Discover Saratoga National Historical Park
Editor's Note (6/25/2020): Due to rehabilitation projects interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Visitor Center remains closed until projects have been completed. The following facilities will also remain closed at this time: Schuyler House, Saratoga Monument, and Neilson House.
Saratoga National Historical Park has a number of attractions and activities that happen throughout the year. Visit the site of the historic Battle of Saratoga, take tours at the Schuyler House, check out the Saratoga Monument, walk through Victory Woods, and explore the battlefield.
Photo Credit: SaratogaPhotographer.com
Operating Hours for 2020
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Driving Tour Road
The Driving Tour Road is closed to vehicles at this time, but it is open to pedestrians and cyclists. Beginning July 1, 2020, vehicle access to the Battlefield Tour Road will resume as we move into Phase 4 of NY Forward. Hours for the road will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
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. Pedestrians may also walk or bike the Driving Tour Road using the marked Multi-Use Lane.
Note: Driving Tour Road and Wilkinson Trail are not plowed or shoveled during 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: Walking path is not shoveled during the winter.
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 Historical Park is made up of three separate units, all just a short drive from Saratoga Springs:
- The four-square mile Battlefield in Stillwater
- The General Philip Schuyler House, approximately seven miles north of the Battlefield, in Schuylerville
- The Saratoga Monument, a 155-foot obelisk that commemorates the American victory, located approximately 7 1/2 miles north of the Battlefield in Victory
Both the Schuyler House and the Saratoga Monument are a 15 - 20 minute drive from the Battlefield.
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 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.
Along the 1/2 mile boardwalk and trail you can find informational signs about John Burgoyne's surrounded army. The pathway is a scenic route through dense woodlands, and it's 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
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, before exploring through the battlefield itself.
Want to learn if you have roots at the park? Visitors can search in a database for ancestors who may have fought at Saratoga and can then be directed to the location where their ancestors fought in battle.
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.
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 exhibit stops throughout the nine miles. 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's 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.
If the weather permits, try walking, biking or even snow-shoeing along the way. There are several great spots to take a break, have a picnic, or just take in the views.