3 Best Hiking Trails in Virginia Beach, VA

"First Landing State Park has many features, including marshes, a maritime forest, hiking, and canoe trails. The park has 1.5 miles of sandy beachfront on the Chesapeake Bay. The park covers approximately 2,888 acres of land and has over 20 miles of hiking trails winding through the natural environment, guided ecological kayak tours to explore the marshes and bays, and a visitor center. First Landing State Park also offers a diverse array of opportunities for discovering a natural ecosystem with lagoons, large cypress trees, and uncommon plants. Visitors can also stay overnight at the campsite, which has water and electric hook-up facilities and nearby access to restrooms and showers. This park is also a popular place for fishing and crabbing in the Narrows.

"Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an elegant spot with thousands of migratory waterfowl, including snow geese and tundra swans. Approximately 10,000 snow geese and an extensive range of ducks visit Back Bay NWR at the height of fall migration, usually in December. The trail's total length is 0.7 miles, and the elevation gain of the trail is 3 feet. This is an out-and-back trail. This 8,000-acre wildlife refuge borders the Atlantic Ocean and Back Bay to the east. Back Bay features over 9,250 acres on and around a narrow coastline typical of barrier islands along the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts. This nature haven also offers various facilities, such as picnic tables, public restrooms, and a wheelchair-accessible parking lot for added comfort.

"Lake Smith Lake Lawson Natural Area is a 42-acre preserve with over 12,000 feet of shoreline. This is an ideal destination for various recreational activities. This 42-acre parkland on the lake provides shady hiking trails, playgrounds, docks, and fishing spots. This 1.6-mile loop trail is generally considered an easy route, and it takes an average of 28 minutes to complete the total trail. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of the day. The best times to visit this trail are August through November. Lake Smith Lake Lawson Natural Area also features various facilities like spacious playgrounds, picnic tables, public restrooms, and a wheelchair accessible parking lot for the convenience of visitors.