If you love hiking and photography, you’re in luck. The Chesapeake Bay area is near some great opportunities to do both, thanks to the protected parks, natural areas, and wildlife preserves in the area. Here are a few of our top choices for the best hiking locations where you’ll find abundant landscape photography opportunities.
Lake Smith/Lake Lawson Natural Area
For fabulous lake photography shots, head to the Lake Smith/Lake Lawson Natural Area. This 42-acre park boasts more than 12,000 feet of shoreline and is home to abundant animal life. Take a boat out or take a hike around the lake to get shots you won’t be able to find in many other places. For a chance to capture Virginia before humans shaped it, this natural area is the place to be.
Elizabeth River Trail – Atlantic City Spur
If you want to get a good hike in while you snap photos, try the Elizabeth River Trail. It’s in Norfolk county and runs between Harbor Park Stadium and the Norfolk International Terminals. This is a great spot to get photos of seascapes full of seabirds such as ducks, seagulls, cormorants, and skimmers. Though this trail runs through a lot of city, you’ll still be able to find ample opportunities for natural scenery to shoot.
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve
The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve is one of our top choices for landscape photography opportunities. The wildlife that calls Hoffler Creek home is protected so they can flourish in the beautiful and natural Virginia landscape. There are multiple hiking trails that take you past beautiful and notable landmarks around the area, so explore and see what you can find!
Cape Henry Trail
First Landing State Park is a 2,888-acre park that fronts the Chesapeake Bay and features 1.25 miles of beach and more than 19 miles of interpretive hiking trails through protected salt marsh habitat, freshwater ponds, beach, dunes, forest, tidal marsh, and cypress swamp. A registered Natural Landmark, First Landing is the most visited state park in Virginia and contains one of the most endangered habitat types in the world, the maritime forest community.
On April 26, 1607, some 100 English settlers landed here and established the first elective government in English America before pushing up the James River to establish Jamestown.
This historic event is reflected in the name of Virginia’s most visited state park. Along with its historical significance, the park offers opportunities to explore a unique habitat featuring lagoons, large cypress trees, and rare plants. More than 19 miles of hiking trails wind through the natural area, guided kayak ecological tours allow exploration of the marshes and bays, and the visitor center exhibits explain much about this coastal environment. Cabins, campsites, picnic areas, a swimming beach, boat ramps, kayak rentals and tours, and a bicycle trail are offered in the park.
In the First Landing State Park, you’ll find the Cape Henry Trail, which is one of the best hiking trails in the area. It’s 7.5 miles long and alternates between asphalt, gravel, and sand. You may see some great flora and fauna here, including foxes, waterfowl, and great blue herons. The park has a lot of Broad Bay’s shoreline, so if you want the best of both worlds when it comes to waterscapes and beautiful forest shots, this is the park for you.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
If you want an easy hike that has some of the best photo ops you can find, head to Norfolk Botanical Garden. The gardens feature a 3.7-mile loop trail that wraps around a lake so you can enjoy the beautifully maintained gardens while you get in a hike. Thanks to the caretakers of this place, it’s always ready for photographers. According to their website, there have been over 175 bird species documented at the botanical garden, and it’s also home to many butterfly species. If you’re trying to get shots of some avian wildlife, this place definitely warrants a visit!
Take some time to explore everything our slice of Virginia has to offer and enjoy our state’s natural beauty. If you’re an amateur or professional photographer, you’re in one of the best spots in the country to get some great shots of natural beauty!
Image via vastateparkstaff | Licensed under CC BY 2.0
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