While the eastern shore of Virginia may not have as many trails as Maryland’s eastern shore or Delaware, it seems as though almost every trail on Virginia’s eastern shore has a boardwalk or two, some of which have some breath-taking views. Here are our picks for the best boardwalk trails on Virginia’s eastern shore.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge has multiple trails with varying scenery and potential wildlife sightings. Wildlife Drive is a great place to ride a bike, and the Swan Cove trail provides access to a beautiful beach, but if you’re looking for boardwalks, we recommend heading to the Woodlands Trail for a boardwalk trail spur that leads to an observation deck with frequent sightings of the world-famous ponies!
Brownsville Preserve
Not far from the town of Nassawadox is The Nature Conservancy’s Brownsville Preserve. The boardwalk here is nothing more than some simple wooden planks lined up through a damp area near the beginning of the trail, but it makes for some great photo ops! Be sure to hike the whole trail to take in the view from the observation deck overlooking the barrier islands.
Savage Neck Dunes
Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages a number of Natural Area Preserves. These preserves usually have higher levels of protection based on fragile natural resources or endangered species, but visitation is still permitted at some of them. Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve is a gem of a place to visit, with towering dunes and a nice trail system to explore, but erosion and fragile habitat are things to be aware of when visiting. Luckily, DCR has constructed a boardwalk to minimize visitors from straying too far off the marked trail, while still allowing them to explore the dune system.
Cape Charles NAP
This might be one of the shortest trails on Virginia’s eastern shore, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting! Most of the trail at the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve is a raised boardwalk, allowing visitors to see the tall dunes and forested coastal habitats while still keeping the impact of human visitation minimal to the fragile ecosystem.
Kiptopeke State Park
Decades ago, before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was constructed, a ferry transported travelers from Cape Charles to Virginia Beach. Today, the ferry terminal area has been turned into Kiptopeke State Park. The park has over 5 miles of trails to explore, some of which have boardwalks that pass through the woods and turn into giant staircases that climb the huge dunes, leading you to sweeping, elevated views of the Chesapeake Bay.
Check out more boardwalk trails in Delaware and on Maryland's eastern shore: