A Great Place to Hike, Bike, and Enjoy the Beach in Virginia
Kiptopeke State Park, here I come!
As some of you may know, I am spoiled. I am fortunate to split my time between Coastal Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, experiencing the best of both worlds- beach and mountains. My homes are 230 miles apart and it takes me the better part of 3.5 hours to make the trek on Friday nights. I don’t love the drive, but I do it because that’s how much I love being on trail. Hiking is hands down the highlight of my week. But there are some weekends that I just don’t have it in me after working 40 hours, commuting, and juggling all of my “adult” tasks. This is especially the case when there is rain in the forecast, or even worse, a heatwave. On those weekends I stay in Hampton Roads and explore locally. It’s not wilderness, or rugged, or backcountry, but the sights and smells of the beach are rewarding in their own ways. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to get rid of my hiker’s tan. Kiptopeke State Park, here I come!
On a recent summer weekend when the heat index was over 100 degrees, I opted to stay closer to home (and air conditioning) and visited Virginia’s Eastern Shore to explore Kiptopeke State Park. Kiptopeke is the perfect place to spend a hot weekend. So far, it is one of my favorite state parks.
August heat in Virginia is oppressive. The average humidity is over 75% and hiking even a short, easy trail feels hard. So, on my trip to Kiptopeke State Park, I packed my mountain bike instead of my hiking boots.
About Virginia’s Kiptopeke State Park
Kiptopeke is Virginia’s only state park on the Eastern Shore and offers access to the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Its name means “Big Water” and is a tribute to the original Native American inhabitants that occupied the land. Prior to becoming a state park, the site was used by the Virginia Ferry Corporation to connect travelers from the Eastern Shore to Hampton Roads. Once the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was built in the 1960’s, there was no longer a need for the ferries and the land was repurposed.
Today, Kiptopeke State Park offers many recreational amenities, including: tent camping, rv camping, cabin and yurt rentals, hiking trails, biking trails, a fishing pier, kayak rentals, picnic grounds, playgrounds, a camp store, and of course the beach.
How did my trip go?
It was amazing. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this park and I will definitely be making it a regular part of my summer routine.
The Bike Ride
As I mentioned earlier, due to the high temps, I opted for a bike ride instead of a hike. I am by no means a biker. I would describe my skill level as recreational at best and my bike came from a garage sale- no special or fancy equipment or training required for a trip to Kiptopeke!
The trails were relatively flat and made for a fun ride, with some amazing water views and good photo ops. It was easy to string together a 6-mile loop, with a few stops to get off my bike and follow the boardwalks down to the water.
With a decent sense of direction and any type of GPS, it would be difficult to get lost in this park. I highly suggest picking up a park map on the way in or downloading it from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation website as not all of the trails are currently displayed on AllTrails.
Of note, the Brown Pelican Trail was my absolute favorite. It traces a bluff, paralleling the coastline and offers multiple views of the bay and a few benches for relaxation. You do need to be careful on this trail as there are a few steep drop-offs, but most were fenced off and had signage. On the day of my visit, the water was so clear, it felt like getting a glimpse of the Caribbean.
The Camp Store
Partway through my ride, I took a break at the camp store to buy a much-needed popsicle. For such a small place, the store has a good selection of snacks, ice cream, and camping supplies. They also rent kayaks, paddle boards, and bikes. The prices were reasonable, and I was grateful to have an ice pop on such a hot day.
The Native Plant Garden
The last stop on my ride before heading back to the car for a quick to change into my bathing suit was Taylor Pond. Taylor Pond seems like it would be a good location for birding and has a garden of native plant species. There is a bench here to stop at, which would be perfect for a picnic on a cooler day.
The Beach
Post ride, it was time to head over to the beach. Park at the end of the main road beyond the camp store and walk down the coastline for maximum solitude. The beach was definitely the highlight of the trip. The water was calm with minimal waves and a pleasant temp for floating. The waterline was perfect for planting the beach chair and reading a book. You can also see the “ghost ships” from the shoreline. These ships were used to transport goods during the 30’s and 40’s, but have since been sunk to protect against tides and storm surges.
Camping
If you decide to camp, you will be able to walk to a different beach access from the campground area. That stretch of beach had less activity on the day I was there.
I did not camp on this visit, but plan to do so on the next. Check back in 2024 to hear about my Kiptopeke State Park camping trip.
Getting There: Kiptopeke State Park is just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Entrance Fees: If you don’t have a Virginia State Park Pass, the fee to enter is $7. Camping, fishing, and equipment rentals are extra.
