Virginia Beach Parks Rate 12 Walking Trails by Distance and Difficulty

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation posted updated ratings for five local walking trails on July 8, sorting each by total distance and difficulty from easy paved loops to longer routes with sand and slight elevation.

The timing aligns with peak summer use of city green spaces, where residents seek consistent outdoor movement before afternoon heat builds along the coast.

First Landing State Park on Shore Drive lists the Cape Henry Trail at 6 miles one way, rated moderate for its mix of packed sand and boardwalk sections near the historic lighthouse area. Mount Trashmore Park on Edwin Drive offers a 1.8-mile paved perimeter loop rated easy, popular with morning groups from the adjacent Kempsville recreation center.

Short and moderate routes near neighborhoods

Red Wing Park on Princess Anne Road provides a 2.4-mile easy trail through shaded fields and playground edges, maintained by city crews who added new benches last spring. Little Island Park at Sandbridge Road features a 3.1-mile out-and-back path along the dunes, rated moderate due to soft sand near the fishing pier and restrooms.

City data from the 2025 visitor count recorded 162,400 total trail uses across these four locations, with the easy Mount Trashmore loop drawing the highest repeat visits at 48,000 entries. Trail maps and difficulty ratings appear on the parks department website, updated quarterly with surface condition notes.

Longer options and next steps

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Sandbridge Road extends an 8.2-mile challenging route through marsh edges, best attempted in early morning hours to avoid wind and insects. Residents can download the free Virginia Beach Parks app for current trail status or call the main office at 757-385-1100 for printed guides available at the Mount Trashmore visitor center.

Walkers should carry water, check tide charts for coastal sections, and start with the shorter rated loops before attempting the longer refuge path.