Trail running · Virginia Beach, Virginia
First Landing State Park Trail Network
Roughly 20 miles of interconnected maritime forest, dune, and swamp trails on the Chesapeake Bay.
- Distance
- Not yet verified
- Elevation gain
- Not yet verified
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Typical time
- Not yet verified
About this route
First Landing's trail network lets you build almost any distance you want between the Bay shoreline, the Narrows, and the interior swamp. Long Creek Trail is the local favorite for trail runners — sandy, rooty, and genuinely scenic — while Osmanthus and Fox Run add quieter interior mileage.
Because the network is a web rather than a single route, treat the posted trail map at the Trail Center as the authoritative source and note junction numbers as you go.
Why this difficulty rating: Individual trails are flat with soft, sandy, rooty footing. Route-finding across junctions is the main skill required.
Highlights
- Long Creek Trail
- Chesapeake Bay shoreline
- 20+ miles of connections
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
- Network
- Surfaces
- Sand, Dirt, Boardwalk
- Setting
- Forest, Coastal, Park
- Amenities
- Parking, Restrooms, Water, Shade, Camping
- Parking
- Not yet verified
- 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
- Not yet verified
- Weather exposure
- Not yet verified
- Cell service
- Not yet verified
- Emergency
- Not yet verified
Hazards and wildlife
- Ticks
- Soft sand
- Route-finding across many junctions
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
Walking
Bald Cypress Trail
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach
A short interpretive loop through blackwater swamp on boardwalk and soft forest floor.
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 10 ft
- Route type
- Loop
- Difficulty
- Easy
Surface: Boardwalk, Dirt, Sand
- Cypress swamp boardwalk
- Interpretive signage
Hiking
False Cape State Park Routes
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach
Remote barrier-island walking reached only on foot, by bike, or by tram through Back Bay refuge.
- Distance
- Not yet verified
- Elevation gain
- Not yet verified
- Route type
- Point to point
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Surface: Sand, Dirt
- Undeveloped Atlantic beach
- True remoteness inside a major metro