First Landing State Park Dunes Route

Distance: 1.49 mi	Points: 111	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

wpt 0001

Location: 36.915489, -76.041748
Start your hike at the Trails Center Parking Area on the Cape Henry Multi-use Trail where you will head East.

wpt 0002

Location: 36.914776, -76.039856
Stay to the right on the Cape Henry Trail as you pass the Bald Cypress Trail on your left, if you want to add a few more miles to your hiking you can add a loop by taking the Bald Cypess Trail where you will get wonderful waterside hiking and see plenty of the unique trees the trail is named after, keep your eyes out for sunning turtles and snakes.

wpt 0003

Location: 36.914326, -76.039528
Turn right off of the Cape Henry Trail on to the High Dune Trail. This turn will put you on single track hiking only trails. If you brought your bike along you may want to plan some time for a ride of the Cape Henry Trail, a very wide multi-use trail that leads all the way to 64th street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront where you can take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

wpt 0004

Location: 36.913673, -76.043030
At this point you will intersect once again with the Bald Cypress loop Trail, cross over the intersection and follow the unblazed trail the continues along the ridge of the dunes. The marked High Dune Trail will stop at this point, but the unmarked trail is well maintained and easy to follow.

wpt 0005

Location: 36.913769, -76.044472
At this intersection you will be crossing over the Fox Run Trail, Continue straight through the intersection.

wpt 0006

Location: 36.913143, -76.047234
You will come upon a Y-split in the trail at this point, take the left side of the Y-split.

wpt 0007

Location: 36.912544, -76.047684
At this point you will intersect with another unmarked trail, continue straight through this intersection

wpt 0008

Location: 36.911938, -76.047707
You will hit a T-intersection at the Long Creek Trail, Turn right here. If you want to explore the Long Creek Trail, go to your left and you will discover great views of Long Creek and Broad Bay, keep your eyes out for Osprey and other high flying birds in the tall trees along the tidal shoreline. Turn right here if you want to follow the remainder of our Dunes Route to a great sandy, dune-top, overlook of Long Creek.

wpt 0009

Location: 36.911964, -76.050095
At this point turn off of the marked Long Creek Trail on to the unmarked but well maintained trail on the Left. Follow this unmarked trail a short distance to the base of a steep dune, climb the trail to the top of the dune.

wpt 0010

Location: 36.911549, -76.051979
At this point you will be at the top of the steep dune, turn left and follow the trail along the ridge of the dune. To your left you will have great dune top views of the tidal flats and Long Creek as it flows into Broad Bay.

wpt 0011

Location: 36.909878, -76.052254
You've reached your destination, a fantastic sandy spot for a sunny Creekside picnic, throw out the blanket and take in the rays as you watch small boats come and go up the creek, and if your not ready for a break the large sand flats on the back side of the dune offers plenty of open space to explore. From here you can follow the same route back, or pick a new route by following the Long Creek Trail, Fox Run Trail, or the Bald Cypress Trail back to the Trail Center Parking Area.