Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Distance
- 3mi
- Elevation gain
- 0ft
- Time (agency)
- ~1h13
Easy
- Paved
- Coast
Why goOcean views the entire way.
Run the coast
Running paths, greenways, and walking routes
Surfaces, shade, water, and honest distances for everything from a boardwalk mile to a twenty-mile rail-trail — plus the singletrack worth driving to.
Road, greenway, and boardwalk running
Predictable surfaces and easy logistics — the routes people actually use week to week.
Virginia Beach
Cape Henry Trail
- Distance
- 6mi
- Elevation gain
- 12ft
- Time (agency)
- ~2h10
Moderate
- Paved
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goLive oak and cypress forest.
Virginia Beach
Mount Trashmore Park Loops
- Distance
- 1.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 60ft
- Time (agency)
- ~35 min
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
Why goPaved lakeside loops with the only meaningful hill repeats in central Virginia Beach.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
- Distance
- 8.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 10ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h52
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goHistoric canal.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Elizabeth River Trail
- Distance
- 10.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 0ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~3h30
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why goDowntown Norfolk waterfront.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Noland Trail
- Distance
- 5mi
- Elevation gain
- 215ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h02
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goFourteen footbridges.
Northern Virginia
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
- Distance
- 45mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,573ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
Why go45 continuous paved miles.
Northern Virginia
Mount Vernon Trail
- Distance
- 18mi
- Elevation gain
- 535ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why goPotomac and monument views.
Northern Virginia
Burke Lake Loop
- Distance
- 4.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 200ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h55
EasyNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
Why goConsistent 4.7-mile loop.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Virginia Capital Trail
- Distance
- 51.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 946ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why go50+ paved miles.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Belle Isle & the James River Park System
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- 100ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~58 min
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Why goWhitewater views downtown.
Southside & the Piedmont
High Bridge Trail
- Distance
- 32.2mi
- Elevation gain
- 375ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goHigh Bridge river crossing.
Southwest Virginia
Virginia Creeper Trail
- Distance
- 34.3mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,223ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goDozens of wooden trestles.
Southwest Virginia
New River Trail
- Distance
- 57mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,143ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why go57 miles beside the New River.
Shenandoah Valley
Green Circle Trail
- Distance
- 6.1mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h20
Not ratedNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
Why go6.06-mile loop originating at Millwood Avenue and E. Jubal Early Drive, divided by the city into seven sections with mile-marker ranges.
Trail running
Rockier, slower, and far more interesting. Expect to run a minute or more per mile slower than road pace.
Virginia Beach
Cape Henry Trail
- Distance
- 6mi
- Elevation gain
- 12ft
- Time (agency)
- ~2h10
Moderate
- Paved
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goLive oak and cypress forest.
Virginia Beach
First Landing State Park Trail Network
- Distance
- 20mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
ModerateNo line on file
- Boardwalk
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goLong Creek Trail.
Virginia Beach
False Cape State Park Routes
- Distance
- Distance not on file
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Time not on file
Not ratedNo line on file
- Dirt tread
- Sand
- Coast
Why goUndeveloped Atlantic beach.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Noland Trail
- Distance
- 5mi
- Elevation gain
- 215ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h02
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goFourteen footbridges.
Northern Virginia
Burke Lake Loop
- Distance
- 4.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 200ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h55
EasyNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
Why goConsistent 4.7-mile loop.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Belle Isle & the James River Park System
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- 100ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~58 min
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Why goWhitewater views downtown.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Pocahontas State Park Trail Network
- Distance
- 90mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Not ratedNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
Why goLarge connected network.
Shenandoah National Park
Whiteoak Canyon
- Distance
- 4.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,656ft
- Time (agency)
- ~4h
Moderate
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Waterfall
Why goStacked waterfalls.
Charlottesville & the Blue Ridge
Humpback Rocks
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Time (agency)
- ~1h45
StrenuousNo line on file
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goFast, big payoff.
Roanoke & the New River Valley
McAfee Knob
- Distance
- 8mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,415ft
- Time (agency)
- ~5h
Hard
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goThe AT's signature overlook.
Roanoke & the New River Valley
Tinker Cliffs
- Distance
- 7.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,000ft
- Time (agency)
- ~5h
HardNo line on file
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goHalf a mile of open cliff.
Southwest Virginia
Grayson Highlands & Mount Rogers Routes
- Distance
- 9mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,602ft
- Time (agency)
- ~6h
Moderate
- Rocky
- Ridgeline
Why goOpen balds, rock outcrops, and free-roaming ponies below Virginia's highest peak.
Southwest Virginia
Virginia Creeper Trail
- Distance
- 34.3mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,223ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goDozens of wooden trestles.
Appalachian Trail Corridor
Appalachian Trail — Virginia Sections
- Distance
- 557.5mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
HardNo line on file
- Rocky
- Ridgeline
Why goLongest state section of the AT.
Walking routes
Gentle, well-surfaced routes suited to strollers, recovery days, and easy outings with family.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Distance
- 3mi
- Elevation gain
- 0ft
- Time (agency)
- ~1h13
Easy
- Paved
- Coast
Why goOcean views the entire way.
Virginia Beach
Cape Henry Trail
- Distance
- 6mi
- Elevation gain
- 12ft
- Time (agency)
- ~2h10
Moderate
- Paved
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goLive oak and cypress forest.
Virginia Beach
Bald Cypress Trail
- Distance
- 1.8mi
- Elevation gain
- 10ft
- Time (agency)
- ~45 min
ModerateNo line on file
- Boardwalk
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goCypress swamp boardwalk.
Virginia Beach
First Landing State Park Trail Network
- Distance
- 20mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
ModerateNo line on file
- Boardwalk
- Sand
- Shaded
Why goLong Creek Trail.
Virginia Beach
Mount Trashmore Park Loops
- Distance
- 1.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 60ft
- Time (agency)
- ~35 min
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
Why goPaved lakeside loops with the only meaningful hill repeats in central Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach
False Cape State Park Routes
- Distance
- Distance not on file
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Time not on file
Not ratedNo line on file
- Dirt tread
- Sand
- Coast
Why goUndeveloped Atlantic beach.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
- Distance
- 8.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 10ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h52
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goHistoric canal.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Elizabeth River Trail
- Distance
- 10.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 0ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~3h30
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why goDowntown Norfolk waterfront.
Coastal Virginia & Hampton Roads
Noland Trail
- Distance
- 5mi
- Elevation gain
- 215ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h02
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goFourteen footbridges.
Northern Virginia
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
- Distance
- 45mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,573ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
Why go45 continuous paved miles.
Northern Virginia
Mount Vernon Trail
- Distance
- 18mi
- Elevation gain
- 535ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why goPotomac and monument views.
Northern Virginia
Burke Lake Loop
- Distance
- 4.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 200ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h55
EasyNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
Why goConsistent 4.7-mile loop.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Virginia Capital Trail
- Distance
- 51.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 946ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Paved
- Riverside
Why go50+ paved miles.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Belle Isle & the James River Park System
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- 100ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~58 min
ModerateNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Why goWhitewater views downtown.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Pocahontas State Park Trail Network
- Distance
- 90mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Not ratedNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
Why goLarge connected network.
Southside & the Piedmont
High Bridge Trail
- Distance
- 32.2mi
- Elevation gain
- 375ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goHigh Bridge river crossing.
Shenandoah National Park
Stony Man
- Distance
- 1.6mi
- Elevation gain
- 340ft
- Time (agency)
- ~1h23
EasyNo line on file
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Why goBig view for little effort.
Southwest Virginia
Virginia Creeper Trail
- Distance
- 34.3mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,223ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why goDozens of wooden trestles.
Southwest Virginia
New River Trail
- Distance
- 57mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,143ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Easy
- Crushed stone
- Shaded
- Riverside
Why go57 miles beside the New River.
Eastern Shore
Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve Trails
- Distance
- Distance not on file
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Not ratedNo line on file
- Boardwalk
- Sand
- Coast
Why goSix named trails with official DCR-published lengths: Field Loop 1.3 mi, Woodland 0.7 mi, Bayshore 0.6 mi, Woodland Bayshore Connector 0.3 mi, Custis Pond Spur 0.2 mi, Dune Overlook Spur under 0.1 mi.
Eastern Shore
Woodland Trail
- Distance
- 1.8mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~35 min
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
- Coast
Why goFlat and paved, and one of four paved trails FWS lists as wheelchair friendly at the refuge.
Eastern Shore
Wildlife Loop
- Distance
- 3.3mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h05
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
- Coast
Why goPaved 3.25-mile loop around a moist-soil management unit (the refuge trail map gives 3.2 miles).
Eastern Shore
Southern Tip Bike & Hike Trail
- Distance
- 4.9mi
- Elevation gain
- 16ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h39
Easy
- Paved
Why goTen-foot-wide asphalt tread with two-foot shoulders (fourteen feet total), on ground the county says was formerly a railroad route.
Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore Rail to Trail — Cape Charles Segment
- Distance
- 2.2mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~44 min
Not ratedNo line on file
- Paved
- Creek crossings
Why goFirst segment of the planned 49.1-mile Eastern Shore Rail to Trail to open; VDOT opened it to the public Aug. 20, 2026.
Shenandoah Valley
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park
- Distance
- 25mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
Not ratedNo line on file
- Riverside
Why go25 miles of trail, all open to hiking and biking, with more than 14 miles also open to horses.
Shenandoah Valley
Green Circle Trail
- Distance
- 6.1mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h20
Not ratedNo line on file
- Paved
- Shaded
Why go6.06-mile loop originating at Millwood Avenue and E. Jubal Early Drive, divided by the city into seven sections with mile-marker ranges.
Shenandoah Valley
South River Greenway
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~40 min
EasyNo line on file
- Paved
- Riverside
Why goFollows the South River, which the city describes as a Virginia Scenic River, through Waynesboro.
Shenandoah Valley
Chessie Nature Trail
- Distance
- 7mi
- Elevation gain
- 48ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h43
Not rated
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Why goSeven miles of relatively flat former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad grade following the Maury River.
Shenandoah Valley
Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail
- Distance
- 2.3mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~52 min
Not ratedNo line on file
- Crushed stone
- Creek crossings
Why goWalk or ride through a 4,273-foot unlit 1850s railroad tunnel bored under the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap.
Common questions
- Where can I run in Virginia without hills?
- Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and the Eastern Shore are essentially flat. Paved greenways in Richmond, Fairfax, and Chesapeake also stay gentle, so heat and shade matter more than climbing.
- Which Virginia paths are best for stroller running?
- Look for paved or boardwalk surfaces with grades under about 3 percent. Filter the explore view by 'Stroller friendly' to see every route where that has been confirmed.
- When is it too hot to run in coastal Virginia?
- July and August routinely combine 90-degree heat with high humidity. Local runners move to early morning or evening, carry water even for short efforts, and pick shaded park loops over the open oceanfront.