Do you ever get bored with going to the same parks over and over again for hiking? Heresy, I know, but while I don’t mind hiking the same trails repeatedly, the kiddos don’t enjoy the repetition. This past spring we fell into a rut with our hikes as we pursued the 52 Hike Challenge, so we’ve started looking for trails in places one wouldn’t usually think to find hiking trails. Depending on where you live, you too may be able to find new trails to hike at historical homes, farms, or plantations.

We live in central Virginia, where there’s lots of historical homes, many of them dating to the 1700s or earlier. Some of the homes with historical value are maintained by foundations that raise money for the upkeep of the buildings and grounds, conduct guided tours, fund archeological digs, and so on.

Some historical homes also have trails that open up acres that might otherwise not be in use or open to the public. These trails are usually free to use, and draw more visitors to these historic sites. Most of the homes listed below charge fees to tour the houses, but the grounds may be free to explore. 

So far, we’ve found three historical homes in our area that have trails open to the public, but I’m sure there’s more. In fact, we found a couple more historical homes with trails while on vacation in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home)

We’ve been using the Saunders-Monticello trail for years. The Saunders-Monticello trail is an accessible boardwalk and gravel trail that winds up the mountain that Monticello sits atop. We recently realized there is an extensive trail system in the woods and fields below Monticello, branching off the Saunders-Monticello trail in Kemper Park. We’ve started exploring these trails, but it will take awhile to hike them all.

Miles of trails: the accessible Saunders-Monticello trail is 2 miles plus there’s about 6.75 miles of more rugged trails in the woods and fields.

There is no fee to hike these trails, though if you want to tour the house and grounds, you will have to pay a fee.

Montpelier (James Madison’s home)

We’ve hiked the trails through the old growth forest at Montpelier a couple times, but when we visited last fall, we discovered that they’d added a number of trails through the fields and meadows surrounding the main house and grounds. This greatly increased the total miles of trails available and makes it possible to hike through a variety of surroundings. You can even hike to the neighboring Market at Grelen and explore their trails.

Miles of trails: about 8.5 miles of trails through the fields and neighboring woods. A couple short stretches are paved, but they are the exception.

There is no fee to explore the grounds or trails at Montpelier, though there is a fee to tour the house.

Ash Lawn-Highland (James Monroe’s home)

We visited Ash Lawn-Highland this spring, just before they opened up their trail system. They’ve only been using about 4 or 5 acres for the house and grounds, including fields for farm animals. Opening the trail system allows the wooded portions and empty pastures to be accessible.

Miles of trails: about 6.5 miles of trails through the fields and woods that surround Ash Lawn-Highland. There may actually be more than that, though. Several trails we encountered weren’t marked on the map, so it seems they are expanding their trail system.

There is no fee to use these trails, though there is a fee to tour the house and grounds.

George Washington Birthplace NM

The original house is gone, but a reconstruction of what that house is believed to have looked like is available for tours. While not as large and magnificent as some of the houses on this list, it is still quite impressive.

Miles of trails: there’s only about 2 miles of trails through the woods next to the house and grounds, but some of that distance is along the Potomac River, so you get double the scenery.

The house and grounds are a national monument in the National Parks System, but there is no entrance fee.

Stratford Hall (Robert E. Lee’s birthplace)

This was a home we found while visiting George Washington’s birthplace in the Northern Neck. Stratmore is only 9 miles away from George Washington Birthplace NM and can easily be added to your travel itinerary if you’re in the area. We didn’t end up visiting the house or grounds because of time constraints, but we will next time we return to the area.

Miles of trails: a little less than 3 miles of nature trails.

There is a fee to tour the house and a $8 fee for adults and a $5 for children (ages 6-11, I believe) to use grounds and trails.  

We’re slowly visiting these locations and exploring their trails, and we love the opportunity to explore sites that have so much historical significance. Have you discovered trails in seemingly unlikely locations? Please share!

Like the idea of a goal with accountability and want to join the 52 Hike Challenge? It’s not too late. The 52 Hike Challenge does not operate on a calendar year, so you can sign up at any time throughout the year, and you have 12 months to complete 52 hikes. Sign up using my link and I’ll earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. You can also click on the 52 Hike Challenge image in the right sidebar.