Written by Brandy Centolanza
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Visit these 8 Hampton Roads parks to calm your soul or ignite your outdoor spirit.
First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach has nine trails that cover more than 19 miles. The most popular trail is Cape Henry Trail, a six-mile trail for both pedestrians and cyclists. The trail is mostly sand, but also has blacktop and boardwalk sections along forests, swamps and marshes. Runners frequently use Cape Henry Trail for training. Tidewater Striders board member Mel Williams has been running the trail for more than 30 years. “It’s my favorite place,” Williams says. “It’s peaceful and quiet, and the trails are very well groomed. The hills help with training. It’s just a beautiful place.” Families, meanwhile, will enjoy strolling along the 1.5-mile loop Bald Cypress Trail,
which also features boardwalks and observation platforms for watching wildlife in the swamps.
First Landing State Park is open 8 a.m. until dusk, $4 admission fee, $5 on weekends; 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach
Freedom Park
This historic park in James City County is located on the site of one of the nation’s first free black settlements. The park has two miles of hiking trails, and more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails passing through forestry and along creeks and open meadows. Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association (EVBA) designed the bike trails and helps maintain them. EVBA member Penelope Rich of Williamsburg visits Freedom Park weekly after work during summer to ride. “Each trail has its own unique style, so it is a good destination for a mountain biker,” she says. “I like it because the trails are great, as well as the variety of the trails. The trails are well-labeled with mileage markers. It also has nice facilities, including a bike washing station, which riders find appealing.” In addition to the trails, Freedom Park has an interpretive center with historic artifacts. It is also home to Williamsburg Botanical Garden.
Freedom Park is free and open daily from 7 a.m. until sunset; 5537 Centerville Road, Williamsburg
Great Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
This historic trail in Chesapeake, which used to be a part of Virginia State Route 17, stretches 8.5 miles along the Dismal Swamp Canal. The trail is open for biking, hiking, jogging and horseback riding. Richard Hildreth of Virginia Beach, chair of Virginia Beach’s Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee, frequents the trail with his wife in the summer. “We like to stick our bikes in the back of the car and just head over there and go,” he says. “It’s closed to traffic, so there are no cars and there is no one to interfere with you. It’s a wonderful place to exercise.” The trail, home to unique wildlife, is a popular destination for fitness buffs, nature enthusiasts and historians from all across the country. Future plans call for the trail to stretch clear to the North Carolina border.
Great Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is free and open sunrise until sunset; 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Chesapeake
Greensprings Interpretive Trail
This multi-use nature trail located in James City County near Jamestown High School loops 3.5 miles through beaver ponds, wetlands and woods. Certain sections of the trail include a boardwalk, as well as interpretative signs about the environment, wildlife and history of the Colonists and American Indians. The trail sits on a historic site known as Church on the Main and Mainland Farm, the oldest continuously cultivated farm of the Colonists. More than 200 bird species have also been found along the trail, which is part of the Virginia Birding Trail. Greensprings Interpretive Trail also connects to Powhatan Creek Trail, a paved trail that stretches more than two miles along Powhatan Creek, as well as the Capital Trail, a bike trail that starts at Jamestown Settlement with the ultimate goal of reaching Richmond next year. Cheryl Leu of Williamsburg lives near the trail and uses it multiple times a week.
“Being connected to this bike trail means we can commute to work by bicycle,” Leu says. “This is a grand opportunity to improve our health, keep pollution out of the environment and spend less of our limited financial resources on transportation.”
Greensprings Trail is free and open daily 8 a.m. until sunset; 3751 John Tyler Highway, Williamsburg
Newport News Park
Newport News Park, the second largest city park in the country, offers more than 30 miles of trails for hikers as well as a 5.3-mile multi-use bikeway frequented by cyclists. The park also features several play areas for kids, and families will enjoy strolling from playground to playground observing a variety of wildlife as they go. “It’s nice simply because of the very nature of the park,” says Becky Holliday, senior park ranger. “There are lots of open fields, streams, forests and the reservoir. We have a lot of wildlife habitats here, and bird watchers and photographers love this park. It’s nice any time of the year.” On the second Wednesday of each month, park rangers offer a storytime and a walk, and there are a variety of programs on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer, including hayrides. Bike rentals are also available.
Newport News Park is free and open daily sunrise to sunset, 13564 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News
Noland Trail
More than 100,000 people visit this five-mile European-style walking trail annually. It is located within The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, the largest privately maintained park that is open to the public in North America. Noland Trail features overlooks, picnic areas, benches, and 14 bridges, with portions of the trail passing along the banks of Lake Maury. “It’s very scenic,” says John Warren, the park’s public relations manager. “The trail is hugely popular for folks around here, especially this time of year.” Cathy Hollars, Noland Trail’s technician, adds: “The Noland Trail is a wonderful escape from everyday hustle and bustle, one of the finest natural gifts to our local residents. The trail is an easy blend of recreation and relaxation.”
Noland Trail is free and open daily 6 a.m. until 8 p.m; 100 Museum Drive, Newport News
Sandy Bottom
Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton has 12 miles of walking trails with scenic views and an observation tower, as well as a horse trail. Families will also enjoy the playground and the nature center overlooking Sandy Bottom Lake. “I like it because there are a variety of trails that go around the nature center and the marsh,” says Diane Berard, president of the Peninsula Pathfinders walking club. “We also see a little bit of wildlife while we are there.” Sandy Bottom will host several programs throughout the summer, including nature hikes with a ranger, hayrides, scavenger hunts and insect hunts. A 5K race is also slated for September 14.
‰ Sandy Bottom Nature Park is free and open sunrise until sunset, Nature Center is open 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.; 1255 Big Bethel Road, Hampton
York River State Park
York River State Park in Croaker has nearly 30 miles of trails designated for equestrian, hiking, cycling and mountain biking. “Some of our trails have views of York River and some of them have views of Taskinas Creek, which is a tributary of the the York River,” says John Gresham, an education support specialist for the park. “We also have a trail that goes along a section of the shoreline that we like to call fossil beach, and we offer guided fossil hikes there. It’s fairly popular. Our horse trails are also popular.”
Throughout the summer, York River State Park offers a variety of events to get visitors on the trails, including night hikes, photography walks, “Fossil Frenzy” hikes and guided bike rides. A 5K race will be held at the park on August 24 to kick off its annual “Estuaries Day” celebration.
York River State Park is open 8 a.m. until dusk, $2 parking fee, $3 on weekends; 5526 Riverview Road, Williamsburg