A wonderful bike ride. About 5 miles on dirt, which can get a bit muddy, but still navigable after a rain. Miles 1 through 3 Are fairly flat and go through woods and swamp. Miles 3-5 are a little more open, with a small lake, a few small hills and patches of sand. There is an alternative to the boat landing by using the road that comes in on 64st street. Be careful on the road, drivers are generally aware of bikers, but there are times it gets close on tight turns. A couple of rest areas and drinking fountains. Highly recommend.

A wonderful bike ride. About 5 miles on dirt, which can get a bit muddy, but still navigable after a rain. Miles 1 through 3 Are fairly flat and go through woods and swamp. Miles 3-5 are a little more open, with a small lake, a few small hills and patches of sand. There is an alternative to the boat landing by using the road that comes in on 64st street. Be careful on the road, drivers are generally aware of bikers, but there are times it gets close on tight turns. A couple of rest areas and drinking fountains. Highly recommend.

This was my son's second trail ride ever, and this was perfect training ground for him: wide double-track, very few other riders (in mid-March), and plenty of rolling ups and downs for him to explore his gears. The "narrows" section (toward the endpoint of the ride) was a little steep and sandy for a young rider, but a welcome challenge compared to the gentle rolling, mostly flat, terrain that dominated the other segments of the trail. Starting at the cabins (or before) offers an opportunity to ride on pavement before the Cape Henry Trail, and the Park has reconstructed some traditional Native American dwellings for the kids to explore--a sort of trail museum. My kids loved it!

"As a road bike enthusiast, I am excited that the paved section of the Cape Henry Trail now extends further west towards Lynnhaven Inlet.

This is an almost perfectly flat, straight bike path, with a reasonable number of road crossings (basically, only one major crossing as Great Neck Road).

On the east end, it extends into the Visitor's Center in First Landing State Park."

"We discovered the Cape Henry Trail on our beach vacation last year. We loved it so much, we had to come back in 2004. The Cape Henry Trail was part of our daily vacation routine.

We stayed at a hotel on Atlantic Ave. From there, we rode the boardwalk bike path to 40th Street, then around the Cavalier hotel to Oceanfront Ave. We prefer Oceanfront Ave to the Pacific Ave bike route. There is much less traffic and the sights are much more enjoyable.

We then rode all the way to 62th Street, then crossed over to the Pacific Ave bike route. We accessed the Cape Henry Trail from the 64th Street entrance.

The round trip is about 20 miles. The trail is absolutely wonderful and in good shape. This is the best of urban and off-road riding around."

"The Cape Henry Trail, in First Landing State Park is a gem for biking and foot travel. The westernmost mile + is paved. From the Trail Center (which has outdoor maps available), the trail is mostly hardpacked earth to the end at the Narrows. This section is wide and has 1/2 mile markers from the Trail Center on.

The trail passes through deep forests, cypress swamps, then meadows, salt marshes, and bayside beaches. There are a large number of foot only trails that run through other sections of the park. Along the Cape Henry Trail, trail maps are situated along the route, and there are well spaced restroom facilities.

This trail is part of the Virginia Beach bike path system, which can be followed for long distances in either direction beyond the park. Usage fees are higher than posted here, but reasonable.

This trail is well worth the visit.

Rates an 8 out of 10!

-Fred"

"The name of the park has changed, but the old reliable trail is still there: 3/4 of a mile of paved approach trail and 8 miles of natural surface is a wonder to ride on. The back approach on the 64th Street Narrows section can be a little dicey as there is a fair amount of loose sand on some corners that requires some quick downshifting. Plenty of stops for restrooms and water along the way. A perfect chance to pack a snack and enjoy the scenery."