By NPT Staff on April 24th, 2018
National Parks Traveler
Antietam National Battlefield staff are studying ways to make the park's trails system more informative in terms of understanding the Civil War battle that took place there.
Staff areproposing to reposition certain tour stops and developing a comprehensive trail system. "By improving the trail system and relocating some of the tour stops, the National Park Service will provide visitors with a more comprehensive understanding of this significant battle and its lasting legacy, while better protecting and preserving park resources," a park release said.
You can learn about the proposal, and comment on it through May 23, at this site.
The new system is intended to better integrate the land that the park has acquired since 1992, which has nearly doubled the park’s acreage. The plan includes reconfiguring some existing trails to improve visitor access, creating walking loops around key historic areas such as the Sunken Road and Miller Cornfield, and developing a perimeter trail around the entire battlefield.
The plan will also amend the battlefield’s 1992 general management plan to preserve its historic visitor center and commemorative-era tour roads. While drafting the plan, the NPS incorporated significant feedback from both visitors and stakeholders.