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This page is designed to give the first time, Hampton Roads Running vistor an idea of where to run in the Newport News, Yorktown, Hampton, Williamsburg areas. There are several running clubs you can contact for information or just check the links on the left navigation bar to connect to their sites and information. The maps below portray where the peninsula is and the main running venues for those who want to go out for the best run in this areas. Note: Most maps will expand if you click on them. The maps below give a bird's eye view of the peninsula:
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Information on these runs provided by the parks themselves. These running venues provide the best that the Peninsula has to offer. They include wide paths, limited or no motor traffic, several (Like Newport News Park) have excellent facilities for more than just running, offer shelter in the summer, quiet in the winter and opportunities for meditation or frenzied exercise. They are nearby, wooded and well traveled. Here are the specifications.
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Newport New Map of the Parks
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Located off Jefferson Avenue in Newport News, the park offers a number of venues for great runs. The principal running trail in the Newport News section is near the second entrance on Jefferson Aveneue, near the ranger station. There is a 5.5 mile bike trail through the woods that runners may use for training. Runners can get a map at the ranger station that shows the paths through the woods. Also, for extended training, you can catch the Washington Headquarters path into the Yorktown battlefield complex for another 10-12 mile circuit.
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Link to Mariners Museum Web Site
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One of the best running venues in Newport News. The Mariner's Museum, Noland Trail complex was envisioned and conceived as a gift from Mr Noland who willed this important property to the City. He wanted Newport News Citizens to get the most use of the beautiful lake and trail. The 5 mile running trail follows the outline of the lake. It is hard packed gravel and there are wooden foot bridges for runners to use. It can be conjoined with runs to the south and extended by running on the roads nearby Lions Bridge. If you are from out of town, and want a great run, this is it! The Mariner's Museum also features one of the finest Naval Museums in the world. An added bonus to a great run. NOTE: This trail received extensive damage from Hurricane Isabel. It has been cleaned up only with the assistance of volunteers.
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Joe Hern, Connie Maxwell and Joe Harney pose at Mariner's Museum 5K |
Location: Big Bethel Road not far from the Hampton Roads Center Parkway
Address: 1255 Big Bethel Road Hampton, Va. 23666
Phone for Ranger Station: 757 825-4657
Operated for the City of Hampton
Facilities/Operations: Nature Center, Trails for hiking and biking, fishing, camping, educational programs, rentals including bikes, paddleboats, canoes, and fishing boats, gift shop and gardens
Longest trail run 4.2 miles starting and finishing near the visitors center.
| Old Crystal Trail | 2.10 miles |
| Fallen Oak Trail | 1.10 miles |
| Lake Trail | .70 miles |
| Wood Duck | .75 miles (Only trail NOT accessible by Bicycle) |
| Red Fox | .42 miles |
| Osprey Point | .20 miles |
| Black Cherry | .14 miles |
| Buck Rub | .13 miles |
| Otey Shelton Trail | .25 miles |
| Spare |
Directions: Take I-64 towards Hampton Roads Center Parkway. Exit 261A. Movie theater will be on the right. Turn right at the first light. Park is 100 yards on the left.
Optimal for short runs. Surface varies between gravel and soft forest trails. Plus: Hardly any runners and absolutely no traffic on the trails. Negative: Close to I-64 so that you do hear road traffic. Langley air traffic approaches are close to this area. However, tried the trail on a Sunday morning and ran in NO Runners or Bikers in the whole park! Quiet except for the noise of the road. Trails are clearly marked and clear of trail litter.
Assessment: Enjoyed the run and trails. Was not bothered by traffic noise and although some of the trails undulate a bit too much for my liking, would enjoy doing this run again.
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Link to New Quater Park http://www.yorkcounty.gov/parksandrec/parks/new_quarter/1nqp_info.htm
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From Interstate 64 -
Take exit 242B (Yorktown-Colonial Parkway-Water Country USA) to Route 199. Stay on Route 199 until the Colonial Parkway intersection. Enter Colonial Parkway towards Williamsburg (west). Exit off the Colonial Parkway at the Queens Lake intersection. Turn right onto West Queens Drive for about 200 feet. Make an immediate left-hand turn onto Lakeshead Drive (the first street on the left), and follow this road until you reach the New Quarter Park entrance. Parking in overflow parking area.
From Route 143 - At the Route 143-Penniman Road traffic light, turn east onto Penniman Road (Magruder Elementary School is on the corner. Turn left onto Hubbard Lane (the first street on your left). After you go under the overpass, make an immediate right-hand turn onto Lakeshead Drive, and follow this road until you reach the New Quarter Park entrance.
From Interstate 64 - and Hampton Roads, Hampton. Take I-64 west towards Williamsburg. Get off at the Second Williamsburg Exit and turn left onto SR-143. Once over the Interstate take the first right onto East Rochambeau Drive. Go .9 miles till you encounter SR-645, (Airport Road on the left. This is a few hundred feet after Bruton High School. Continue down Airport road about 1 mile until you see Waller's Mill Park on the left. Opening Hours are seaonal depending on Sunrise and Sunset. Expedia.com can generate a map for you. Trails follow the lake's edge, and you can get a 4.5 mile run easily here.
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Cooler by 20 degrees in the summer!
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Yorktown Battlefield A great place to run
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Click here to see a map describing how to get there.
Click here to go to the National Historical Park Map page where you can download both a battlefield tour map and map of Yorktown. Clicking on the two previous links will allow you to download these Acrobat Files from our server. Got Acrobat? No? Click here. Note This Acrobat file is quite detailed and can be enlarged with Acrobat Reader. This is a very high fidelity map. The Acrobat reader download is free.
Yorktown Battlefield Runs by Jon Park
As a frequent visitor and runner in the National Historic Park, Yorktown is one of the best venues for running on Virginia's Peninsula. Here's why.
First, the battlefield is not heavily traveled by vehicular traffice. No auto fumes and a great forest environment.
Second, the Park Service caters to foot traffic; There are several paths along which only foot or bicycles may travel. The roads have just been repaved and are in first class condition.
Third, the park has a variety of terrain including hills which in case you aren't from around here we don't have much of. Serious runners need hills to get trained for longer endurance races and triathlons.
Fourth, you can extend your runs into the adjacent Newport News Trail system which is partly paved and also features a ranger station with drinks, water, and toilets for those times when that's needed. You can run for hours and not cover the same terrain twice.
Fifth, In the summer the tour road tree canopy keeps the road as cool as it can be in the summer in Hampton Roads. We tend to run early in the morning here in the summers.
Sixth, training on these tour roads prepares you for no fewer than three of the Peninsula Track Club's races.
Finally, if you run with your pets, this is the spot! The rangers will allow your dogs to run with you provided you have a leash. However, this is not true of the adjacent Newport News Park. If you jog into the their park through Washington's Camp passage, you will be expected to have your dog on a leash, -or be asked to leave.
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Carter's Grove Country Road is a road that is a tour road between Carter's Grove Mansion and Williamsburg. There are relatively few cars on this road and it is completely paved and even has bridges over several creeks. The route is very winding and has challenging hills. It runs eight miles from Carter's Grove Mansion to near the Williamsburg Golf Course and culminates near the Williamsburg Inn. For a longer run, join the Colonial Parkway and run another 13 miles to Yorktown along the scenic York River. A very challenging course but there is NO water along this route. If you run it you'll want to bring water with you. Note: This road which winds from Carter's Grove Mansion to Williamsburg also received extensive damage from falling trees. However unlike other venues this road is still closed pending clearing. As Colonial Williamsburg foundation has SOLD Carter's Mansion, it is not likely to foot the bill for clearing this road and to date, the Carter's Grove Race has been cancelled for 2004 based on unsafte conditions on this running venue.
