Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · Walking · Loop
Bald Cypress Trail
A short interpretive loop through blackwater swamp on boardwalk and soft forest floor.
- Distance
- 1.8mi
- Climb (listed)
- 10ft
- Time (agency)
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Terrain
- BoardwalkSandShaded
The route
Where it is
No route line is on file for this trail yet, so the map shows the trailhead only. Trailfinder publishes lines only when they can be assembled from OpenStreetMap and checked against the agency distance.
What it feels like
What it feels like
Essentially level across 1.8 miles; 10 ft of listed gain barely registers. Firm, even surface, mostly under tree cover.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Trail Center parking off Shore Drive; state park fee applies.
- Fees
- Virginia State Parks day-use parking fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- First Landing State Park day-use areas are open 7 a.m. to dusk; the Trail Center at the Bald Cypress trailhead is open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are park hours rather than a separate schedule for this trail.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Moderate
Virginia DCR's official trail guide rates Bald Cypress moderate, not easy.
Nothing here should surprise a first-timer: short, gentle, and easy underfoot.
- Distance
- +0
- 1.8 miles is a short outing.
- Climb
- +0
- Essentially flat (10 ft listed).
- Footing
- +1
- Natural tread, with soft sand in places.
- Technicality
- +0
- Nothing technical recorded; walking the whole way.
- Exposure
- +0
- Mostly sheltered; shade is listed.
Our reading (Easy) differs from the agency's (Moderate). The agency knows its trail; the breakdown shows which factor moved ours.
Commitment
How long it takes
- Hiking
- 36–48 min
- 2.6 mph moving on natural tread, no stops. 10 ft of climbing adds 0 min at a hiking pace.
- Family pace
- 58–87 min
- 1.5 mph moving on natural tread, no stops. 10 ft of climbing adds 0 min at a hiking pace.
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Boardwalk, Dirt, Sand
- Technicality
- Nothing technical recorded
- Crossings
- Slippery boardwalk when wet
- Exposure
- Shaded throughout.
Recorded hazards
- Slippery boardwalk when wet
- Mosquitoes
- Snakes near water
What you'll see
On the record
- Cypress swamp boardwalk
- Interpretive signage
- Under an hour
Setting on file: Forest, Park.
When to go
Seasonal character
Best in spring and fall. Mosquitoes are heavy in mid-summer.
Virginia BeachYear-round access. Oceanfront wind and sun exposure are constant; plan for heat and UV from June through September and for cold onshore wind in winter.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Hiking route
- Families
- Good with kids
- Strollers
- Not stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- No notes on file
- Experience
- Comfortable for regular walkers with some fitness
The long version
About this route
This is the trail that convinces visitors Virginia Beach is more than an oceanfront. The loop threads between bald cypress knees and dark, still water on a mix of boardwalk and dirt tread, with interpretive signage explaining the swamp ecology.
It is short enough for small children and interesting enough for adults, and it pairs well with a longer outing on the Cape Henry Trail.
If not this one
Related, and why
Virginia Beach
Cape Henry Trail
- Distance
- 6mi
- Elevation gain
- 12ft
- Time (agency)
- ~2h10
- Paved
- Sand
- Shaded
Longer version · 6 mi when you want more of the same.
Virginia Beach
Mount Trashmore Park Loops
- Distance
- 1.5mi
- Elevation gain
- 60ft
- Time (agency)
- ~35 min
- Paved
Similar commitment · 1.5 mi and 60 ft, about the same day out.
Virginia Beach
First Landing State Park Trail Network
- Distance
- 20mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Boardwalk
- Sand
- Shaded
Runnable alternative · Supports running, with a firmer or steadier tread.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Distance
- 3mi
- Elevation gain
- 0ft
- Time (agency)
- ~1h13
- Paved
- Coast
Nearby · 7 mi from this trailhead.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Trail Center parking off Shore Drive; state park fee applies.
- Fees
- Virginia State Parks day-use parking fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- First Landing State Park day-use areas are open 7 a.m. to dusk; the Trail Center at the Bald Cypress trailhead is open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are park hours rather than a separate schedule for this trail.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.