Best Hiking Trails in Kiptopeke State Park
Hike through the trails near the Kiptopeke State Park hotels and enjoy the natural scenery. Explore this unique coastal habitat with its diverse range of bird species to spot along the trails.
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1. Baywoods, Raptor, and Songbird Trail
This 2.9mi. loop of flat, wide, sandy trail is lightly trafficked and is suitable for any skill level. The path will also take you along half a mile of boardwalk over rolling dunes.
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2. Baywood, Raptor and Taylor Pond Trail
This 1.9mi. lightly-trafficked trail features a vast forest in its early planting stages. To the west side of the forest is the Taylor Pond, featuring two bird blinds that provide a platform for viewing the local wildlife, including cardinals and red-winged blackbirds.
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3. Southern Tip Bike and Hike Trail
The trail runs for 2.6mi. parallel to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel’s entrance. It loops through agricultural fields and a forest, offering a more secluded walk. Hikers and bikers can enjoy the view of the Chesapeake Bay along the path.
Best Family Activities in Kiptopeke State Park
Not much of a trekker? There are a variety of other outdoor activities you can enjoy near the Kiptopeke State Park cabins. The park provides access to the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay, where you can cast a line for some fishing, spot local and migratory birds, take a wagon ride through sand dunes and be at one with nature in the various ranger programs on offer – fun for the whole family.
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1. Bird-Watching
As a popular site for bird population studies, guests get to enjoy bird sighting activities as well as capturing, weighing, examining, banding, and releasing resident and migratory birds with the aid of resident rangers.
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2. Fishing
Get the family together and reel through the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The park features boat launching ramps and illuminated fishing piers for every fisherman’s needs. Running low on supplies? Don’t worry - you can get all your fishing supplies in the commercial district within the Cape Charles town.
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3. Wagon Ride
Explore the park from a tractor-drawn wagon perspective. The one-hour ride trails through the maritime forest, coastal dunes, and further into the scenic wonders of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
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4. Educational Programs
For the history lovers, learn more about the park through the seasonal interpretive and educational programs held by the knowledgeable park rangers.