Walking · Virginia Beach, Virginia
Bald Cypress Trail
A short interpretive loop through blackwater swamp on boardwalk and soft forest floor.
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 10 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Typical time
- 30 min – 1 hr
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.
Why this difficulty rating: Short, flat, and partly boardwalk. Roots and soft ground in places.
Highlights
- Cypress swamp boardwalk
- Interpretive signage
- Under an hour
Map and trailheads
Approximate locations for orientation only. Carry an offline map — cell service is unreliable on much of this network.
Know before you go
- Route type
- Loop
- Surfaces
- Boardwalk, Dirt, Sand
- Setting
- Forest, Park
- Amenities
- Parking, Restrooms, Water, Shade
- Parking
- Trail Center parking off Shore Drive; state park fee applies.
- Restrooms
- Not yet verified
- Water
- Not yet verified
- Fees
- Virginia State Parks day-use parking fee applies.
- Permits
- Not yet verified
- Hours
- Not yet verified
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- Not yet verified
- Stroller friendly
- No
- Good with kids
- Yes
- Seasonal notes
- Best in spring and fall. Mosquitoes are heavy in mid-summer.
- Weather exposure
- Shaded throughout.
- Cell service
- Not yet verified
- Emergency
- Not yet verified
Hazards and wildlife
- Slippery boardwalk when wet
- Mosquitoes
- Snakes near water
Related routes
Trail running
Cape Henry Trail
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach
A wide crushed-shell and paved multi-use route through First Landing State Park's maritime forest.
- Distance
- 6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 20 ft
- Route type
- Point to point
- Difficulty
- Easy
Surface: Crushed stone, Sand, Paved
- Live oak and cypress forest
- Connects the Bay side to the resort area
Trail running
First Landing State Park Trail Network
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach
Roughly 20 miles of interconnected maritime forest, dune, and swamp trails on the Chesapeake Bay.
- Distance
- Not yet verified
- Elevation gain
- Not yet verified
- Route type
- Network
- Difficulty
- Easy
Surface: Sand, Dirt, Boardwalk
- Long Creek Trail
- Chesapeake Bay shoreline