Battery 5 Trail and Dictator Loop is a 0.6 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hopewell, Virginia that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
April 9, 2021Paved/gravel trail from Visitor Center Dictator on this trail - highlight!! Trail not correct on AllTrails - can’t walk on dirt mounds - trail blocked Take trail to right before Battery to go to Dictator Take trail past Dictator to loop back to Visitor Center (this section gravel)
March 5, 2021short lost trail for a very short time. Informative.
February 2, 2021November 2, 2020October 14, 2020October 6, 2020September 7, 2020September 6, 2020I liked the amount of cannons thay have on display
July 24, 2020Various spectacular trails with great shade on the wooded trails. Fantastic historic views, great for photos.
June 6, 2019I started trail running at this park and it’s awesome! Beautiful trails that you can pick the distance you want to run. The trails vary from 3 miles to 7 and are easy to maneuver through.
April 11, 2019Quick and easy. Kinda cool history to go with it. Not a hike by any means.
November 26, 2018Nice short walk with a few signs. The cabin from the picture above is not on this trail. Be warned that on weekends there may be cannon blasts. Very surprising to hear that on the trail when you're not expecting it.
October 15, 2018There were other trails I could walk down but I stuck to this particular prescribed route. This was a terrific route, very short but the history behind it could keep you here for over an hour. Can you imagine fighting in a place like this in a war that did not have the strategies like we have today. The story of this conflict, the siege at Petersburg, is an inspiring story of patriots sacrificing everything for their country, for the union as well as the confederacy. This trail is a must for anyone in the area.
August 19, 2018This park has very long trails. I have run over 10 miles through these trails and didn't come close to seeing everything. It is much longer than the .7 miles that is listed. Very friendly running, hiking, walking, biking and horseback riding.
August 18, 2018Pretty scenery. Very short. Loads of bugs. Definitely not bike friendly. Disappointed. It's more of a tourist stop than a hiking or biking trail.
November 21, 2017I spent about 7 hours hiking the trails here and still didn't see all of it. There is great scenery and history, but the map is inaccurate otherwise this would be a 5.
October 23, 2017Love this place!!
September 14, 2017Great hiking trails. Flat. Good for bikes as well.
September 10, 2017I truly have enjoyed running through the park. Have run the Road Tour. Good shoulder for bikers, walkers and runners. 7+ miles for round trip. (Many trails that could be explored as well) Good challenge. Some decent hills along the way, both ways. Beautiful, peaceful scenic road lined with trees. Seen multiple deer while running. If in the Colonial Heights area and want a very nice place to get some miles in, make sure to visit this park.
August 21, 2017great walk
May 17, 2017Great trails for running or hiking with the family.
October 21, 2016Beautifully maintained wide trails. Friendly and helpful staff. Superb educational value. Very convenient for soldiers.
May 15, 2016May 3, 2015The Petersburg Battlefield- Eastern Front is a nice easy drive with lots of opportunities to get out of the car and traverse the historical battlefields. Lots of areas to park and take in some of the provided historical markers and information, including the Battle of the Crater. Definitely more "user friendly" than the Western Front.
December 31, 2013We drove the front roads of which there are about 25 miles.
November 14, 2013From 1988 to 1991 I ran the trails of the park on a daily bases. At the time, I was assigned to the 85th Evacuation Hospital, and attached to Kenner Army Hospital. The park was just across a parking lot from Kenner and I would run every day after work. We soldiers had no idea we were trail runners at the time, it was just getting our miles in for the week. Since that time I have met many trail runners on trails in Georgia and Florida. I admire them for their skill. A great park for hiking and trail running. History is all around you.
July 3, 2013This is our go to trail. Not sure too many people know of the 12 miles of mostly single track (some jeep type access roads) that run through the park. See runners and horse back riders, but seldom run across mountain bikers back in the woods. I would rate it easy to moderate, some steep climbs and good turns, not many roots.
September 23, 2012Great run including some steep hills. It offers a fantastic workout with a great background. I had to stop to check out the earthen structures used during the civil war, very cool .
March 8, 2011
First to ReviewPetersburg is more of a driving tour than a hiking tour, but there are easy, scenic and educational walks at several points along the three auto tour routes. You can walk the roads - the Eastern Front route being only about four miles long (point-to-point), and the Western Front route being about 16 miles (point-to-point). Personally, I find the Eastern Front tour and walks to be more interesting.
March 22, 2021
