On September 17, 1862, at what is now the Antietam National
Battlefield near Sharpsburg MD, Union and Confederate armies fought each
other resulting in over 23,000 casualties. There were three primary
engagements that day that would become know as The Cornfield, Bloody
Lane, and The Burnside or Lower Bridge.
This hike is a figure 8 loop that crosses the Burnside Bridge and follows the hauntingly beautiful Antietam Creek where so many soldiers lost their lives or were injured during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.
- Mile 0.0 – Park at the small pullout on Rodman Ave and intersection of US34/Boonsboro Pike. The first mile of the circuit follows paved roads in the park, however traffic is generally light and is required to maintain low speeds. Start south along Rodman Ave, which during 1862 was know as Sherrick's Lane. Cross over the high point of the road, then descend past the Sherrick Farm on the left before Rodman Ave ends at the intersection of Branch Ave.
- Mile 0.6 - Turn left on Branch Ave shortly passing the Otto Farm and continue for 0.4 miles at which point stay left on the pedestrian path towards the Burnside Bridge.
- Mile 1.1 - Don't cross the Burnside Bridge, but stay right uphill on the path to the parking area. Before the path reaches the parking area turn left onto the Snavely Ford Trail following it down to Antietam Creek and first of several benches.
- Mile 1.3 - Continue following the Sanely Ford Trail downstream for 0.6 miles where the trail turns sharply right uphill at the junction of a small side trail on the left. Stay on the wider Snavely Ford Trail uphill to the right, soon pass the Final Attack Trail on the left, and reach the high point where the trail leaves the forest. Descend the remaining 0.2 miles back to the Burnside Bridge parking area and head down to the bridge.
- Mile 3.2 - Cross the Burnside Bridge and take the Union Advance Trail to the left where it joins the Sherrick Farm Trail and goes up to the Burnside Bridge Rd. in 0.2 miles.
- Mile 3.4 - Cross the bridge where the Sherrick Farm Trail passes a gate and re-enters the forest on the opposite site of the road. Follow the Sherrick Farm Trail for 0.5 miles to the intersection of the Three Farms Trail.
- Mile 3.9 - Turn left uphill on the Sherrick Farm trail passing two fields for the remaining 0.5 miles
- Mile 4.4 - Arrive back at the parking area at the corner of Rodman Ave and US34.
