Saratoga National Historic Park preserves 3200 acres of battlefield where
American Revolutionaries, behind General Horation Gates, prevent-ed British control of the Hudson River in the Fall of 1777. In two battles three weeks apart the British suffered 1,000 casualties and General John Burgoyne, awaiting reinforcements that never arrived, was forced to surrender 6,000 men.

By thwarting the British initiative to split the Colonies in half, the Americans
went a long way towards gaining their independence. Saratoga is one of the most
famous and influential battlefields in the world and the National Park Service
maintains the ground much as it looked in 1777.

The dog-friendly Wilkinson-National Recreation Trail is a 4.2-mile loop across
the property, much of which was farmland during the Revolution. The trail is named
for the lieutenant who drew maps of the Saratoga Battlefield in 1777. Save for a
single dip into the Great Ravine, this is easy canine hiking across rolling grasslands
with islands of airy deciduous woods.

You hike with your dog on the roads British troops took to and from the two
battles. Interpretive stops include British and German redoubts (outlined in red and
white posts). The .6-mile Freeman Loop visits the sit of some of the fiercest
fighting on John Freemans farm and the British Balcarres Redoubt.

Behind the Breymann Redoubt, Station C, on the Wilkinson Trail, is the unique
Boot Monument. The boot in question belonged to American battle hero Benedict
Arnold (before he switched sides to the British). Arnold rode through a cross-fire in
front of the defensive position to secure victory and recieved a second wound in his
leg. The marble boot monument does not mention the eventual traitors name.

If you drive the auto tour road there are additional short explorations,
including a one-mile loop traill that passes the gravesite of Brigadier General
Simon Fraser, the spirited core of the British troops. There is no water along the
park trails and on hot days a canine canteen will be in order.

To reach the battlefield, leave the Northway (I-87) at Exit 14 (from the north)
or Exit 12 (from the south) and follow signs for Route 29 East to Schuylerville. Turn
south on Route 4 and you will find the main entrance to the Battlefield in eight
miles.

copyright 2006

I am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog and the
widely praised The Canine Hiker’s Bible. As publisher of Cruden Bay Books, we
produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of canine hiking books found at
http://www.hikewithyourdog.com Articles in the Doggin’ America series of dog-
friendly parks can be found at http://www.DogginAmerica.com During the warm
months I lead canine hikes for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs
and humans on hiking adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day
explorations, visit parks, historical sites and beaches. My lead dog is Katie, a
German Shepherd- Border Collie mix, who has hiked in all of the Lower 48 states
and is on a quest to swim in all the great waters of North America - http://web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/Katies%20Blog/Katies%20Quest.html