City of Chesapeake Virginia
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • A-Z Index
  • My Chesapeake
  • Welcome from the Mayor
  • Real Time Updates
  • Text Size - Medium
  • Text Size - Large
  • Text Size - Extra
  • Residents
    • A-Z Citizen's Guide
    • Adopt a Pet
    • Boards & Commissions
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • City Employment
    • City Services – Request
    • Events Planning
    • Farmers Market
    • Fine Arts
    • Human Services
      • Adult Protective Services
      • Child Protective Services
      • Licensed Child Care
      • Parent and Youth Resources
      • Senior Services
    • Library
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
      • Maps Gallery
      • Property QuickSearch
    • Mosquito Control Commission
    • New Residents
    • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessments
    • Sister Cities of Chesapeake
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • WCTV Chesapeake Television
      • Watch WCTV Live!
      • On Demand Video
      • Program Schedule

    Lock Park Reader

  • Visitors
    • Visiting Chesapeake?
      • Official Visitor Center
      • Chesapeake Tourism
      • Climate and Weather
      • History of Chesapeake
    • Chesapeake Expressway
    • City Activities and Info
      • City Calendar of Events
      • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
      • Library
      • Directions to City Facilities
    • Attractions
      • Arboretum
      • City Park
      • Deep Creek Park
      • Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
      • Fun Forest
      • Northwest River Park
      • Oak Grove Lake Park
      • Planetarium
      • Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation

    Birding Couple on a Trail

  • Business
    • Resources for New and Relocating Businesses
      • Economic Development
      • Opening a New Business
      • New Business Listing
      • Tenant Build-Outs
      • Development Review Process in Chesapeake
    • Doing Business with the City
      • Process
      • Bids and RFPs
    • Development, Land Use & Construction
      • Comprehensive Guide
    • Resources
      • Building Permits and Inspections Information
      • Forms and Permits List
      • Get Your Permit Online
      • Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
      • GIS: Geospatial Data
    • Departments
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Development & Permits
      • Economic Development
      • Health Department
      • Planning
      • Public Utilities
      • Public Works
      • Treasurer

    Office Building

  • Government
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • City Council
      • Meetings
      • Members & Mayor
      • Upcoming Agenda
      • Previous Meeting Agendas, Videos & Minutes
      • City Clerk's Office
      • Watch Meeting Live on WCTV
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
    • Boards and Commissions
    • City Departments
    • City Budget
      • Operating & Capital Improvement Budgets
    • Constitutional Offices
      • Clerk of the Circuit Court
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Commonwealth's Attorney
      • Sheriff
      • Treasurer
    • City Manager
    • Animal Services
    • Fire
    • Human Resources
    • Human Services
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessor
    • Planning Dept
    • Public Works
    • Public Utilities
    • Police
    • Voter Registrar

    City Council Chamber

  • Online Services
    • Request a Service Online
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • Online Payments
      • Treasurer's Payment Center
      • Income Tax Return Information
    • Public Library
      • Library Card Application
      • Meeting Rooms
    • Parks and Recreation Online Class Registration
    • Property Information
      • Real Estate Property Information Search
      • Property Quick Search
      • GIS Map Gallery
      • School Zone Lookup
      • Outstanding Real Estate Taxes & Fees Information
    • Voting
      • Where do I vote?
      • Who is my Legislator?
    • Construction
      • Apply for a Permit
      • Inspection Results
      • Request an Inspection
    • Public Safety
      • File a Police Crime Report
      • Interactive Crime Map

    Great Bridge Bridge and Tender House

I Want To
  • Register for a Class
  • Attend an Event
  • See the Calendar of Events
  • Rent a Park or Facility Space
This Section
  • Northwest River Park and Campground Home
  • Directions and Maps
  • Activities
    • Bird Watching
    • Boating
    • Equestrian
    • Fishing
    • GeoCaching
    • Hiking
    • SkyWatch
      • SkyWatch
    • Disc Golf
  • Camping/Cabins Rentals
  • Chesapeake Outdoors Newsletter
  • Park Shelter Rentals
  • All Parks & Facilities
  • Parks, Recreation and Tourism Home
share
print
 > City of Chesapeake, Virginia > Government > City Agencies, Departments, and Offices > Departments > Parks, Recreation and Tourism > Parks and Facilities > Northwest River Park and Campground > Activities > Hiking at Northwest River Park

Hiking at Northwest River Park


Hiking along Northwest River Park's many trails brings nature up close. Venture down Otter Point, encounter a deer on the "Deer Island Trail," or stroll along any of the park's more than seven miles of winding trails. A portion of the Molly Mitchell trail is accessible to the physically disabled.

Visit other TRAILS in Chesapeake!

Northwest River Park Trail System Map. Adobe PDF - graphic icon

Trail through the woods - photo

Trail Descriptions

INDIAN CREEK TRAIL - 2.50 MILES

This trail was named for the creek that borders the western edge of the park. The trail was purposely directed to lead under a picturesque arched hickory tree with resurrection fern. The resurrection fern curls up and turns brown when it is dry and turns green when it rains.

MOLLY MITCHELL TRAIL - 2.00 MILES

Molly Mitchell Trail begins in the Molly Mitchell Meadow. These areas were named in honor of the former land owners who resided in the place where the park’s group picnic shelter now stands.

Scenic Slough - A slough (pronounced slew) is a tributary of a creek that helps to absorb excess water in the swamp during periods of high water. This area is an ideal wildlife habitat for wood ducks, otters, squirrels, reptiles, and amphibians.

Blue Heron Bridge - This bridge was built by Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout project.

OTTER POINT TRAIL - 1.00 MILES

This trail was named for a point of land referenced on old maps where Smith Creek empties into the Northwest River. Otters are sometimes observed here.

Large bald cypress tree - Although a water tolerant species, bald cypress need dry ground for its seed to germinate. This particular tree, several hundred years old, has a hollow base, which makes an ideal home for swamp mammals. The charred bark inside the base indicates a fire occurred sometime ago.

Plow marks and furrows - During the Prohibition Era and the Great Depression of the 1930’s this area was under cultivation. Once the farming ceased, the land reverted back to mixed pine/hardwood forest.

SHUTTLE TRAIL - 1.25 MILES

This hike or bike trail runs parallel to the Northwest River Park’s lake and connects the park’s entrance at the Northern Terminal to the Southern Terminal on the bank of the Northwest River. All of the hiking trails in Northwest River Park connect to the shuttle trail. A dock, restrooms, and picnic tables are located at the Southern Terminal.

DEER ISLAND TRAIL - 0.75 MILES

This hike or bike trail runs from the campground road through deer island and connects with the shuttle trail. The Deer Island Trail passes by the Primitive Camping Area which is available to youth service groups.

For more information, call Northwest River Park at
757-421-7151 or 757-421-3145.

 
City of Chesapeake Virginia

City Hall Address:
306 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Blue Heron
Connect with Us Connect with Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • WCTV Chesapeake Television
  • All Social Media Sites
  • Email and RSS Notifications
  • Chesapeake Alert
  • Other City of Chesapeake Websites
QuickLinks QuickLinks
  • Request a City Service
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • News Room
  • Calendar
  • WCTV Chesapeake Television
  • Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Policies Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
© Copyright 1996 - 2017 • City of Chesapeake • All rights reserved