Virginia Beach has more than 300 miles of bikeways and trails. Mount Trashmore, Stumpy Lake, Red Wing and First Landing State Park. Parks: 757-385-1100.

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Facts on this page come from Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation and Virginia State Parks, linked below.

Virginia Beach has more than 300 miles of bikeways and trails, including trails in more than 230 parks and natural areas, 27 miles of unpaved paths in two state parks and a federal wildlife refuge, according to the city’s bikeways and trails page. Find the nearest park, its hours and its amenities with the VB ParkFinder map or app.

Who to call

Signature city parks

Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive, 757-385-2995. The city turned a 640,000-ton pile of garbage into what it calls the nation’s first landfill park in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Today it covers 165 acres with Mount Trashmore, 60 feet high and 800 feet long, the smaller Encore Hill, two lakes, the 26,000-square-foot Kids Cove playground, a skate park and vert ramp, and multi-use paths. Fishing is allowed from land with a Virginia freshwater license; kayaks are allowed on Lake Windsor. The Sanctuary art installation is here through Dec. 16. Note: the South Boulevard parking lot has closed permanently for the Windsor Woods stormwater project.

Red Wing Park, 1398 General Booth Blvd., 757-437-2038. A 97-acre park known for its gardens, including the Miyazaki Japanese Garden and the Reba S. McClanan Fragrance Garden, and for its spring Cherry Blossom Festival. It has five picnic shelters, pickleball and basketball courts, two playgrounds and a fenced dog park.

Stumpy Lake Natural Area, 4797 Indian River Road, 757-385-0400. 1,422 acres on the Chesapeake line around a 278-acre lake, with an accessible overlook, an accessible canoe and kayak launch and 1.65 miles of soft trails through forest. No motorboats or swimming.

Little Island Park, 3820 Sandpiper Road in Sandbridge, 757-385-7324. A 122-acre beach park with a 400-foot fishing pier, a surfing beach and a swimming beach, plus crabbing on Back Bay. Parking fees apply from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Other signature parks and natural areas include Bayville Farms, City View, Great Neck, Kempes Landing, Lake Lawson/Lake Smith, Marshview, Munden Point, Pleasure House Point, Pungo Ferry Landing, West Neck Creek, Williams Farm and Woodstock, all listed on the city parks page.

State parks and the wildlife refuge

First Landing State Park, 2500 Shore Drive, 757-412-2300. Virginia’s most-visited state park covers 2,888 acres with 20 miles of trails, bald cypress swamps and 1.5 miles of Chesapeake Bay beach. Day-use areas open 7 a.m. to dusk; the visitor center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the trail center 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends are busy, and cars are turned away when the lots fill. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge lies just south of Little Island Park in Sandbridge, and False Cape State Park is the city’s second state park; see Virginia State Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for access rules.

Trails and bikeways

The city publishes maps and pages for the Foxfire Trail, the Three Oaks Path, the Marshview Park mountain bike trails and the paths at City View and Mount Trashmore. Cape Henry Drive and its trail are closed to through traffic between Kleen Street and Urchin Road for infrastructure work, with detours posted.

Dog parks

The city has four fenced dog parks, per its dog parks page:

Park Address What’s there
Bayville Farms Park 4132 First Court Road Three areas for small and large dogs, agility equipment
Level Green Park 1520 Level Green Blvd. Two areas, large and small dogs
Marshview Park 120 Marshview Drive Four areas with shade trees
Red Wing Park 1398 General Booth Blvd. 1 acre, two areas, agility equipment

Splash pad, skate parks and kayaks

  • Sprayground: the city’s first opened May 30, 2026, at Level Green Park, open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day when it is at least 75 degrees, the city said. Children 8 and under need an adult.
  • Skate parks and kayak and canoe launches are listed on the city’s pages.

Park rules

City parks close at posted times, and night use is prohibited. Dogs must be leashed, and alcohol, balloons and confetti are banned. Do not feed ducks, geese or other wildlife, according to the park rules.

What this means for you

  • First Landing fills up on weekends; once the lots are full, cars are turned away.
  • The South Boulevard lot at Mount Trashmore is closed for good.
  • Need a picnic shelter for a party? Book it online ahead of time.

Related: things to do this month, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and getting around Virginia Beach.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Mount Trashmore Park?

165 acres at 310 Edwin Drive, with two man-made hills, two lakes, two playgrounds, a skate park and multi-use paths. The main hill, built on the city’s first landfill, is 60 feet high and 800 feet long.

Where are the dog parks in Virginia Beach?

The city runs fenced dog parks at Bayville Farms Park, 4132 First Court Road; Level Green Park, 1520 Level Green Blvd.; Marshview Park, 120 Marshview Drive; and Red Wing Park, 1398 General Booth Blvd.

What are First Landing State Park’s hours?

Day-use areas are open 7 a.m. to dusk. The visitor center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The park is at 2500 Shore Drive; call 757-412-2300.

Where can I kayak in Virginia Beach?

Stumpy Lake Natural Area has an accessible canoe and kayak launch off Indian River Road, and kayaks are allowed on Lake Windsor at Mount Trashmore. The city lists more launch sites on its kayaking page.

Is there a splash pad in Virginia Beach?

Yes. The city’s first public sprayground opened May 30, 2026, at Level Green Park. It runs daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day when the air is at least 75 degrees.