places where you won't be able to wipe the wag off your dog's tail - Virginia Beach VA
The Park
In 1873 a U.S. Weather Bureau Observation Center was established at Cape Henry and the next year a U.S.
Life Saving Station was built. A small community grew up around the stations and it seemed like the area was about to boom. A group of Norfolk investors formed the Cape Henry Syndicate to encourage development but the popularity of Virginia Beach down the road never materialized. In 1933 the Syndicate sold 2,000 acres to the Commonwealth of Virginia for $157,000. Federal Civilian Conservation Corps workers arrived and built
Seashore State Park, one of Virginia’s original six state parks. The park’s name was changed in 1997 to First Landing State Park as an homage to the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed in 1607.
The Walks
The trail system at First Landing State Park, designated as part of the National Recreation Trail System, features 19 miles of dog-friendly hiking. The marquee walk is the Bald Cypress Trail that circles a cypress swamp for 1.5 miles, much of the way on elevated boardwalks. Airborne Spanish moss drapes many of the ancient giants. In 1965 the park’s natural area was included in the National Register of Natural Landmarks because of its distinction as the northernmost location on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants grow and thrive together, darkening the trails with their richness. Looping off the redblazed Bald Cypress Trail is the 3.1-mile blue Osmanthus Trail, named for the American olive tree that grows abundantly on the fringes of the dark lagoon along the trail. Another worthwhile detour from the Bald Cypress Trail is the quarter-mile High Dune Trail that uses wooden sleeper-steps to ascend a steep, wooded dune. It is easy walking on these packed sand and soft dirt trails that are further cushioned to the paw by pine straw from majestic loblolly pines. There are gentle undulations that spice up the flat canine hiking along the 8 hiker-only trails and the 6-mile Cape Henry Multi-Use Trail.
Where The Paw Meets The Earth: Everything is marked, signs abound and most everything leads back to the Trail Center.
Workout For Your Dog - Up to a half-day or more.
Swimming - It doesn’t get much better than the Chesapeake Bay for canine aquatics.
Restrictions On Dogs - Dogs are allowed on the trails and on the beach that stretches along the Chesapeake Bay, except in swimming areas.
Something Extra
Just off-shore are views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the seven modern engineering marvels of the world. Each span of the 17.6-mile crossing utilizes more than 2,500 concrete piles to support the trestles. Construction of the bridge-tunnel complex required undertaking a project of more than
12 miles of low-level trestles, two 1-mile tunnels, two bridges, almost 2 miles of causeway, four manmade islands and 5-1/2 miles of approach roads, totaling 23 miles.
Phone - (757) 412-2300
Admission Fee - Vehicle entrance fee
Directions - Virginia Beach; From I-64, take Northampton Boulevard/ U.S. 13 North (Exit 282). Go through 8 lights, then turn right at the Shore Drive/U.S. 60 Exit (last exit before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel). Take a right on Shore Drive and go 4.5 miles to the park entrance. For the Trail Center and trails, turn right.
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