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First Landing State Park - 1 member in 13 triplogs has rated this an average 3 ( 1 to 5 best )
13 triplogs
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Aug 02 2021
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 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Aug 02 2021
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking13.12 Miles 190 AEG
Hiking13.12 Miles   4 Hrs   26 Mns   3.12 mph
190 ft AEG      14 Mns Break
 
Linked   linked  
Long Creek Trail - First Landing SP
Kingfisher Trail - First Landing SP
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Weather changed to a nice NE wind which kept the humidity down and by starting at 0800 was well past 0430 high tide so no worries about wet feet. Parked by the Broad Bay narrows ,took Cape Henry Trail to Bald Cypress Trail then looped around the trail center only the first lot was full. Took Fox Run Trail to connect with Long Creek Trail and then back to Cape Henry via Kingfisher. Even without much elevation change was feeling tired about mile eleven ,seems right now 3mph for 4 hours is my limit :D Nice day with less bugs by avoiding White Hill Lake and less humidity . It was summertime busy today but not weekend crazy, most others I saw today were along the shore of Broad Bay getting in the water. Saw a few egrets, Osprey and one close by blue heron.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jul 20 2021
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 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jul 20 2021
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking5.90 Miles 119 AEG
Hiking5.90 Miles   1 Hour   53 Mns   3.13 mph
119 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Started at the beginning of Cape Henry Trail by the “narrows “ of Broad Bay and stayed on this to the trail center and a little beyond to the Chesapeake Indian tribe burial ground. Hazy overcast prevented uncomfortable hiking but it was still warm and humid. About a dozen other hikers,joggers and bike riders along the way. Once at the trail center parking lot the trail is paved so I made this my turnaround point. This trail has insects but not the intensity of the other interior trails.There are views of the water , Broad Bay, at the beginning of this hard packed sandy trail as it goes through the interior of the park only water is in the marshy areas alongside it . Quiet except for the varied serenade of the amphibian residents.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jul 20 2021
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
Long Creek Trail - First Landing SPEastern, VA
Long Creek Trail - First Landing SP
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jul 20 2021
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking5.57 Miles 206 AEG
Hiking5.57 Miles   1 Hour   54 Mns   2.96 mph
206 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Linked   linked  
First Landing State Park
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
After taking Cape Henry Trail to the parks trail center returned to the narrows area via Fox Run Trail, Long Creek Trail ,Osprey Trail to finish up with a short stretch of Cape Henry. This route has an incredible number of flying insects particularly biting flies. I kept applying insect repellant every few minutes . Particularly bad is the stretch along White Hill Lake, convinced me to try this only in winter if I’m here that time of year. One other hiker I met was wearing a sweatshirt with a hood, good for bugs but bad for the heat. Nice views of the marshy environs but stopping was not fun, at least when your moving the gnats and mosquitoes aren’t swarming. Probably exceeded the amount of insect repellant you should apply in a week :D .
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jun 25 2021
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 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jun 25 2021
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking0.74 Miles 29 AEG
Hiking0.74 Miles      15 Mns   3.17 mph
29 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Took Live Oak Trail to cross from the south side hiking trails to the beach and campground areas on the north side. Went up the boardwalk breaching the sand dune to take a couple of pictures. The trail itself is as the other trails hard packed sand with leaves and pine needles of varying thickness. The trail requires a crossing of US 60 , aka Shore Drive, at a crosswalk.Scouted out several trails in the vicinity of the trail center, this was last one for today.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jun 23 2021
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jun 23 2021
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking10.00 Miles 226 AEG
Hiking10.00 Miles   2 Hrs   59 Mns   3.41 mph
226 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Linked   linked  
Long Creek Trail - First Landing SP
Kingfisher Trail - First Landing SP
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Beautiful weather chose to arrive this week , highs in mid70’s , low humidity and a steady breeze so had to try out the park today. If nothing else it diminished the insect horde around this swampy environment. Took. an extra loop by the ocean also where the red flags were posted , total white caps today. On entering the park headed up Cape Henry Trail then took the connector White Hill Lake Trail to Long Creek Trail then to make a loop of this portion cut back to Cape Henry via Kingfisher Trail . Not being the weekend there were few others out. Trails in good shape but a little muddy from yesterday’s rain.Able to improve my mph on these flatter trails :)
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  White Hill Lake
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jul 16 2020
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jul 16 2020
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking10.05 Miles 240 AEG
Hiking10.05 Miles   3 Hrs   15 Mns   3.09 mph
240 ft AEG
 
Linked   linked  
Kingfisher Trail - First Landing SP
Long Creek Trail - First Landing SP
Partners none no partners
Returned to hiking in this state park which contains marshy areas and swampland located between the Atlantic Ocean and Broad Bay portion of the Lynnhaven Bay near the Cape Henry Landing site. Checked the Lynnhaven Bay tide charts and planned for low tide, with that and no rain for a couple of weeks meant no walking in mud or water. Arrived before the gate was opened so instead of waiting there ended up starting at the ocean front then crossed the highway ,which added some extra distance ,entered the now open back entrance to the park onto Cape Henry Trail, it’s a fishhook shaped trail so I’m on the shank headed toward the eye where the hiking trailhead is located. Before arriving there however I take the connector Kingfisher trail to meet up with the Long Creek and Osprey Trail. The Osprey trail is part hard packed and part soft sand , traveling beside the bay it can be overwhelmed in high tide this will take me toward the barbed end of Cape Henry Trail . Very few hikers but a couple of dozen bikers and joggers ,more on Cape Henry Trail, encountered. Used quite a bit of “Off” to keep away the mosquitoes and biting flies, must have worked pretty well as they resorted to landing on the lens of my glasses. Temperatures were warm,low 80’s , humid of course but the heavy shade kept it tolerable. The lack of significant elevation and trying to limit insect landings resulted in a good pace for this hike :D Needed a better camera for wildlife as the Osprey, Egrets and Herons were too far away for decent pictures. Definitely a change of pace from AZ hiking.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Oct 25 2019
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Oct 25 2019
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking7.62 Miles 213 AEG
Hiking7.62 Miles   2 Hrs   29 Mns   3.07 mph
213 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Nice weather continues today, mild temps and cloud cover. Left from the narrows portion of the park and took a use trail around Lake Susan Constant out of the park. After crossing Atlantic Blvd. took Ocean Blvd to the start of the boardwalk at 40th street. Walked a short distance on the beach then returned to First Landing Park via Atlantic Ave. Returned to the narrows via Cape Henry Trail, fortunately not high tide like my last trip.Even the bugs seem to be disappearing.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Sep 14 2019
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Sep 14 2019
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking6.50 Miles 79 AEG
Hiking6.50 Miles   2 Hrs      3.25 mph
79 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Nice breeze kept the bugs away much better than my last time here. Was planning to make it to the boardwalk along the beach but developed an annoying blister from wet socks. Should have checked the tide schedule as part of the Cape Henry Trail was underwater as it was high tide when I started, the water was flowing fast and high to flush out the egret filled marshes. Did not feel like wading through the marsh sans footwear and just attempting to cross managed to get the footwear wet. Reversed course and bypassed by taking the park road to the junction of the boardwalk that crosses the marsh. Back on the trail heading south saw a use trail that circumvented a portion of Susan Constant Lake and deposited me in a neighborhood. Continued to head east and found myself at 62nd street. To reach the boardwalk needed to reach 40th street and not wanting the developing heel blister to worsen decided to head back. Parked near the beach at a point called the Narrows, before departing sat by the waters edge saw a pod of 3 dolphins exiting toward Lynnhaven Inlet along with the receding tide. Next time will try to make the boardwalk but check the tide schedule, next week may have some rising water due to Humberto being out at sea.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jun 26 2019
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jun 26 2019
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking10.78 Miles 167 AEG
Hiking10.78 Miles   3 Hrs   22 Mns   3.25 mph
167 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Made a loop in the swampy First Landing Park despite 80°and muggy at 0630. Easy to bump up the hiking mph due to lack of elevation and insect onslaught when stopped. Added an extra 1.2 miles unrecorded on the boardwalk around the trail center. Utilized Long Creek Trail, Cape Henry Trail and short segments of Bald Cypress Trail and Fox Run Trail. Heavily shaded except where the trails get close to Broad Bay shore, more biting flies out today, even with using cutter managed to receive a few bites. Imagine I looked mentally disturbed flailing around while trying to keep up pace, would have been more enjoyable to be biking or running.Think I’ll wait a month before I try this again. Mostly saw trail runners rather than walkers ,most appeared to be cross country teams at least on the Cape Henry Trail. . No wildlife except squirrels but did see some herons and egrets along the way.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Sep 22 2018
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Sep 22 2018
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking4.80 Miles 103 AEG
Hiking4.80 Miles   1 Hour   40 Mns   2.88 mph
103 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Out and back hike, happy to find an absence of flies and mosquitos today. Slowed down by pauses to view participants in the Oceana air show sky writing.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Sep 16 2018
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Sep 16 2018
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking4.00 Miles 79 AEG
Hiking4.00 Miles      39 Mns   6.15 mph
79 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Decided to do a trail jog today,park just reopened today for use, campground still closed despite no damage from Florence, Weather remains cloudy and humid, less customers than usual for weekend, Chose Cape Henry Trail, I think this is better for hiking or walking as there are too many tree roots to watch for!
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jun 15 2018
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jun 15 2018
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking7.00 Miles 300 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles   2 Hrs   40 Mns   2.80 mph
300 ft AEG      10 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hiking with my sister and brother in law ,starting from the park trail center, which can supply maps ,we chose a double loop amongst the many choices of trails here. Average June weather day about 80 degrees with humidity about 70%. The trails in this park are similar in look with a heavy canopy of cypress trees covered with Spanish moss growing out of the swampy environs the main variation is when hiking along the marshy border of Broad Bay. The principal hazard for hiking this park being tree roots on the trails, the trails are packed dirt or sand which are raised a a few feet above water except when there are bridges and boardwalks ,high tide may not be the best time to take the sections along Broad Bay.The trails we used were not bike trails except a short stretch of Cape Henry trail, there were a fair number of trail runners. No wildlife noted except for typical swamp creatures ,frogs,lizards, snakes,no alligators this far north, so far.Despite being in a populated area you can find some solitude on these trails. It is a state park so there is a fee but after hiking , for no additional charge , you could go to the other side of the park and use the bayside beach,there is also a large campground there.
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
Jul 27 2017
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 187
 Photos 2,318
 Triplogs 909

74 male
 Joined Dec 10 2016
 Gold Canyon
First Landing State ParkEastern, VA
First Landing State Park
Eastern, VA
Hiking avatar Jul 27 2017
Daytripper • Triplogs 909
Hiking8.05 Miles 324 AEG
Hiking8.05 Miles   2 Hrs   51 Mns   2.91 mph
324 ft AEG      5 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Fairly scenic hike with a good portion along Broad Bay, from the trail center in First Landing State Park there are many options for routes and distance. Decided a rough figure 8 this time,trails were either soft sand or packed dirt. Most of the distance traveled was on Long Creek trail and Osprey trail. Osprey trail is close to the water and signs warn about it being flooded during high tide. These trails are heavily shaded so an early start preferred but not necessary ,the only water and restrooms are located at the trail center. Insects were not too bad just a couple of bothersome flies , a good breeze that day may have been helpful.Some egrets and blue heron were seen also eagles have been reported, cypress trees and spanish moss are prevalent as in Georgia or north Florida. Some benches and one platform are placed at view points a few other casual hikers were on the trails also seems to be used by local high schools for cross country training,the aeg was surprising for being so close to the coast.The trail center opens at 8am and there is a $5 weekday and $7 weekend fee to bring in your vehicle,however there is no charge to walk in, some people park outside the 64th street entrance in the neighborhood or on Shore Drive at the Food Lion, in that case you could get an earlier start.There's about 20 miles of trails in the park , maps are available at the trail center making it easy to design your own route.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Loblolly pine  Water Oak
_____________________
Navy31 Army13
 
average hiking speed 2.89 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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