Discover Saratoga National Historical Park
Editor's Note (4/1/2021): Due to projects interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Visitor Center remains closed until further notice. In addition, the Schuyler House, Saratoga Monument, and Neilson House are currently closed.
Saratoga National Historical Park in Stillwater, NY features a number of attractions and fun activities for visitors to do throughout the year. Explore the site of the historic Battle of Saratoga, take a tour of the Schuyler House, check out the Saratoga Monument, and walk through Victory Woods.
Photo Credit: SaratogaPhotographer.com
Park Operating Hours for 2021
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Driving Tour Road
The Driving Tour Road reopened to vehicle traffic on April 1, 2021. Hours for the road are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and it is open to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Pedestrians may walk or bike the Driving Tour Road using the marked Multi-Use Lane.
Please call the Information Desk for details: 518.670.2985.
Battlefield Grounds
Photo Credit: SaratogaPhotographer.com
All of the hiking trails are for pedestrian use only. Saratoga Battlefield features several miles of hiking trails, including its only marked trail, the 4 1/2-mile Wilkinson Trail. Other trails are established but not marked.
Note: The Driving Tour Road and Wilkinson Trail are not plowed or shoveled during the winter months.
Schuyler House
The Schuyler House is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saratoga Monument
The Saratoga Monument is currently closed for repairs. However, you can still admire the architecture from a distance.
Victory Woods
Open daily to pedestrian use, sunrise to sunset.
Note: The walking path is not shoveled during the winter months.
Visit the Site of the Battle of Saratoga
Saratoga National Historical Park, part of the US National Park Service, commemorates the site where our emerging nation fought for its first victory in the Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolution. Park visitors can follow in the footsteps of Revolutionary War soldiers and get a great view of the mountains by hiking on the Wilkinson Trail.
The Park is made up of multiple units, all just a short drive from each other:
- The 4-square-mile Saratoga Battlefield in Stillwater
- The General Philip Schuyler House, approximately 7 miles north of the Battlefield
- The Saratoga Monument, a 155-foot obelisk that commemorates the American victory, located approximately 7 1/2 miles north of the Battlefield
- Victory Woods, a 22-acre parcel of land that served as British General John Burgoyne's final encampment before his surrender
The Schuyler House (CLOSED)
The restored Schuyler House offers a glimpse into Colonial life and was the country home of American General Philip Schuyler. Schuyler had the home rebuilt after the British burned it to the ground during their retreat.
The Saratoga Monument (CLOSED)
The Saratoga Monument is open Fridays through Sundays during the summer season, and it was built to commemorate where the British General Burgoyne surrendered. There is a brief talk by a Ranger stationed at the Monument.
The presentation and the climb to and from the top of the 155-foot granite monument totals about 30 minutes. The view from the top offers a unique perspective of the farmlands and countryside where the Continental Army battled and the history of the world took a sharp turn towards liberty for all people.
Victory Woods
North of the Saratoga Monument is a 22-acre parcel of land called Victory Woods. A trail through the woods opened to the public in June 2010, and it was the location of British General John Burgoyne's final encampment before his surrender to the American army on October 17, 1777.
You can find informational signs about John Burgoyne's surrounded army along the 1/2-mile boardwalk and trail. The pathway is a scenic route through dense woodlands, and it is handicap accessible from Monument Drive. Be sure to check out the shallow trenches along the way - the last remnants of the fortifications.
To get to the Victory Woods Trail, there are a few options:
- Park at the Saratoga Monument and follow the pathway through Prospect Hill Cemetery to the trailhead for a 1.6 mile round trip walk.
- Just east of the Saratoga Monument, drive down Monument Drive and park at the end. The trailhead will be a short walk away.
Victory Woods is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
The Battlefield
Photo Credit: SaratogaPhotographer.com
The Visitor Center
Don't overlook the Visitor Center! This is where you can start your tour of the battlefield. It's open year round, and you will find a wealth of information about the history of the land. You can view a short 20-minute film, look at artifacts and browse through several displays, including interactive maps. Want to learn if you have roots at the park? Visitors can search in a database for ancestors who may have fought at Saratoga.
The Visitor Center also boasts a scenic overlook of the battlefield. There are several picnic tables and a covered patio behind the building to sit back and enjoy the natural landscape.
Best of all - there is no longer an entrance fee to the park! You can visit Saratoga National Historical Park any time of the year for free.
The Tour Road
Pick up a park map and brochure at the entrance to use on a self-guided driving tour of the battlefield from April through November - there are 10 wayside interpretive stops along the 9-mile road. You'll have several opportunities along the way to interact with the friendly park Rangers, touch real cannons used in the Revolutionary War, and truly immerse yourself in the historical experience.
The land isn't just historical - it's gorgeous. Trace through the soldiers' footsteps and prepare to be in awe of your surroundings. It begins at the scenic Freeman Farm Overlook, which provides a stunning view of the tree line, hills, and ravines that has not changed much since 1777.
Another highlight of the tour is the charming red farmhouse known as the Neilson House. When the Neilsons heard of the war, they fled, leaving their home behind. Inside, you will find a plethora of war artifacts including travel boxes, candles, and other belongings from the soliders who used the home as their headquarters after the Neilsons left.
The view from Bemis Heights is also a stand-out and provides the same line of sight that the American soldiers had while looking down on the Hudson Valley in search of British soldiers.
There are several great spots to take a break, have a picnic, or just soak up the views. Without any stops, the drive should take about 30 minutes. If you check out each interpretive stop, the drive takes approximately 1.5-2 hours.
Learn more about the Battle of Saratoga »
Read an excerpt from Edward J. Creasy's 15 Decisive Battles of the World »