Find the top rated trails in Hampton, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The sprawling Virginia Capital Trail snakes along the James River and State Route 5, a Virginia Scenic Byway, for 52 paved miles from the state’s capital of Richmond to the historic capitals of...
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The Elizabeth River Trail–Atlantic City Spur runs for 9.5 miles between Harbor Park Stadium and the Norfolk International Terminals. The trail occupies a railroad right-of-way yet incorporates a...
The Newport News Park Bikeway offers a pleasant 5-mile loop through southern Virginia woodlands. The unpaved trail takes you through the 8,000-acre park and offers a connection to Colonial National...
In western Williamsburg, the Powhatan Creek Trail stretches 2 miles from the historical Jamestown Settlement attraction to Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School. It begins near the one mile marker on the...
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As it was built on a former state highway, the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail provides a wide, paved and flat pathway along its namesake waterway and the Great Dismal Swamp Refuge. Not only does this...
The Harris Road Trail parallels Harris Road on the east side, through the neighborhoods south of Lynnhaven Bay in Virginia Beach. The short trail runs between Little Neck Road and Kline Drive. At the...
The Diamond Springs Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk region for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Wesleyan Drive and...
The Wesleyan Drive/Haygood Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk region for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake roads between...
The Cape Henry Trail crosses the heavily wooded First Landing State Park, located on Cape Henry north of Virginia Beach. The trail provides access to the Narrows Recreation area, located in the park,...
The Dam Neck Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Salem Road and Terrier Avenue,...
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Sandy Bottom Nature Park is a 456-acre recreational oasis in Hampton, bordered on the northeast side by Interstate 64 and surrounded by busy residential, shopping and entertainment areas. Before it...
The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is a developing project that will one day span 11.5 miles, connecting the communities of Suffolk and Chesapeake in southeastern Virginia. The trail is also part of...
The Norfolk Avenue Trail runs along the north side of Norfolk Avenue between Pacific Avenue and South Birdneck Drive to the west. The paved trail links Virginia Beach neighborhoods, shopping, and...
Salem Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between South Independence Boulevard and Princess...
Nimmo Parkway Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Albuquerque Drive and just a little...
The Independence Boulevard Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to S. Independence Boulevard in two disconnected...
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is among one of the most popular trails in the Virginia Beach area. Throughout the summer the boardwalk hums with pedestrians taking in the shops and beach along this...
This is a dedicated asphalt multi-use trail that runs adjacent to Chesapeake Boulevard in the Fairmount Park neighborhoo of Norfolk, Virginia. Adjacent bicycle sharrow lanes commence at the north end...
The Little Nec Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between W. Little Neck Road and Virginia...
The Kempsville Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Providence Road (SR 40) and...
The Independence Boulevard Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to S. Independence Boulevard in two disconnected...
The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is a developing project that will one day span 11.5 miles, connecting the communities of Suffolk and Chesapeake in southeastern Virginia. The trail is also part of...
As it was built on a former state highway, the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail provides a wide, paved and flat pathway along its namesake waterway and the Great Dismal Swamp Refuge. Not only does this...
The Rosemont Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Holland Road and Whiteberry Lane....
This is a dedicated asphalt multi-use trail that runs adjacent to Chesapeake Boulevard in the Fairmount Park neighborhoo of Norfolk, Virginia. Adjacent bicycle sharrow lanes commence at the north end...
The Dam Neck Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Salem Road and Terrier Avenue,...
The Newport News Park Bikeway offers a pleasant 5-mile loop through southern Virginia woodlands. The unpaved trail takes you through the 8,000-acre park and offers a connection to Colonial National...
Nimmo Parkway Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Albuquerque Drive and just a little...
The sprawling Virginia Capital Trail snakes along the James River and State Route 5, a Virginia Scenic Byway, for 52 paved miles from the state’s capital of Richmond to the historic capitals of...
The Wesleyan Drive/Haygood Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk region for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake roads between...
The Harris Road Trail parallels Harris Road on the east side, through the neighborhoods south of Lynnhaven Bay in Virginia Beach. The short trail runs between Little Neck Road and Kline Drive. At the...
The Birdneck Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Norfolk Avenue and General Booth...
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The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a paved, heavily wooded pathway along the eastern border of Dismal Swamp State Park. The park offers more than 112,000 acres of forested wetlands and is teeming with...
The Elizabeth River Trail–Atlantic City Spur runs for 9.5 miles between Harbor Park Stadium and the Norfolk International Terminals. The trail occupies a railroad right-of-way yet incorporates a...
In western Williamsburg, the Powhatan Creek Trail stretches 2 miles from the historical Jamestown Settlement attraction to Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School. It begins near the one mile marker on the...
Sandy Bottom Nature Park is a 456-acre recreational oasis in Hampton, bordered on the northeast side by Interstate 64 and surrounded by busy residential, shopping and entertainment areas. Before it...
The Norfolk Avenue Trail runs along the north side of Norfolk Avenue between Pacific Avenue and South Birdneck Drive to the west. The paved trail links Virginia Beach neighborhoods, shopping, and...
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is among one of the most popular trails in the Virginia Beach area. Throughout the summer the boardwalk hums with pedestrians taking in the shops and beach along this...
The Diamond Springs Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk region for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Wesleyan Drive and...
The General Booth Boulevard Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Princess Anne Road and...
Salem Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between South Independence Boulevard and Princess...
The Wesleyan Drive/Haygood Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach–Norfolk region for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake roads between...
This is a dedicated asphalt multi-use trail that runs adjacent to Chesapeake Boulevard in the Fairmount Park neighborhoo of Norfolk, Virginia. Adjacent bicycle sharrow lanes commence at the north end...
The sprawling Virginia Capital Trail snakes along the James River and State Route 5, a Virginia Scenic Byway, for 52 paved miles from the state’s capital of Richmond to the historic capitals of...
The General Booth Boulevard Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Princess Anne Road and...
The Newport News Park Bikeway offers a pleasant 5-mile loop through southern Virginia woodlands. The unpaved trail takes you through the 8,000-acre park and offers a connection to Colonial National...
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is among one of the most popular trails in the Virginia Beach area. Throughout the summer the boardwalk hums with pedestrians taking in the shops and beach along this...
The Independence Boulevard Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to S. Independence Boulevard in two disconnected...
In western Williamsburg, the Powhatan Creek Trail stretches 2 miles from the historical Jamestown Settlement attraction to Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School. It begins near the one mile marker on the...
The Lynnhaven Parkway Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Lishell Place and Stewart...
The Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail runs parallel to the approach for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for 2.6 miles at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Although never more than a stone's...
The Little Nec Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between W. Little Neck Road and Virginia...
The Norfolk Avenue Trail runs along the north side of Norfolk Avenue between Pacific Avenue and South Birdneck Drive to the west. The paved trail links Virginia Beach neighborhoods, shopping, and...
The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is a developing project that will one day span 11.5 miles, connecting the communities of Suffolk and Chesapeake in southeastern Virginia. The trail is also part of...
The Upton Drive Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to a short section of its namesake road between Nimmo Parkway and...
The Kempsville Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Providence Road (SR 40) and...
The Birdneck Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Norfolk Avenue and General Booth...
The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a paved, heavily wooded pathway along the eastern border of Dismal Swamp State Park. The park offers more than 112,000 acres of forested wetlands and is teeming with...
The Dam Neck Road Trail is one in a series of suburban trails in the Virginia Beach area for non-motorized use. The trail runs parallel to its namesake road between Salem Road and Terrier Avenue,...
The Harris Road Trail parallels Harris Road on the east side, through the neighborhoods south of Lynnhaven Bay in Virginia Beach. The short trail runs between Little Neck Road and Kline Drive. At the...
November 2017 we paddled this trail west of Chickahominy campground. We thoroughly enjoyed pedaling this trail and the geocaching along the way. You can hear the traffic along most of this trail, but the condition of it is excellent. Enjoyed multiple trips to Cul's Courthouse Grille. This November we finished the trail east to Jamestown. Again a lot of the trail paralleled the highway, but the geocaching was fun.
This is a quick and easy ride with the beautiful sights and sounds of the beach on one side and hotels and shops on the other. Be vigilant though, there are several heavily used pedestrian crossing areas as well as novices on rented tourist bikes.
A delightful ride paralleling the Oceanfront boardwalk, with views of the ocean and surf the whole way - but save this for the “off” season between Labor Day and Memorial Day or you’ll spend the whole time ducking tourists! For a longer tour, you can continue from the northern end of the boardwalk path to the little-used Shore Drive access road and pedal your way to 64th St and access First Landing State Park trails or continue on the southern end down a short stretch of Shore Drive (can use sidewalk and/or bike lane) to catch the nice multi-use path down to the Virginia Aquarium and all of its paths.
Our favorite local paved trail. No cars at all - walkers and cyclists own the road (used to be the main north/south highway!) Deep woods and fields bordering the inland waterway. Always amazing to look over your shoulder to see a sailboat coming along beside you! Straight down and back, 16 miles or so round trip. City has added nice restroom facilities at entrance and midpoint. Much appreciated as there is nothing nearby.
This is the perfect trail for cyclists. Most of it is shaded except the last 2 miles. If you stop in the middle of the trail to rest, you’ll notice its ridiculously quiet. No noise pollution whatsoever. This trail is so beautiful, wide and peaceful I have never experienced anything like it before. I rode down and back twice and racked up 34 miles on my bike! Also saw some black bears crossing the road. Will definitely be going again.
As a resident in a neighborhood along the Elizabeth River Trail, I find it extremely convenient for commuting to downtown and for pleasure riding on the weekends. The complete 10 mile trail is great if you have some time and want to explore a lot of different types of neighborhoods but if you just want to get out for a quick ride or jog it's easy to do too. There are some areas that need improvement and signage will be overhauled in the next year so I'm very hopeful it will be a real draw in the future. Overall it's a really fun and unique trail that showcases a slice of life in Norfolk - easy access to the river, historic areas, urban places, universities and a working port.
I rode this short trail on a mild Saturday morning in January 2018. The setting is beautiful, and the condition of the trail is wonderful. On the day I visited, the short existing segment was heavily used by the lucky neighborhood residents living near the trail for walking, bike riding, and in-line skating. Friendly people, serene country setting - and great facilities for such a short trail.
As mentioned in the description, the trail is set to one day become part of a multi-city trail, that will eventually stretch from downtown Suffolk to the Virginia Beach oceanfront (40+miles with a few on-road segments, and a ferry crossing between Portsmouth and Norfolk). The City of Suffolk will greatly benefit its residents by expanding the trail to the west (downtown Suffolk), while all of south-side Hampton Roads will benefit when Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach complete their segments, signage and marketing of the trail.
The section from Driver to Shoulder Hill Road is nice, and all that shows on the App (as of 12 November 2017), but the trail does cross the road and continue along the homes facing Pughsville Road to Lincoln Rd.
Beautiful trail. Love that the Pughsville end is open. I would suggest a place for doggie scoop bags and a place to throw the used bags away at the Pughsville end. Similar to the setup at the Driver end.
Beside that love the trail.
My wife and I drove from north of Baltimore to do the trail the first week of Oct over 2 days starting at Richmond and finishing at Jamestown. Overall, it was a good experience.
Lest anyone be fooled, I would not consider this easy. The first day we rode to and stayed at North Bend plantation (more on that in the minute). That was a 33 mile first day. There were constant hills throughout those 32 miles (1 mile done off trail) While no one incline was onerous by itsef the cumulative toll of all of them after 30+ miles was obvious by the time we were done. (We are not rookies, we recently rode the 110 mile Florida Keys and the 62 mile PA Grand Canyon). I would rate this one more as moderate than easy. The trail itself is paved well, and with 2 exceptions well marked. The most disappointing aspect of it was the lack of diverse scenery. It really wasn't all that scenic, it was mostly along the road on one side and the same scrubby woods on the other. And that is the other BIG negative, the road. Any sense of tranquility along the way is disrupted by the fact that while on a path the road is literally right next to you for about 90% of the ride. It is well traveled enough to keep you from getting relaxed with any sense of nature.
Now the best parts. The night at North Bend Plantation was awesome. Miss Ridgely is a terrific and fun hostess. The place is loaded with history and when she tells you it will feel like Grandma's house, yes, you do feel that much at home.
On arrival in Jamestown, we played tourist at the settlement, then spent the evening at Wedmore Place at Williamsburg Winery. The price, the room, the dining and especially the service was A+ all the way.
Finally, the Capital Trail Shuttle back to Richmond. Cheyenne and her service merit yet another A+. She was great at communicating, easing any concerns before and during the trip. She was on time, helpful and friendly.
All in all, a good 2 1/2 day trip. Worth the 3 hour drive to get started in Richmond...once. Would definitely visit both lodgings again. As for the trail, of the several overnighters we've done, this ride comes in last place for enjoyment of the ride itself.
The trails are a great addition to the area, however they need to make sure they don't add too much parking to it so it doesn't get overloaded like everything else in Hampton Roads. You don't want to have to duck and weave a million people if you're walking or riding.
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