It's been a long time since last on the Noland Trail and I really enjoyed my two hour, six mile hike. I started at Lions Bridge where there is limited parking. Much more availability of parking is at the Mariners Museum. The Noland Trail is not on public land, it's private and donated for public use. The trails snakes around the James River with beautiful scenery of woods and water. The trails snakes around is well marked. Every bridge has a marker, there are a lot of them. What impressed me the most was the trail is engineered. There is a massive amount of drainage to keep it dry. The elevations have wood ties to help with climbing. It's the most engineered trail I've ever hiked. You have options with length, but it's approximately 5-6 miles. There are no trash cans, or restrooms. However, the Mariners Museum has both and they welcome hikers. When talking to several friends about the Noland Trail they are unaware of its existence. Don't snooze on this trail and enjoy with the warmer weather. read more

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The Noland Trail is one of my favorite spots to bike! I love soaking in all the views, the scenery is peaceful, and there's always something new to see. The trail is really well maintained, with a nice variety of hills, twists, and turns that keep the ride interesting without being too intense. There's plenty of parking and multiple entrances, which makes access super easy no matter where you're coming from. And don't be surprised if you spot some wildlife along the way. Whether you're biking, walking, or just looking to unwind outdoors, the Noland Trail is a gem! read more

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This is one of my favorite local trails! It offers 5 miles of a beautiful walking experience!!!! Every place on this trail is picture perfect! You may even see turtles! It's well kept so it's a lot safer than some that are covered with leaves! The staff is always nice in the museum when you have to use the restroom! I highly recommend this trail! read more

I first went on the Noland Trail in the Fall of 2020. I gotta say at the end of the day, I was very tired....but happy I challenged myself. Even though I chickened out on the last leg by going on a straight path, I felt satisfied. Most recently, a friend of mine asked if some of us could go walk with him this past Saturday. He was a 1st timer so I had free time on my hands. Would this walk turn out to be better than the first go-around? The 8 of us all met at the starting location before heading out. The weather for the morning was perfect. In the 70s and a bit hot, but with plenty of shade and a few wind gusts, it was beautiful. Since the path is narrow, we had to walk in a straight line at times which was fine. And we ran into a few groups as well getting their steps in. A few of us were also counting how many steps we took during the trek. Along with checking out a few overlooks, we also saw a couple of deer in the woods. Talk about a perfect site. And remember when I mentioned about taking the straight path near the end? Well friends, I did the whole loop. And it was absolutely worth it. And everyone enjoyed their time and company. This was a great walk on a cool Saturday morning. Even though I did ache for a while afterwards, it was worth it. I will be back for another round soon :) read more

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I love this five mile trail although I always turn around at the two mile mark. It clearly marks how far you have gone so you don't need to rely on your smartphone apps. The turtles at the near entrance are my favorite part of this trail. I love that it is shaded by mature trees, but it still gets pretty hot. Take a water bottle if you go on a 90° day like we did. Lots of parking is available. read more

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Love this trail! It's about a 5mile loop round trip. I usually walk it, but it's also a great path to run on. The trail is well kept, lots of beautiful bridges, and plenty of parking. I usually park by the mariners museum but there are different trail heads and entrances. The trail is also perfect for the fur babies!! read more

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A wonderful natural get away in the middle of a busy area but secluded by the buffer of nature-trees! Thank you Noland Family and MM!! So glad developers cannot get their hands on this gem. read more

I would recommend this hike. It is an easy hike. Some slight up and down hills but the pathways are so well maintained it makes for an easy hike. 5Mile Loop. Views of water, plenty of turtles, trees making plenty of lovely shade, a could of wild flowers but not many because of all the mature tree. Still a nice cool hike. Paths are mostly sand, dirt and some gravel and crushed shells. Making it easy of your feet. Again easy hiking. Great for hiking and dogs on leashes. I saw plenty of friendly dogs. And I adore animals. It was truly the best hiking I have had lately. You can pick up a map in the Mariner's Museum. But the map only helps 1/2 the time. We had several people on the trail asking us questions and they also had maps. Once you find the start to the trail there is no problem . The trail is well marked with mile markers and rock markers. They even have all the cool bridges numbered. The best part about the mile markers is that you know how far you have gone and how far you have to go. They have benches along the path and overlooks and a couple of picnic areas. I suggest take your time and ENJOY this trail. Take water and a snack or a lunch. We took 3 hours to hike this but we stopped lots and went to the look outs and took tons of pictures and talked to people and pet dogs and just had a blast. So get out there and do some fun hiking and try this trail. There is a restroom in the museum. We took a cooler to have cold water after our hike. read more

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The views here are great in the spring or fall. The ducks are adorable and so are the MILLIONS of turtles.

This trail is great It has quotes, & facts, & of course a map to help guide you on your walk. It's 5 miles long(i walked the whole trail) & it's worth it. There's a lake w/ turtles and the walk is peaceful w/ the sound of the birds chirping. There's benches in case you need a break...lovely place. read more

Beautiful scenery, well kept trails, the path is well marked. The total loop is approximately 5 miles.

Love this hike and all of the views that come with it. The trail is incredibly well-maintained. I'd recommend parking at the Mariners Museum as the parking at the south entrance is very limited. read more

Noland Trail - Hiking Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

So the weather is finally decent in Virginia and it's time for some fresh air! I ventured out to this nice, quiet trail...which is unusually packed. Well, given the weather, maybe not. Anyway, it's gorgeous and clean. It's the perfect spot to take a walk, or (if you're feeling lazy like me) find a nice, shady spot under a tree to read a book or take a nap (or both lol). I like how there are benches alongside the mile markers. For those more fitness inclined, it's a decent trail stretching a little over five miles. My favorite part of the trail is crossing the bridge after about three miles. This is nice, quiet spot for alone time. It's centrally located with lots of shops and Christopher Newport is also close by. read more

Noland Trail - Beautiful day - Hiking Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

Love this trail.my only complaint is they say they have porta potties and I guess they do not have them in the winter? That would have been nice to know.But outside that, I loved the whole place read more

This trail can be a little confusing at times, but it's beautiful. Lots of bridges, and gets you a couple extra miles compared to Sandy bottom, if mileage is what you're looking for. Some nice rolling hills, too. read more

Noland Trail - A view through the trees towards water from the Nolan's Trail. - Hiking Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

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Easy to follow beautiful loop trail. We parked at the Lions Bridge but most people park at the Mariners Museum. People were friendly and those with dogs had them leashed. read more

I love this trail!!! It's a pleasant walk! The beauty around each corner is amazing. I have to favor the ocean though. There is parking throughout the long trail. The trail is perfect for walking, biking, exercising, running ect. There are benches along the way to sit and relax and reflect. The area is well kept. read more

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This is a beautiful trail. In contrast with the nearby Sandy Bottom, it's more expansive and doesn't have nearly as much of a tick and mosquito problem. There are beautiful scenic views to be had on every part of the five mile trail. Very serene, and shady and hilly. Love it!! read more

Perfect trail for the pups and a brisk, beautiful walk around the lake! Well maintained, fairly flat and easily accessible all around. Definitely a go-to for stroller walks, walks with friends to catch up with or walks with your furry friends. read more

My friend and I went walking here at 3pm on a Saturday. It was our first time here and we parked in the first place we could find, which we later learned was the East Entrance. We took off towards our right and never looked back. The trail itself is about five miles. It's mostly shaded and there are 13 bridges you cross. The first bridge we came across was bridge 11. There are a few ups and downs but nothing strenuous. We walked very quickly and I never felt out of breath. We stopped the first time at bridge 9 where we saw a very large snapping turtle in the water!! There was also another woman there who we chatted with for a bit. She said it's normally more crowded but because of the temperature less people were out. She also said you can bring dogs here! We bid her farewell and continued on our way. We stopped again at bridge 3 because there were literally the most turtles I had ever seen in one place. It was so cool to watch them all. Once we got to the North Entrance of the trail, where the Mariner's Museum was, we did have a little bit of a hard time finding the other part of the trail. We had to walk through a parking lot and some sidewalks before we found it. We continued along the trail and made it back to our car. We didn't bring any water and were very thirsty when we got back. I highly recommend bringing at least a liter of water, especially on hot days. We didn't see too many people out and the trail definitely wasn't congested. Before we left we crossed the street to get a better look at James River and stand on the little beach. It was really nice and peaceful and we could even see rain clouds in the distance! Overall this is a great find and I can't wait to come back. read more

Noland Trail - Bridge 3 turtles - Hiking Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

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I love the Noland Trail. I discovered it on accident while looking at a brochure of the Hampton Roads area last year. I walked it with my roommate from college - all 6-ish miles of it and we had a great time exploring the Mariner's Museum, trail walking across the wooden bridges and feeding the turtles. Since then we've walked it a few times together and had a great time every time. The trail is well-maintained, clean, and a challenging walk if you do the entire trail as a loop. There are portions of it that are curved, slanted, and have steep steps. I'm not saying it's impossible or even very difficult, but if you do it in its entirety, it is not a straight-line nor lacking in elevation gains. There is plenty of parking available and it's in a prime location near Christopher Newport University with lots of shopping, parking, etc. nearby for when you finish walking if you need to carb up and spoil yourself. read more

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Amazing We loved it!!! It was Amazing to spent time in the nature. We looked forward to seeing the next bridge . Just be advised it's long!!! Our 4 year old was not able to do more than 3 miles. Highly recommended read more

Really great spot for leisure or high intensity hikes. Lots of trail runners were out and about along with families and people walking their dogs. This is also a great place for bird watching. I am looking forward to returning as spring takes hold. There's also a mountain bike trail nearby which we'll check out next time. read more

Noland Trail - Hiking Near Me - Newport News, Virginia

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I really enjoyed walking on this trail today! It was perfect because it offers plenty of shade in this summer heat. The trail is approximately 5 miles long with a beautiful view. I decided to bring my dogs and walk about 3 miles. There is a lot of room on the trail, which is great because my dogs are pretty big and take up most of the walkway. There are mile markers along the trail to help people stay on track! The only downside to the trail is the fact that I did not see any restrooms and the closest trash can was almost a mile in. Also, watch out for the tree roots along the trail. Other than that, the views were fantastic and the trail itself is well kept. I will definitely be back with the pups! If you have not checked this trail out, make sure you do! read more

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Really nice trail. If you walk the whole thing it's about 5 miles. There is plenty of wildlife to see. read more

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"Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees." Karle Wilson Baker Did you know that the trail was named after Lloyd U. Noland Jr., whose family and its Noland Memorial Foundation that has provided more than $1 million for the trail, which opened in October 1991? The trail features 14 bridges, picnic spots, benches every half mile, handicap access and mile markers. The trail also affords many views of Lake Maury. The trail is 6-feet wide and done with an underlayment of gravel for drainage; a top coating of special clay swells when wet to prevent erosion and still maintains a soft walking surface when dry You also can see the Lion's Bridge, a dam enhanced by statuary designed by Anna Hyatt Huntington, sculptor and wife of museum founder Archer Milton Huntington. Four stone lions were mounted on the ends of the parapets of the dam in October 1932. She also created and dedicated a monument, "Conquering the Wild," which overlooks the bridge, park and lake. The Huntingtons also founded Brookgreen Gardens, which is located on Route 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Pretty amazing in my book considering I am from Myrtle Beach! The trail is a total of 5 miles and every minute is gorgeous. There are two parking lots. The first one is the official starting point.(We parked in the south entrance...) Oh and it's dog friendly:) read more

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I am a huge fan of walking trails in the Hampton Roads area. This was my first time hiking the Noland trail and I will definitely be back. I was with my dogs, so they appreciated the fact that 95% of the trail is shaded (also a plus for me). I started walking the trail near the Lions bridge. There was plenty of parking, but this was not in the shade. I ended up walking half of the trail and really enjoyed the scenery. There are various points along the trail that lead to beautiful views of the lake. The trail does have a lot of up and down points, so be prepared to do a little work! The only downside is the fact that there are no bathrooms and a lot of the trail has eroded. This has caused most of the tree roots to be exposed and can be a tripping hazard, so watch out! read more

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This is my favorite place to clear my head before a long day of studying at CNU! It is convenient to campus and a beautiful place to experience nature. The views are gorgeous and the trails are well maintained. Many community members walk it so I have always felt safe. I recommend walking the trail a few hours before sunset and finishing the night by watching the sunset at lions gate! It captures the beauty of Newport News! read more

This is a beautiful trail to get outside and enjoy nature. Nice, easy walk, and parking is never an issue. Do be mindful that the trail isn't very wide for passing people and there are roots sticking up so you will need to watch your step. read more

Noland Trail is a 5 mile hiking trail which starts at the Mariner's museum. No bikes allowed. Moderate in difficulty due to small hills and uneven dirt path. Very scenic route with lots of water views. There is ample parking in front of the Mariner's museum. Visitors must leave the parking area prior to sunset. May take you a few miles in to fully take in nature due to the sound of traffic. Definitely do not recommend for strollers or wheelchairs. read more

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So I've been here twice now & I think I have found a local trail I will continue to frequent. The first time my pup refused to go the entire trail, so I waited to write my review until we made it the entire trail. It was beautiful and everyone was so friendly. It's great for dogs, kids, runners, walkers, and everything in between! We started at the north entrance and stopped at Lions Bridge for a lunch break, which provided the fuel we needed for the rest of the trail! read more

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Cool spot to go and hike for fun. Good for beginners, pet lovers and pros, well maybe not the Mount Everest climbers but good enough, bring a pet if you got one if not just admire someone else's. read more

What is there to say that hasn't been said? It's a beautiful nature trail in the Newport News area. It's about 5 miles long, but it feels short because it's so scenic. There are frequent little bodies of water with bridges used to cross. Depending on the time of year there are fish and/or turtles to be seen. great views of the Mariner's Museum are welcome. The views of Warwick Blvd traffic...not so much. There are numerous entrances, but I recommend parking at the Lion's Bridge if you can. There are minimal spaces, and if they're filled head over to the Mariner's Museum lot. There's plenty of shade, which is useful especially in the summer, which can get quite hot in Virginia. Bring water. What else is there to say? It's a great trail. Go! read more

I literally found heaven on Earth. This Trail is so beautiful. I was enjoying the walk and Amazed by the Fall colors as I drunk my pumpkin spice latte on the 5 mile trek. The trail does have small inclines but not anything really steep. It is not a lighted Trail so you do not want to be on it at dark. I was so amazed at how clean the trail was. With it being fall you would think the trail would be covered with leaves and debris but no it wasn't. This place is very well maintained. They even spray paint the stumps and roots that you may fall over a bright fluorescent orange so you will see them. I will tell you this is the second time I walked it and I was really confused because I started at the Nolan parking lot and when I got out by the museum I thought I had got off the trail. The thing here is you actually come out of the woods and you have to walk around the museum to get back on the trail. The second time this happened I was more prepared because I had downloaded a map of the trail. If you are walking it and you get to the museum just stay on the sidewalk in front of the museum go around it and you will come back on the trail. If you are in Newport News and you love nature I highly recommend that you come here. Have your phone fully charged because it's so gorgeous you would love to take plenty of pictures! Also please pack a water bottle. I can't believe both times I forgot. It is a long walk and you will get thirsty. read more

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The Noland Trail is a great little gem in the middle of Newport News. We come here often to hike around and get out of the noise of the city for a while. Easy access to picnic spots and lots of beautiful scenery for you to breathe and zen out. Every once in a while we feed the ducks, which is fun. You do have to watch out - the trail has a lot of exposed tree roots (sometimes painted in orange, sometimes not) so it's easy to trip up if you're running or it's crowded. Also some of the water areas have more litter than others, so it's good to get off the beaten path near the highway. read more

This place is so beautiful, calm, and serene... and then I wake up at the end of a nice long hike and realize I've walked 6 miles. One of my favorite locations to lose time and inherit burning legs and a moist frontal lobe. read more

Love this trail great views still can walk on the hottest days wish it was a trail like this closer to my house.

Always very busy - which for some might be great. This is truly closer to a hike than it is anything else (leisurely walk or easy run) - lots of hills, lots of stumps and roots (they're marked with orange paint) and LOTS of people. Beautiful views from some of the trail. I'm too clumsy for how many roots and hills there are so I prefer a flat boring track that's paved or all gravel ‍ To each his own read more

Great park and it was well taken care of. Nice family place with lots of people walking their dogs as well. The trail definitely kicked my behind and my legs are so sore. They have some nice scenic areas and lots of parking. read more

Me and the Noland trail got some fine history together. Like other Yelpers have said this is a gem in NN! This place is way better than NN Park depending on what you are into. Parking is hassle-free but be weary because of the nice open space, and the sharing of lots with PFAC and the Mariner's Museum parking can get a little crazy when special events arise. Anyway, I've never had any safety issues with this park, although I have heard crazy tales every now and then. The trail is roughly a little over 5 miles dependent on the path you take. Its a moderate hikes with many semi steep dips and stairs. Your buns will love you. There aren't really a lot of picnic opens but there a few. There is a view of the river and kayaks launches at Lion's Bridge. Overall, ever time I'm in town I go to the Noland. It's a peaceful stroll and a well-maintained park. read more