Are you looking for stroller-accessible trails to walk with your children, nieces, nephews or grandkids? You are in luck because there are seven state parks that include unique trails and walkways that you must check out.
These seven locations offer scenic corridors around the various park locations and are accessible for walking with a stroller. These strolls around each park will also provide nature, wildlife and land education for all ages, and most parks have a playground area that your little ones will enjoy.
Get those strollers ready and get outdoors to enjoy at least one of these walks soon.
Mulberry Creek Boardwalk at Belle Isle State Park
Located in Lancaster, Virginia, Belle Isle State Park offers seven miles of shoreline along the Northern Neck's Rappahannock River and provides access to Mulberry and Deep creeks.
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Mulberry Creek Boardwalk (PDF) is a scenic 0.17-mile walk that will accommodate a stroller while providing a beautiful view of the creek. The boardwalk also has an observation pier so you can get a closer look at some waterfowl, eagles and osprey. The diverse ecosystems within the park make Belle Isle an excellent outdoor laboratory for environmental education, so bring some binoculars and your camera on this walk. There is also a fishing area if you are interested in saltwater bank fishing; a valid saltwater license is required.
Conservation Corps Fitness Trail and Rock Spring Pond Trail at Westmoreland State Park
Located in Montross, Virginia, on the Potomac River’s Northern Neck, Westmoreland State Park includes two stroller-friendly trails (PDF), a beach where you can look for fossils and shark’s teeth, and prime viewing locations for bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons and many other birds.
The Conservation Corps Fitness Trail is 1.6 miles long and has seven optional exercise stations along the way. These stations provide additional exercises if you are seeking to burn more calories on your hike. This path meanders around different types of trees, and when you walk along the trail, you can observe the flora and wildlife present on the coastal plain. This scenic stroller-friendly trail will provide a beautiful natural setting you can enjoy in any season.
Also at Westmoreland, Rock Spring Pond Trail is 0.6 miles long and is suited to novice hikers, parents with a stroller or small children on bikes. The lush forest provides the perfect setting with some shade and a pond with benches along the way to take in the scenery. The pond is suited to spotting or catching a variety of fish, including catfish, bream, bass and crappie; a freshwater fishing license is required. This walk is also suited to birdwatching and provides a unique wetland habitat for fauna such as salamanders. The trail's destination feature is a CCC-built dam that formed the pond, where you can see painted turtles.
There is also a playground near the Westmoreland Discovery Center so the children can burn off more energy before leaving the park. Rangers provide outdoor activities at both trail locations, and the hands-on Discovery Center focuses on environmental education for all ages.
Children's Discovery Area, TRACK Trail and Sensory Explorers' Trail at Sky Meadows State Park
Located in the northwestern part of Virginia in Delaplane, Sky Meadows State Park provides stroller-friendly walks and areas that focus on engaging participants of all ages. This park visit is a must, especially for young children.
Sky Meadow’s Children's Discovery Area is an open space for children and families to enjoy the park's countryside landscape and includes a Nature Explore Certified Outdoor Classroom, the first of its kind in Virginia. This space is designed to introduce children to the wonders of nature through learning opportunities and play stations focused on agriculture, nature and history that entice children to create art, make music, dance, climb, build, dig and crawl. This spot is located next to the picnic area.
Within the Children’s Discovery Area, a Kids in Parks TRACK Trail is 0.7 miles long and engages novice hikers of all ages. This trail crosses streams, passes through woodlands and traverses meadows before looping you back to its start, all while accommodating your stroller. There are several benches along the way so you can stop and enjoy the view. You will find TRACK Trail brochures at the trailhead kiosk and can choose a different brochure each time you visit to experience a different adventure during your exploration of the trail.
The Sensory Explorers’ Trail offers visitors of all ages and abilities the opportunity to explore with their senses. This trail is a 0.3-mile loop that can be traversed easily and includes learning opportunities posted at eight designated stops. Highlights include The Witness Rock, The Tree of Life and The Vernal Pool, all inviting explorers to pay close attention to the natural world that surrounds them.
The Sensory Explorers' Trail is located next to Sky Meadows’ picnic area, bathrooms and Children's Discovery Area. For the visually impaired, you can download an audio version of this trail (download directions on the website) that provides information about each stop. For the hearing impaired, a printed pamphlet of the audio tour is available at the trailhead.
With so much to do in one location, it’s easy to enjoy hours at Sky Meadows. Be sure to check out the nature and history programs offered throughout the year as well.
Gokotta Trail and Bass Bight Trail at Seven Bends State Park
Seven Bends State Park is a day-use park positioned in the Seven Bends area of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Comprising 1,066 acres, the park’s main purpose is to provide access to water- and land-based activities and educational opportunities to all. With this scenic backdrop, there is something for everyone to enjoy at this location.
Gokotta Trail is 0.8 miles long and is considered an easy stroll that offers a view of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. This stroller-accessible, relatively flat trail is intended for bringing your children and your dog. Dogs must be leashed at all times. This trail can be a destination hike for those wanting to travel to all the state parks and log their journey through the Trail Quest program.
Bass Bight Trail is a half-mile long and begins at the boat launch. This trail will loop you back in the direction you came while offering a tour of the park and river. Fishing, hiking and biking are additional activities that you can take part in along the trail.
Be sure to check out the Children’s Garden (PDF) on your visit, but don’t be fooled by the name, as this garden is for people of all ages to enjoy. The activities provide a look at the plants and wildlife within the park and allow for hands-on activities conducted by volunteers with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association.
Lake Trail Loop and Kids in Parks TRACK Trail at Hungry Mother State Park
Located in the mountains in southwest Virginia, Hungry Mother State Park is known for its woodlands and centerpiece 108-acre lake. This park provides two trails with stroller access.
The Lake Trail Loop is one of Hungry Mother’s most popular multi-use trails and is suited to a stroller. The trail goes around the lake, covering close to 6 miles with mostly gently rolling hills. As you hike the Lake Trail, learn the history of Hungry Mother and how it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Approximately 13 signs along the trail highlight the work of the CCC. This hike passes through various habitats as you traverse south-facing slope habitats, acidic cove habitats and north-facing slope habitats.
Hungry Mother’s Kids in Parks TRACK Trail is a 0.6-mile paved trail that helps children and adults learn about plants and animals in the park. This trail is geared toward kids with brochures that guide you along adventures on your walk. Kids can also become Junior Naturalists while learning about the history and nature of the area. Aspiring junior naturalists can get a book and complete at least six activities to be recognized.
New River Trail State Park
Located in southwest Virginia, the New River Trail is a 57-mile linear park that follows an abandoned railroad track and parallels the New River for 39 miles while passing through four counties and the city of Galax. New River Trail includes stroller access to two tunnels, three major bridges and 30 smaller bridges and trestles. The trail's gentle slope is intended for visitors of all ages to use. The majority of the trail is smooth gravel and dirt, providing an easy walk.
New River Trail is stroller friendly with the exception of the three-mile stretch from Draper (mile marker 6) to Hiwassee (mile marker 9), as it has a 340-foot rise and fall over those three miles.
New River Trail has many access sites; check out this PDF (PDF) with the locations to find the parking spot suited to your adventure.
A couple of areas to consider include a small park near the Cliffview access called Dannelly Park, where the trail is roughly 0.25 miles long with a tunnel nearby. The Foster Falls area of the park also has a playground.
High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and is suited to bringing your stroller, children and dog for a walk. Located in central Virginia, the trail is wide, level and generally flat. Once a railroad bed, this trail’s finely crushed limestone surface and dimensions are intended to allow many types of visitors to use it. The park’s centerpiece is the High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River.
There are many access points to this trail, so check out the trail guide before you go. The closest parking lot to the High Bridge is on Camp Paradise Road, where you will find the visitor center, High Bridge Station. This is a place to pick up snack, drinks and park merchandise. The High Bridge is accessible through all the parking areas, but the distance to the bridge will vary, so plan your hike accordingly. There is no water available along the trail outside of the visitor center, so you must bring your own.
You will see views as you hike along High Bridge Trail. Binoculars and a camera are useful to have for this outing. You can also have a picnic along the way, as the trail has picnic areas. Remember to leave no trace and pick up all trash before you continue your hike.
Engage with Virginia State Parks
Look for ranger-led programs for more information about the natural inhabitants of the park as well as hands-on learning experiences. Teaching the next generation about conservation and recreation is important to Virginia State Parks.
After enjoying at least one of these stroller-friendly hikes, share your photos on social media using #VaStateParks, especially as the seasons change. The parks are interested in seeing your photos as you experience each Virginia State Park. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy scenic and educational stroller-friendly walks in the parks.
