Within easy reach of Chesapeake, Virginia, you can find many places for hiking. Whether you’re looking for a short hike near the city or a longer adventure amid beautiful scenery, there’s a trail for you! Here are four of the best places to hike in the area.
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Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Park Loop
Not only is the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Park Loop a short and easy hike – it also envelops you in history. The 1775 Battle of Great Bridge was Virginia’s first land battle of the American Revolution. The shady, 1.2-mile loop runs along the Intracoastal Waterway and offers beautiful views of the river. The walk is suitable for the whole family, and dogs are welcome on a leash. After completing the loop, you could take the Interpretive Pathway through the historic park and visit the Marsh Overlook, which provides a view that’s changed little since the 1700s.
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Dismal Swamp Canal trail
The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a paved 8.3-mile multi-use trail that’s ideal for the whole family, including dogs so long as they’re on a leash. Once a part of Virginia State Route 17, the flat and straight trail runs parallel to the canal and is now free from motorized traffic. The north trailhead is at the intersection of Dominion Boulevard and Old Route 17 in Chesapeake.
Along the route, you’ll find picnic areas, two restrooms, and rest areas offering views of the peaceful canal. Informative signs tell the history of the canal and buildings. Red and gray foxes, white-tailed deer, coyotes, opossum, raccoons, black bears – and in spring and fall, many migratory birds – are often seen on the trail. The swamp and canal also provide habitats for a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians.
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Stumpy Lake Loop
Located around 10 miles east of Chesapeake, the Stumpy Lake Natural Area is a hidden gem that offers a peaceful environment with beautiful lakeside views. The Stumpy Lake Loop is an easy 1.5-mile wooded trail that’s good for all skill levels, although it can get very muddy. Dogs must be kept on a leash.
Despite its urban surroundings, this trail provides a sense of seclusion: the mirror-like surface of the lake is broken by cypress trees growing straight up out of the water. Around the lake, you can spot herons, egrets, turtles, frogs, and snakes, and the woods are home to deer, foxes, and many squirrels.
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Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Covering more than 112,000 acres, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge features forested wetlands with the 3,100-acre Lake Drummond at its center. The refuge is one of the most important wildlife habitats in the mid-Atlantic region: it’s home to more than 200 species of birds, 96 types of butterflies, and 47 different mammals. The area offers many miles of easy hiking trails on gravel and dirt roads, as well as boardwalks. Four gated entrances provide access to the refuge, and admission is free.
These hiking areas offer access to a variety of stunning environments, so make sure you have your camera with you.
Image via pixabay.com | Licensed under Pixabay License
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