The many trails in Laurel Hill are often overlooked when considering the environmental aspects of its preservation. From the early days, the site’s natural beauty and the grand vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains enhanced the site’s historical importance. The organization cut trails from existing logging roads down to the Ararat River and the ford over the Mitchell-Dellenback-Hill lands, opening the property for hiking.
Two Boy Scouts, Matthew and Michael Miller of King, North Carolina, cut a new trail along the eastern side of the property down to the Ararat River and west alongside the stream until connecting with the existing trails and the river road, earning them an Eagle Scout badge. Today’s visitor can see the mountain laurel from which the property gets its name, along with running cedar and varying degrees of wildlife, including deer and wild turkeys. Laurel Hill is open from dawn to dusk to hike except during the Civil War Encampment, the first weekend in October.
Laurel Hill is on the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail.
“Most of the sites on this loop are in and around Carroll County in the Blue Ridge Highlands. Loop sites span from the New River along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Major J.E.B. Stuart’s Birthplace and end at two wildlife management areas near the City of Galax. The drive between each site is scenic and can provide extensive wildlife watching opportunities from the road (be careful, drivers!). White-tailed deer are abundant throughout this area, as are woodchuck and eastern chipmunk. Some of these sites, such as Major J.E.B. Stuart’s Birthplace and the Shot Tower Historical State Park, also offer a rich historical experience. Other sites, such as Devil’s Den Nature Preserve, relay their ancient histories through their fascinating geological characteristics.”
“Elevation: 1218 ft.
“I might have rambled the dear old hills of Patrick amid all the pleasures of a mountain home for a lifetime.” – J.E.B. Stuart, 1853
The rolling fields, scattered woodlots, and bubbling stream of this 75-acre property are where the Confederate Major General James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart was born and spent his boyhood. Since 1990, the property has been controlled by the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Trust, Inc., which was formed to preserve and interpret the General’s childhood home. The Trust has created a self-guided walking trail. This trail highlights the historical sites on the property, including the former house site, several cemeteries, and historical markers, and leading the visitor to a small waterfall and the Ararat River. This diversity of habitats provides for a variety of birds. The open fields at the center of the property are home to eastern meadowlark, eastern kingbird, indigo bunting, and chipping sparrow, while the woods hold blue jay, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, and Carolina wren.
Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/mountain-trail/MBR/
https://dwr.virginia.gov/…/major-general-j-e-b-stuart…/
While Laurel Hill has many hiking opportunities, the site is on several national and statewide trail systems.
Laurel Hill is part of the Virginia Civil War Trails
Stuart’s Birthplace is one of 1500 sites on the Civil War Trails system.
https://www.civilwartrails.org/
Laurel Hill is on the Civil War Discovery Trail
“The Civil War Trust’s Civil War Discovery Trail is a heritage tourism program that links more than 600 U.S. Civil War sites in more than 30 states. The program is one of the White House Millennium Council’s sixteen flagship National Millennium Trails. Sites on the trail include battlefields, museums, historic sites, forts, and cemeteries.” American Battlefield Trust Heritage Site
The Civil War Trust and the Association For the Preservation Of Civil War Sites merged to form the American Battlefield Trust. These organizations supported the efforts to preserve Laurel Hill, which is still part of the heritage sites.
The Civil War Trust’s Civil War Discovery Trail is a heritage tourism program that links more than 600 U.S. Civil War sites in more than 30 states. The program is one of the White House Millennium Council’s sixteen flagship National Millennium Trails. Sites on the trail include battlefields, museums, historic sites, forts, and cemeteries.
In May 2018, the Civil War Trust and the Revolutionary War Trust changed their operational structure to function as land preservation divisions of the American Battlefield Trust. The places of the formerly named trail are highlighted on the American Battlefield Trust’s website as heritage sites. The following is a list of these sites as of March 2014.
https://www.battlefields.org/…/laurel-hill-birthplace…
Virginia Historical Highway Markers
In December 1932, a Virginia Historical Highway Marker was placed at Laurel Hill. Believed to have been written by Douglas Southall Freeman, Pulitzer Prize winning biographer of Robert E. Lee wrote the original marker that was replaced in 2000.
KG-2 Stuart’s Birthplace https://vcris.dhr.virginia.gov/HistoricMarkers/
Laurel Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register
https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/070-0060/
These trails and trail systems bring visitors to Laurel Hill every year. It is a place where you can learn about many histories, from Native American history through Jeb Stuart and the War Between The States to the new exhibit about the Mount Airy Eastern Railroad, “The Dinky.” It is an outdoor classroom where you can learn about the history of our country from before we were a nation up through the efforts to preserve this piece of Patrick County history any day from dawn to dusk.
Directions to 1091 Ararat Highway: From Stuart, Virginia, take Route 8 (Salem Hwy) south to 103 West (Dry Pond/Claudville Hwy). Turn right and proceed to 773 (Ararat Hwy), then turn right. Continue 10 miles. Laurel Hill will be on the right. Watch for signs on the right. Take Riverside Drive, Highway 104 north from Mount Airy to the Virginia/North Carolina state line. The Birthplace is about a mile into Virginia on the left.
