shade at all on this trail but it is a great place to visit and learn about Missouri history.
	August 2007	This is a wonderful way to see history come alive as you walk the through the various battle sites. Be sure to read the brochure to get the most out of it. There are some nice views as well.
	July 2007	Be sure to get a brochure and watch the film. The museum is nice also.
	July 2007	This trail is an interesting one because of the history surrounding it. I believe the mounds around the trail are ditches that were dug by the Missouri State Guard. They crouched in them and shot from behind hemp bales, I think. The nearby Anderson House is very neat as well. I wish we had got to this site before the museum closed for the day.
	July 2007	This trail is short and easy, but I would suggest taking a detour off the trail to the “waterfall trail” that goes down toward the river for a short but vigorous hike. Also, when you're at this state historic site, definitely check out the Anderson House. Whether you take a tour or not, it is interesting to see the battle scars on the building.
	June 2007	As we walked the trail it was amazing to picture just what went on at each guidepost during the battle. Nice historic place to visit.
	June 2007	If you've never visited the historic site before, it's worth it to start at the visitor center and walk around the grounds of the home and garden before moving on to the actual battlefield site. There's so much history to learn about along the way, and the distant view of the river from atop the hill is magnificent.
	June 2007	This was a very short, easy walk. The brochure with information about the site was interesting and helpful as you walk the trail.
	June 2007	Start at visitor center and get their map. It is a very easy trail and a very good history lesson also. Early morning has no shade but awesome view of the Mighty Mo.
	June 2007	The wonderful personnel at the center clued us in on the movie before our hike. We started at the back door of the visitors center and made it up to the start of the Trail of Month hike. This gave even more information. The guide sheet tells what you are seeing as you hike. You can see a bit of the Missour River, and the tour of the Anderson House is well worth it.
	June 2007	Go to visitors center first before making this hike to understand the hike better. Make sure you see the movie. Very easy hike for all ages. If you have time, stop at the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site about 20 miles south of Lexington and take a tour of the church and cemetery.
	June 2007	We've hiked this trail before and I’m always struck by the great view and the sobering thought of the history behind the trenches that are still visible. On a hot summer afternoon, you can almost imagine what the battlefield must have been like.
	June 2007	This is a short trail in an open grassy area with views of the Missouri River. We also took the walking tour from the visitor center at the Battle of Lexington State Historic Site.
	May 2007	Hot, sunny. You need a bench midway on the trail. Saw a yellow house cat and pretended it was a lion.
	May 2007	Nice, easy trail around the battlefield. My girls liked running ahead to each "point" relating to the battle. We could see the Missouri River over the trees because it is so full.
	May 2007	Short and easy to hike, nice view of the river, a great way to review Civil War history.
	May 2007	This is the shortest trail we've walked in a Missouri park. It is a nice rock-based trail. I suppose you could walk the circle several times for a workout!
	May 2007	Even though this is a short trail, exploring the whole historic site is a very educational experience.
	May 2007	This was a nice easy loop to hike. We also walked the Battlefield Walking Tour. The map and information we got at the visitor's center made it a very interesting and educational hike. The rolling hillsides were beautiful.
	May 2007	The gravel path provided additional perspective as to how the battle played out. We also walked along the "walking tour" path, which should not be missed as it too tells the story of the battle and identifies key locations.
	May 2007	It is eerie to think of the strife that occurred on this spot during the battle of Lexington. Hike from the visitor center so you don't miss the plantation tour.