First Landing Is The Single Best State Park In Virginia And It's Just Waiting To Be Explored
By Beth|Updated on October 17, 2023(Originally published October 15, 2023)
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Virginia is home to one of the finest state park systems in the country. Our treasured parks feature rugged mountain peaks, peaceful lakes, rushing rivers, waterfalls, and sprawling swamplands. As you can imagine, singling out one of the best state parks in Virginia is no easy task. However, we’ll attempt to make the case for one state park that seems to have it all: astounding natural landscape, magical wildlife, excellent facilities, and some intriguing — and perhaps haunted — history to top it all off. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about First Landing State Park, easily one of the best state parks in Virginia.
The most visited state park in Virginia, First Landing State Park is situated on Cape Henry. Removed from the crowds and development of the city, the beach offers a rugged coastline and nature in its most pristine form.
The park is named for the first landing of the three ships from England: the Discovery, the Susan Constant, and the Godspeed. This arrival took place just a stone's throw away from the park in 1607. Of course, Native American history long preceded this arrival by the colonists. If you take the Cape Henry Trail, you can learn more about the lives of the Indigenous People who first lived in the area.
The park is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in part by an African-American Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933-1940.
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The park measures 2,888 acres in size and offers countless activities and opportunities to engage in the landscape and its history.
One of the characteristics that we love most about this state park is how kid-friendly it is. Located on the Bay, the waters and surf are much calmer, meaning even the littlest explorers can enjoy them.
Yet there's another side to the park — it's rumored to be haunted! The shores of the Chesapeake Bay beach at First Landing State Park are breathtaking, and not unlike what would have been observed by travelers in the 1700s.
At that time, the horizon was dotted with merchant ships and Navy vessels that were on the lookout for pirates. And one of the most famous among them was Captain Edward J. Teach, also known as Blackbeard. Many have heard of Blackbeard in Murrells Inlet, but fewer realize his ties to Virginia. One night, after having ransacked an incoming merchant ship, Blackbeard and his men spotted a Navy ship arriving and knew they had to flee.
According to legend, the men buried their treasure in the sand dunes, escaped through the park's narrow inland waterways, and escaped to North Carolina.
Off of the Carolina coast, however, the pirates were caught and Blackbeard was beheaded. He would never be reunited with his beloved buried treasure...or perhaps he would be.
The legend of Blackbeard's buried treasure has confounded many, and it has never been unearthed. What has been discovered is the ghostly figure of Blackbeard himself, whose spirit seems to have returned to the Virginia coast to guard his prize. If you plan on visiting the park at dusk, be warned. Allegedly, folks have spotted the headless ghost of Blackbeard appearing before them.
Natural Wonders In First Landing State Park
Complete with cypress groves, live oaks, Spanish moss, and boardwalk trails, First Landing State Park is truly a world of its own.
According to legend, the cypress swamps of First Landing served as an important source of fresh water during the War of 1812.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy features of the park is the presence of Spanish moss in Virginia. The nearly tropical climate of this swampland makes an ideal spot for Spanish moss to flourish.
In fact, First Landing State Park is largely considered to be the northernmost point where you'll find Spanish moss growing.
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Catch the lighting at just the right hour and you'll even experience the incredible phenomenon known as a "swamp rainbow." This natural occurrence happens due to oils released by decaying vegetation.
If you've been curious to see a rainbow swamp in Virginia, this is one of the best places to find one!
Hiking Trails In First Landing State Park
There are nine trails in the park that cover a total of 19 miles. Many of these trails are interconnected so hikers can choose a route that suits them.
The Osmanthus Trail at First Landing State Park is the perfect candidate for those seeking a relatively flat, shaded trail that takes approximately one hour to complete.
Exploring these low-elevation bottomlands, hikers can look forward to spotting all sorts of wildlife, from red-bellied water snakes to woodpeckers, herons, egrets, and turtles.
The swamps feel like a world of their own. Abundant in bald cypress trees, Spanish moss, and loblolly pines, this ecosystem is one of the most unique -- and endangered -- in all of Virginia.
With so much to explore at First Landing State Park, you may be tempted to extend your stay. Overnight accommodations include traditional campsites as well as these incredible yurts.
Have you ventured to First Landing State Park recently? What did you think? Be sure to share your favorite parts about this beloved state park with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! And if you’re more of a mountain person, you might be thinking that Grayson Highlands is one of the best state parks in Virginia… and you wouldn’t be wrong!
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More to Explore
State Parks In Virginia
Beth C. |September 28, 2023
What are some of the best state parks in Virginia?
Virginia is home to a treasure trove of natural spaces just waiting to be explored! Below you'll find a list of some of the best state parks in Virginia:
First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach
Hungry Mother State Park, Marion
Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane
Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson
Occoneechee State Park, Clarksville
Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield
High Bridge Trail State Park, Green Bay
Douthat State Park, Millboro
Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles
Westmoreland State Park, Montross
Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
Wilderness Road State Park, Ewing
Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry
Claytor Lake State Park, Dublin
Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart
Lake Anna State Park, Lake Anna
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Huddleston
To be fair, every single one of Virginia's state parks is worth visiting! To learn more about the places that we listed above, be sure to check out our ultimate guide to some of the best state parks in Virginia.
What are some of the best trails in Virginia?
Virginia is a hiker's dream come true! For proof of this, look no further than the following list of the best trails in Virginia:
Old Rag Mountain Loop
McAfee Knob via Appalachian Trail
Dark Hollow Falls Trail
Bear's Den Park Trail
Blackrock Summit via Trayfoot Mountain and Appalachian Trail
Scott's Run River Trail
Appalachian Trail to Apple Orchard Falls to Cornelius Creek Loop
Cedar Run, White Oak, Old Rag, Weakley Hollow, and Nicholson Hollow Trail
