Bald Cypress
A popular roughly 1.8-mile loop with boardwalk swamp views and several trail connections.
Useful first forest choice; expect roots, humidity, and insects.
Maritime forest, cypress swamp, dunes, salt marsh, Chesapeake Bay beach, paddling, and separate park entrances
First Landing State Park
First Landing is the decisive contrast to the Oceanfront: live oaks and Spanish moss, dark cypress water, sandy ridges, tidal edges, and a calmer-looking bay horizon. Choose a named trail and the correct entrance before leaving the hotel.
The park is split by road and water geography. The campground and Chesapeake Bay beach side, trail-center side, and Narrows access are not interchangeable. Confirm the destination, parking area, fees, hours, alerts, and gate directions with Virginia State Parks.
Cape Henry Trail
A much longer multi-use spine across the park for cyclists, runners, and hikers who plan distance deliberately.
Not a casual add-on to a beach afternoon.
Bay beach
Use the Chesapeake Bay side for sand and a gentler horizon after the forest.
No water is risk-free; follow posted guidance.
Narrows
The boat-ramp side supports paddling and fishing access in a different corner of the park.
The park warns that swimming at the Narrows is not advised because of strong currents.
Forest choice
Use a short named loop to see the park carefully
Bald Cypress is the clearest first trail for swamp scenery without turning the day into a long-distance outing. Osmanthus, Fox Run, Long Creek, Cape Henry, and connecting paths create different lengths and surfaces; use the official trail guide instead of improvising at intersections.
Summer humidity, mosquitoes, ticks, roots, sand, standing water, heat, and storms can matter more than modest mileage. Carry water, use insect and sun protection, and turn around before discomfort becomes the afternoon plan.
Bay side
Move from forest shade to the Chesapeake horizon
The bay beach gives the day an intentional second landscape. It can appear calmer than the Atlantic, but weather, water quality, currents, vessels, and posted operations still require attention.
Beach and campground access use the Shore Drive side. Confirm the exact gate and parking plan rather than assuming the trail-center entrance leads directly to the sand.
Shore Drive continuation
Keep dinner on the quieter north coast
Shore Drive, bay beaches, marinas, and seafood restaurants create a natural evening after the park. Returning to the central Oceanfront for every meal adds a second traffic decision without improving the park day.
If paddling is the purpose, reserve equipment or a guided outing through a current operator and match the launch to wind, tide, current, skill, and park rules.
Forest and bay day
Enter through the right gate, walk one landscape well, then change shorelines
Before 9
Check alerts, weather, trail conditions, fees, and the entrance tied to the first activity.
Morning
Walk Bald Cypress or another named route while heat and trail traffic are manageable.
Afternoon
Move to the bay beach, visitor facilities, or a planned paddling access point.
Evening
Stay along Shore Drive for sunset, seafood, and a shorter return to the room.
Conditions and access
Trails, currents, and separate entrances require real preparation
Use the official trail guide for mileage, allowed uses, blazes, intersections, and access. A multi-use trail can carry bicycles and runners as well as hikers.
The Narrows is not the bay-beach swimming area; Virginia State Parks specifically advises against swimming there because currents are strong.
Park hours, parking availability, fees, closures, camping rules, boat access, rentals, and programs change. Confirm current details on the official park page before travel.
Official resources
Official First Landing planning sources
Confirm trails, facilities, hours, fees, alerts, water access, and camping through Virginia State Parks.
Official sourceFirst Landing State ParkOfficial hours, alerts, directions, facilities, camping, programs, beach, boating, and park information.Official sourceFirst Landing trail guideOfficial map, trail names, distances, allowed uses, blazes, safety rules, and facilities.Official sourceVirginia State Park feesCurrent parking, boat-launch, camping, equipment, and other applicable park fees.
Common questions
First Landing questions before choosing a trail
What is a good first trail at First Landing?
Bald Cypress is a popular roughly 1.8-mile loop with boardwalk swamp overlooks. Confirm current conditions and use the official trail guide at every junction.
Can the park trail and beach use the same parking area?
Do not assume so. The park has distinct access areas for trails, the campground and bay beach, and the Narrows. Put the named entrance into the route before leaving.
Is swimming allowed at the Narrows?
Virginia State Parks says swimming at the Narrows is not advised because currents are strong. Use only appropriate posted swimming areas and current guidance.
How much time should I allow?
Allow at least half a day for a short trail plus bay-beach time. Longer Cape Henry mileage, paddling, camping, or several trails can use a full day.