Yorktown Battlefield Ride

The time for which I was alive in the 1960s could be measured in days, so I can’t really honestly claim to have lived through (or even during) the decade.  But from the stories, movies, and books, it was a period of cultural upheaval that had the potential of producing profound change in our society.  That perhaps fell well short of the goal. 

It seems to me that today we are in a time of reckoning to rival those days.  We have just celebrated our Independence Day, where many sat it out because we are still falling short of the ideal that “all men are created equal.”  We are questioning the word “freedom” and who we can trust and who should even be called an “American hero.”  Place that against another complex backdrop:  On July 3 Disney + premiered a filming of the Broadway production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton.  We have a largely Black cast interpreting (in rap) events that focus on fighting for liberty in the late 1700’s streaming in 2020.  All the while our country—from cities to rural towns—are filled with protesters and demonstrators, demanding a reckoning with our history, our present, and our future. 

Liberty atop the Victory shaft, completed 1884

With all these events in mind, Susan and I decided to take a ride through the battlefields of Yorktown, Virginia.  There is a beauty in the forests and winding roads, but also the empty fields where both Colonial and British armies bivouacked and faced off.  If you squint hard enough, you can see the tents and the thousands of troops camped over the fields, ready to give their lives for a cause.  The earthworks still remain, piles of dirt forming square ring redoubts that were the basis of their fortifications.  Some of these still have the sharpened pikes facing outwards to thwart an advancing army.  

It is both beautiful and terrifying on so many levels.  But most of all, perhaps it reminds us that freedom, while it may not be easy, is always worth fighting for.

The 411 on the Ride: 

Date: July 8, 2020

Distance:  ~14.75 miles

Elevation gain: 171 ft

Time:   1 – 1 ½ hrs

Circuit: Rides can be planned with loops and minor backtracking, or as out-and-back (there are many options)

Parking: We parked at a small pull-off along Surrender Road used by many cyclists and equestrians, but no specific address is available (see the green arrow on the maps below).  However, there are many places to park along the route including:

Surrender Field Revolutionary War, Yorktown, VA  23690

Yorktown Visitor Center, 1000 Colonial Parkway, Yorktown, VA  23690

Extensions:  By heading towards (or parking at) the Yorktown Visitor Center, the ride can be extended by getting onto the Colonial Parkway and heading west—first to Williamsburg and then to Jamestown (forming the Historic Triangle).  Jamestown is also a trailhead for the 52 mile Capital Trail to Richmond.

Website:  https://www.nps.gov/york/planyourvisit/bicyclinginformation.htm 

Detailed map at:  https://www.nps.gov/york/planyourvisit/maps.htm 

For this ride, Susan and I chose to park on Surrender Road and head south and west.  Early in the ride you will encounter a wooden bridge over a swamp where many bird enthusiasts will park to take photos.  At the westernmost point on the first loop there is a short out-and-back spur that leads to George Washington’s Headquarters.  (Beware of the water at the bottom of a hill—there is a small bridge to allow you to go around).  There you will find a narrow trail that leads to Newport News Park and a 5.2 mile loop.  After completing the loop, we headed east and north.  We extended the trip by riding out to the Yorktown Victory Center and then back to the car.

During the summer, we recommend early morning rides as it gets very hot and humid.  We also suggest some sort of bug spray.  There are many places to pull over and read detailed signs describing the encampments of different generals’ troops.  On our Wednesday morning ride today, we had the Newport News trail largely to ourselves, and traffic was light even on the battlefield sections.  However, on the weekends these trails can become very crowded, often with cyclists and pedestrians who are unaware of traffic etiquette.

Here is additional info about each section/loop:

The Battlefield:  For most of the ride there is no dedicated bike lane, but the road is paved and many road cyclists enjoy this path.  The speed limits are low and the motor vehicles tend to go slowly to enjoy both the scenery and the history.  Sections of the road are one way, making them very safe for cyclists.  A number of the side roads off of the main route are gated until 8 AM (including parking at Surrender Field), so plan accordingly.  If you are looking for a ½ mile of off-road fun, look for the cut through trail that connects two points of this loop.

Newport News Park:  This 5.2 mile loop is packed dirt and gravel and not great for road bikes.  Susan and I have hybrids which are perfect for the transition from paved road to trail.  Traveling around the loop counterclockwise, after about 2 miles you will reach Newport News Park (a campground which also has parking).  You will need to travel about a ½ mile on a paved road before seeing a “bikeway” sign on your left and continuing on the trail before returning to GW’s HQ.