Located just north of the village of Upperville, this overlook marks the site of a Civil War battle between Union and Confederate cavalry under the commands of, respectively, Alfred Pleasonton and J.E.B. Stuart. The site is marked with an interpretive sign, and the parking area gives a panoramic view of largely open field habitat on both sides of Trappe Road. Walking about 30 yards to the north will bring you to the edge of a woodlot with a small rivulet running through. From the battlefield overlook, scan the skies and treeline on both sides for raptors, including Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and American Kestrel, as well as Common Ravens. The fields are likely to host Eastern Meadowlarks, and in winter you may hear the musical calls of Horned Larks or American Pipits. The brush along the road is a good place to pish for sparrows, and in winter you may draw in a nice species assemblage, including White-crowneds. Walking down to the woodlot may boost your species total, but be mindful of traffic. Here you can expect woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and other woodland species. On the right spring day, this might be a fin spot to encounter a flock of migrating passerines.
Accessibility: The battlefield overlook is marked by a concrete parking pad that can accommodate two or three vehicles. Pull-off here, and you will have ample room to get out and scan the skies and treelines on both sides of Trappe Road. You can walk across the road to the gate on the other side for a better view, but the fields on both sides are private. There are no trails or other access apart from the parking area.
Owner/Manager: American Battlefield Trust
eBird Hotspot: Upperville Battlefield Overlook
—Matt Anthony, February 2021