What a lovely arboretum. It is a good size for this area. Tons of trees and spring is amazing. Camillas are everywhere and are gorgeous. Great walk. Mostly dirt path. Views: TREES, water areas. Barns and structures, bridges, flowers, wildlife , great for adults and kids , gazebo . Also great to book events. Easy hike and even in the summer it is great because it is shaded wooded area My favorite when we arrived one of our visits there was knowledgeable parks and rec. gave us a history lesson that was AWESOME!!!!!!!! read more

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Came here on a whim but probably should have made sure I was ready to visit here. When I arrived, I actually had to use the restroom. Bad timing as there is only a portapotty in the parking lot for needs. It was so so clean but I wanted to wash my hands after and there was no water, water fountain no water, water hose, sink, and spigot no water. So I used my drinking water fountain for hand washing. Not ideal. After that fiasco, I walked across the street and went to the trails. I luckily took a picture of the map as I almost immediately got lost in the trail while thinking I was going to make it to the lake. There are bridges that are luckily marked and trees that are marked to kind of mark where you are. I found this out only after 30 minutes lost in the woods. There are many splits in the path that throws your sense of direction off. Anyway, I guess I enjoyed being lost on the trail and there was not much to see except a few bugs, squirrels, and trees. There was only one bush that had flowers and the lake was nice, full of turtles but other than that this is just a peaceful walk around the forest. There are little creeks, lots of homes, and different species of trees that line the trail. There also has been some vandalism as there are burn spots where it looks like some firebug was trying to start a fire on the trail. Overall, a peaceful walk but make sure you take a picture of the map in the beginning and pay attention to the markings on the trees and bridge so you don't get lost. read more

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We absolutely love the trail here!! It's across the road from the parking lot, and has multiple paths you can take. We've been here 4 times and still haven't explored it all. I'm excited to see it in full bloom, but even in the winter months it's been a great place to take the kids and explore. There are tons of fallen logs and places to get close to the creek... who even knew we had a freshwater creek in Chesapeake?! There's even a little shelter that overlooks the creek at one spot and is a great place to stop for a picnic. So excited to explore the rest of this place. read more

Chesapeake Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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An unassuming park/arboretum in the middle of a neighborhood that spans quite a distance. There is plenty of parking and one port a potty that I saw. There's a beautiful gazebo, but no seating provided. I visited two days in a row. The first day, it was HOT! Thankfully there is plenty of shade on the trails across the street. But then there were bugs to be expected that were relentless. We were mobile feasts. So like others have mentioned, bring your bug spray in the summer. It ended up raining hard, but because of the canopy of the trees we didn't get drenched. There are a lot of bridges and entrances. At least five near the parking lot and three or four that spill out to the Oak Brooke neighborhood, I too got lost a few times. There are maps peppered throughout the arboretum, to help keep you on track. The trails all somewhat connect to each other, if not you just back track. The access to the lake isn't that wide. The ground is super soft so it's easy on the joints, however one needs to be mindful of the roots and uneven terrain. There is slight elevation, nothing remarkable. I only saw a couple of picnic tables in the trails area itself. Near the the parking lot there are a lot more. Overall, I wouldn't say this is my favorite place to walk. But it is nice and quiet and shaded well. I saw several people walk their dogs on the trails. Dogs are permitted as long as they are on a leash. The trails combined are roughly 3.5 miles. On the second day, we happened to see a master gardener. She was very nice and friendly and showed us the garden and explained some of the herbs and produce planted. It's wonderful to know that they bring whatever is grown to communities that don't have the access to such food. I also didn't realize one could use recyclable mesh bags to grow things in, if you have limited space. read more

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I went on a hike with a good friend of mine and I absolutely loved visiting. So much so that I failed to take all that many pictures at all. Parking is free and ample across the street from the entrance. I visited right before the trees and flowers began blooming. I have a feeling it looks glorious there now given the weather warming up. I really appreciated how clean the trails were too. No visible trash, dog droppings, or anything. The trails are in loops and hard to get lost in. Well, my friend and I are very directionally challenged so we still got lost. Once you hit the lake, it's time to loop back and every time we did, we somehow managed to end up at the same lake again. Like 3 times!! LOL I'm looking forward to trekking through with my beagles again in the future. read more

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Recently a friend of mine and his wife had their babyshower there. It is truly a jewel tucked away and beautiful. Check out the landscape or nature trails nearby. Ions ago it seems I was just a young lady planting trees there in high-school with the Chesapeake Teen Council. Great times :) read more

Another great family time visiting the paths and having lunch at the picnic tables! Such a beautiful area to walk around and take in. If you cross the street for the path just don't forget bug spray they are bad during the summer! We love to grab some lunch eat at the picnic tables and them walk and enjoy the nature. read more

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Chesapeake Arboretum is quite small. The farmhouse was closed. However, the grounds and flowers were well kept. Not a lot of parking spaces. The trails for hiking is across the street. read more

Chesapeake Arboretum - Outside - Parks Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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This place really is a hidden gem. The area of the arboretum itself is fairly small. There's a really nice gazebo and a few benches and tables that make for a nice area to have a picnic. It's nestled in between a quiet little suburb area and across the street is a hiking trail that I've never been down. I like to go here to play games like Pokémon Go or Wizards United as it's a nice little hot spot for those games. But the grounds are well kept and it's a great outdoor area to take a pet and just enjoy pretty flowers and trees. read more

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I can't speak for the Arboretum as I haven't fully experienced it. I've only walked the trails across the street. Overall I enjoyed myself, it was early morning and kind of gave off crystal lake woods vibes but I like I said, I enjoyed myself. I do think the trails are a little hard to read when coming to crossing or pathways. The color marks help but you definitely have to be vigilant. read more

I thought I was familiar with just about every park in Hampton Roads as I have made it my duty to seek and find them all. So I was pleasantly surprised the other day when a fellow Yelper checked-in to the Chesapeake Arboretum. What is this? A hiking spot I am not yet acquainted with? This is why I love Yelp and am checking my feed continuously: to be introduced to places I might never discover otherwise. The first stop as you arrive is the amply spaced parking lot. According to the map, this is where the Caleb Williamson Farmhouse is along with some port-a-johns and special gardens. I did not check out this section today as I had my dog, Bug, along for the hike; I will be sure to do so next time. Additionally, there are some poop bag dispensers in the parking lot so be sure to grab one if you need it before heading to the trails. Across the street are where the trails are located; the road is not super busy and there are a couple of crosswalks so it's fairly safe crossing. The arboretum is 48-acres and has been at this current location since 1996. There are several trail maps throughout the area but I found it a bit confusing. It seemed like there were more trails than the map shows. Suffice it to say, if you walk all of the trails and little side paths, you will get in a decent hike. The left (north) side of the trails were far less crowded than the right (south). In fact, I think we encountered only one person on that section as opposed to several on the other. The trails are fairly flat but be careful for tree stumps. I think it would make a great area for trail runs as long as there aren't too many people to maneuver around. There are lots of bridges and benches throughout to keep things interesting. The arboretum is bordered by homes (how cool would it be to live behind this amazing spot and go hiking every day?!) so you are not fully ensconced in the woods, but it's still a real gem to find in the city. Come check out the Chesapeake Arboretum and enjoy some time walking through a mature hardwood forest--nothing is better for soothing the soul. read more

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Perfect area to go on a picnic, there was alot of shade, so it's enjoyable even on hot days. There was also alot of maps throughout the trails. Also a great area to take photo's in because of the pretty trees. The only downfall was that there was only some parking spots, not alot. read more

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They have a 300 year old house and they supply all the trees for the whole city of Chesapeake. There are many snakes, deer and many animals. This place is also used for scientific purposes to test the water for the habitat . They lost 67 trees because of hurricane Matthew. They get their trees from the department of agriculture. They have just 50 acres of land and have about 135 species of trees. The Williamson mccoys family started it all. Caleb Williamson and family built the house and the property. It was in 1996 the place was donated. There are 45 acres of walking trails, lakes and wild life. Many benches were built from the pecan trees that were blown down from hurricane. This is an amazing place for field trips and a very educational experience. The people here were so generous to educate us about the place and we got to tour their garden as well. They have many volunteers and people that work here that keep this place running. They invest their time in making sure they maintain the outdoors. The trails are a must and it is a memorable experience in getting a taste of nature and the outdoors. There are many bridges on the trails. Unfortunately one was restricted. There are markings on the trees to indicate what color trail u would be hiking. We walked the white and yellow trail. I enjoyed the education experience. Seeing their ginkgo trees, fig trees and pecan trees had me learning more about the habitat and our ecosystem. My kids loved picking up leaves and finding interesting bugs and caterpillars. It's a nice serene location, a lot more smaller than the botanical gardens but nice place for nature exploring read more

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Perfect date spot if you and your partner love nature. It has lots of shade so you can come here even if it's really hot. There's also lots of maps throughout the trail so you will never get lost. read more

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A true hidden gem in Chesapeake! There's a large parking lot. The trails are perfectly marked. There are several bridges within the trails and even many benches and picnic tables in case you want to have a picnic. I came here with my 4 year old after being snowed in for several days and it was much needed for both he and I. I even saw several people with their dogs! I'm sure they loved it! Even though it was cold the hiking kept you warm. I probably wouldn't want to come in the summer; it's probably sweltering and full of mosquitos. Anyway...GREAT FIND! read more

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I like walking along the trails of this pristine untouched area. You need to stay on the trails and check yourself for ticks when you get done as the trail in some areas is very narrow. The wildlife is abundant and makes a fun place to run on the main lines. While the arboretum backs up to houses it is still raw and a nice place to take a long stroll or jog. read more

A hidden gem in Chesapeake! Trails: Clean, well groomed with plenty of wood chips making it a comfortable walk or run. There are also numerous benches and plant descriptions making it a great get-a-way for a picnic or enjoying the outdoors. Parking: More than enough room for visitors across the street from the trails. Overall: The trails are a little on the small size. I think the longest is 1.1mi so I have to give 4 Stars. read more

Chesapeake Arboretum - Trail map - Parks Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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My family enjoy this little slice of heaven. The is a great park to go to to walk the dogs or just get some shade on a hot day. The park is not usually busy as it sits behind a shopping center and off the main road. read more

Fantastic trails despite being squeezed into a small area. Several small loop trails ensure that you can come for a quick walk with your dog or go hiking all day. read more

Chesapeake Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

Very well-maintained park. Plenty of picnic tables IN THE SHADE. There are hiking trails as well.

As a photographer, I am always looking for new and versatile places to shoot at. The first time I came, I was only aware of the area with the red barn which is a great pop to photos. Unfortunately I visited shortly after our hurricane in October and saw some minor destruction. I came back on this 2nd visit a few weeks ago and found the trails I have been reading about but noticed there was STILL damage from the hurricane. The map on the trails said there was a bridge coming up but we did not find one so we ended up walking a lot further for the photo session. (poor girl in heels lol) We discovered where the bridge was to be, instead was only a log for crossing over a bit of water. This really limits those who aren't dressed with work out attire or don't feel like risking the fall. Otherwise a very beautiful place but just wish the fallen trees were taken care of since it has been many months since the bad storm. read more

I love this park! It is absolutely beautiful - but it is easy to get a little lost without GPS. There are still unsafe parts of the park damaged by Hurricane Matthew that haven't been fixed(damaged bridges, trees blocking paths, etc), but that just makes it even more exciting! read more

Am I missing something here? I came here in early June and arrived to 2 locked barns and little to no flowers in bloom. It took me awhile but then I figured out the trails were ACROSS the street. They're pretty small, uneventful trails but on the map it shows two Carnelian gardens so me and my 3 year old daughter went traipsing through the woods to find them. When we arrived, we found a couple barren gardens that once were maple trees? I don't understand how this is an arboretum. Maybe we came at the wrong time of year but I certainly wouldn't come out here again for the trails and I would make sure there were some flowers in bloom. If you want some serious hiking in Chesapeake, I would head to the Dismal Swamp Canal trail. read more

My fiance and I decided to see what the arboretum was all about and I must say I am just glad that we did not get lost on the trail. There are few maps along the way and the paths are not designed for a romatic walk in the woods. I guess it is fun if you're into trees, but if you just want a nice walk, go to Oak Grove Lake Park. read more

Utter disappointment. So upon arriving at the arboretum, we were a bit confused - as other people have mentioned - the trails are on the other side of the street. We walked around the two buildings, trying to figure out why this was called an arboretum. Eventually, I saw a map and realized the trails are on the other side of the street. So we started walking the "trails." They arent really trails, just some paths cut through the woods that butt up against people houses. Occasionally, there are some small signs at the base of trees designating their genus. There is a "lake", which is just a pond in the backyard of some houses. There is trash on the ground, the trail markers are barely visible, and just completely unimpressive overall. read more

Didn't know this was reviewable! It's awesome to run, walk, take dogs and kids, pleasure or education... it's a diverse experience, well maintained and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended! read more

Pros: B-E-A-U-T-F-U-L! The trails have lots of different plants and trees with little displays saying what they are. One of the huge benefits of all the trees is that it's a bit cooler in the park because of all the shade. Also there's a nice creek going through so you get to hear that, which is nice. There's is plenty of parking across form the park. Cons: The trails do get a bit confusing. There are several maps and the trails are color coded (the trails are denoted by paint on the trees). It seems that somebody went in with spray paint and painted over some of the original paint. My dog and I take the while trail and several places you can see where it was originally white, but it was spray painted blue. Also if you have kids you might want to watch out for where they painted penises on benches. The trails are pretty short, I've only taken the white trailer, the longest at 1.1 miles. This is more of a hiking trial in some places opposed to walking trials and I've seen snakes and HUGE spiders, which isn't super surprising considering they are trails, but I hadn't seen snakes in the city park down the street! Also if you take a dog, like I do, you'll notice that there's only one place to get doggy bags in the parking lot (that I have seen) and few trash cans. There's plenty of recycling through the trail, though if you have a water bottle or can. I gave only 3 starts because there were way more pros for me than cons. I prefer the city park because they have wider, cleaner and a longer trail. But if you want something more outdoors-y this is the place for you! read more