Hiking at Kiptopeke State Park

Bald Eagle Boardwalk

The Bald Eagle Boardwalk is handicap accessible and is located at the northwest corner of the campground just north of the yurt and amphitheater. It is the northernmost boardwalk and near the park?s northern boundary. As the elevation above the beach is greater here than in other areas, the walkway provides a nice overlook of the Chesapeake Bay and Cape Charles.

Blaze Color: Green

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Bayview Overlook Trail

This trail and overlook are only accessible from the Mockingbird Trail, in the parks southern corner. The overlook does not provide access to the beach. From this fenced overlook one can see the bay, the high bridges and the fishing pier to the north. Offshore you can see the arc of nine large cargo ships made of concrete that were sunk just off the beach in water so shallow that much of the hulls rise above the water. The World War II-era vessels were placed here in 1949 to form a breakwater around the Kiptopeke Ferry Terminal, where ferries from Little Creek, across the Chesapeake Bay, docked for fifteen years prior to the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 1964.

Blaze Color: Red

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Baywoods Trail

The Baywoods Trail is a moderate difficulty, 1.2 mile loop that is accessible from the picnic area, the Raptor Trail, and the Wood Warbler Trail and Walkway. The trail also provides access to the Peregrine Passage Walkway. The trail leads users to views of osprey nests, a butterfly garden, a bird banding station and numerous fields of seasonal wildflowers. A feature of this and other trails in the park, is the interpretive signs about the migratory birds that make this one of our nation's most important bird population study areas.

Blaze Color: Blue

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Chickadee Trail

The Chickadee Trail is a .2 mile,easy trail that is accessible from the Songbird Trail in two places and subsequently provides two points of access to the Mockingbird Trail. The trail runs through coastal forest, agricultural fields and dense thickets of American holly. This 'quiet corner' of the park is home to numerous deer and other wildlife.

Blaze Color: Yellow

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Mockingbird Trail

The Mockingbird Trail is a .4 mile, moderate difficulty trail that is accessible from the Chickadee Trail in two places and subsequently provides access to the short Bayview Overlook Trail. The Mockingbird Trail runs through coastal forest with various hardwood trees, and dense thickets of American holly. Please do not wander off of the trail as this area, and the nearby beach,are part of a protected environment.

Blaze Color: Red

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Osprey Boardwalk

The Osprey Boardwalk is north of the fishing pier and accessible from the yurt access road. The walkway rises and falls via flights of stairs as it crosses the dunes, providing views and beach access.

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Peregrine Boardwalk

The Peregrine Boardwalk is the southernmost trail and boardwalk in the park. It can be accessed from the Baywoods Trail but is not handicap accessible due to the considerable number of stairs along its length. The boardwalk provides access to the beach, however the area south of the walkway is a protected environment and park guests are asked not to enter this area in order to protect this fragile environment.

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Raptor Trail

The Raptor Trail is a 1.3 mile long, wide, moderate difficulty trail that is accessible from the Baywoods Trail, the Songbird Trail, the picnic area, and from the main park road north of the contact station. It goes around the cabin area and like the Songbird Trail follows the edges of large fields of tall grasses and wildflowers where many birds, such as the red winged blackbird, may be spotted. Trail users are reminded to be courteous of the private property that abuts portions of this trail.

Blaze Color: Orange

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Songbird Trail

Songbird Trail is an easy 1.5 mile loop in the southern part of the park. It is accessible from the Raptor Trail, the Chickadee Trail and from an alternate park access off of Route 13. The eastern leg runs close to this road while the western leg winds throughout tall grasses and wildflowers adjacent to the coastal forest. As the name suggests, songbirds can be seen and heard and the large grassy area provides bedding areas for numerous white-tailed deer.

Blaze Color: Silver

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Taylor Pond Trail

The Taylor Pond is a short, 0.3 mile trail that takes users around Taylor Pond near the east boundary of the park. The trail starts and ends on the Raptor Trail.

Blaze Color: Green

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Wood Warbler Boardwalk

The Wood Warbler Boardwalk is just south of the fishing pier and is handicap accessible from the parking area near the boat ramp. The trail may also be accessed from the Baywoods Trail.

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Wren Trail

The Wren Trail is a short easy trail that connects the Raptor Trail to the Cabin Loop road.

Blaze Color: Brown

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Hawk Observatory

Since 1963, Kiptopeke has been the site of bird population studies. Sponsored by the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory and licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, volunteers capture, examine, weigh, band and release resident and migratory birds each year from mid-August through November. In the raptor research area, hawks, kestrels, osprey and other birds of prey are observed and banded from September through November. Kiptopekes hawk observatory is among the top 15 nationwide.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (757) 331-2267
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 10.0980 -75° 58.9460

Butterfly Garden

Established and maintained by Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory. This garden was designed to attract resident and migratory butterfly species.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Closes at dusk
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:37° 10.0430 -75° 58.9000