Explore the best rated trails in Virginia Beach, VA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Salem Road Trail and General Booth Boulevard Trail. With more than 28 trails covering 123 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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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 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 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...
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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 Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail runs parallel to the approach for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for a total of 5 miles at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Although never more than a...
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....
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...
This 11.5-mile paved trail begins in the busy commercial area just south of Shore Drive/US 60 in Virginia Beach. If you wish to reach one of the most popular parks in the state, head east on the Cape...
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,...
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 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 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 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...
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 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...
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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 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 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 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 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 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 Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail runs parallel to the approach for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for a total of 5 miles at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Although never more than a...
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...
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 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...
This 11.5-mile paved trail begins in the busy commercial area just south of Shore Drive/US 60 in Virginia Beach. If you wish to reach one of the most popular parks in the state, head east on the Cape...
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 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 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...
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 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 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 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 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 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 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....
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 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...
Corolla Greenway offers beautiful views of Currituck Sound and maritime forest along North Carolina's popular Outer Banks. The paved north-south pathway, which largely parallels N.C. Highway 12 (also...
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...
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 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 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 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...
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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...
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 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 Duck Trail stretches the length of the Town of Duck, a beach resort in the Outer Banks. The trail links residential areas to the countless restaurants and charming local stores along Duck Road/...
This 11.5-mile paved trail begins in the busy commercial area just south of Shore Drive/US 60 in Virginia Beach. If you wish to reach one of the most popular parks in the state, head east on the Cape...
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...
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 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....
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...
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 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,...
This was my first bike ride on a trail with my husband and small dog (flipped into a basket) and it was perfect. All paved, almost completely flat. It’s actually 10 miles out and back if you do the whole trail. It was a hot day, but a lot of the trail was shaded.
I am from Hampton roads but moved to Maryland 5 years ago . I came for the first time To this trail this year while on a trip visiting my mom. This trail is a gem I wish I had known about sooner. I also was blown away by the culture of this trail. So many people greet you while Passing by. It’s very humbling and refreshing. It’s a big difference from the many trails I frequent in the dmv. The “scenery was serene” and although flat surface was not the most challenging... a round trip jog/walk provides respective miles (7 miles)
I walked this with my kids. It's a nice trail, most of it is right up against the woods and you can hear the crickets. There were other walkers, joggers, and bikers. But I found the traffic noise kind of a nuisance.
I biked the trail round trip end to end from southern trailhead (milepost 0.0) to Phase II northern terminus at Capeville Road (milepost 4.9) on a humid Saturday morning in June 2020. Although currently just shy of 5 miles one way - there is HUGE potential for Virginia's Eastern Shore if Phase III and Phase IV are built connecting to Cape Charles waterfront. Even more ambitious, VDOT is studying an Eastern Shore Rail to Trail project, extending an additional 49 miles from Cape Charles to Hallwood, Virginia.
As of June 2020, the 4.9 mile long trail provides a smooth and flat trip along a 10 foot wide asphalt surface. Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, agricultural fields and a few remnant Cape Charles Railroad industrial buildings line the route. the southern 2.5 miles (Phase I, opened in 2011) provides benches, repair stations, interpretive signs, parking and restrooms. The northern half (Phase II) has fewer amenities, but continues the smooth surface.
Being a regular driver along the adjacent US 13 (four lane 55 mph highway) I was surprised to find that the trail is about 50% in shade, with trees along both sides of the route and a thin canopy overhead. The other 1/2 of the trail is more open to the east, yet trees and shrubs are nearly continuous on the western side of the trail. This thin stand of pine and hardwood trees provides a visual buffer from the highway, but the noise of passing 18-wheel trucks is always present. If you're seeking an escape deep into natural solitude, this may not be the trail for you. However, the condition of the trail is superb. Additionally, crossing US13 near the southern terminus (be careful!) provides connections to Kiptopeke State Park and more (unpaved) trails. Overall, I remain hopeful that with expansion northward, the trail reaches greater potential. Currently, it still provides a great, albeit short experience. Come on, Eastern Shore, "build it, and they will come"!
Read all the other reviews but know that the signage has been greatly improved. You can park at either end, Hermitage to the north or Harbor Park to the south. Parts of the trail are on the street but I never felt unsafe. Different routes are available so be sure to check the map. Plenty of places to stop and eat or drink along the way, Smartmouth, Orapax, Waterside and lots of choices across the street from ODU. Views of downtown, waterfront, parks, college campus. So diverse! How many mermaids can you find along the way?
Nice 5 mile ride under the trees. Take the turn for the George Washington site about 1/2 way around the loop. From there you can hop on a paved road with many historical markers. If you take the fork that leads to Yorktown you can continue less than 2 more miles to the Yorktown National Cemetery and all the way to Historical Yorktown and the beachfront. Pack a lunch and eat at one of the picnic benches in the grassy area by the water. Public bathrooms available. Total ride was 17 miles round trip with the Yorktown cruise through the historical homes.
If you start your ride at "Chessie" (address is 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal) and continue to the end it's 8.3 miles each way for a total of 16.6 miles. Make sure to apply bug spray. Family and cyclist friendly!
Perhaps I do not understand what is meant by a "trail," but I don't consider a sidewalk next to a busy highway a trail. Today I triked for several miles where this "trail" is supposed to be. I was riding on the sidewalk. There is no independent trail other than the sidewalk. What is mapped for this trail runs through the yards of homes fronting the road.
My husband and I enjoyed the trail! We parked at the mall. There was a pathway with a few some elevations along the way.
Great trail to bike, run or even warm with the stroller.
Literally a sidewalk next to a busy road. thought I'd take the kids with me, but I was too on edge with all of the traffic.
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