With 7,711 acres, Newport News Park is the perfect setting for a little leaf peeping while on the park’s numerous trails – ideal for all skill levels. Whether your preference is walking, jogging or cycling, Newport News Park has you covered. Best of all, you’re allowed to bring your pooch, but don’t forget the leash!

1. White Oak Trail – A 2.4-mile loop, reviewers on alltrails.com give it a whopping 4.9 out of 5 stars, with one calling it a “nice easy trail with lots of shade.”
4. Bikeway Loop is a 5.3-mile trail from the campground at Newport News Park. It passes through a beautiful shady forest, making it a “lovely ride through the woods,” according to a reviewer on alltrails.com.
7. Swamp Bridge Loop Trail is 3.3 miles. Reviewers often mention seeing lots of wildlife, including deer, turtles, ducks, geese, and other small animals.

1. Lakeside Loop is 6.1 miles and reviewers give it 4.3 out of 5 stars on alltrails.com. One reviewer called it a “nice hike through Civil War history,” due to the earthworks still in place at the Battle of Dam #1.

1. Twin Forts Loop is a 2.1-mile trail that gets high marks for being a “quick jaunt” that provides “great views of the reservoir,” based on alltrails.com reviews.
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3. Swamp Fire Trail is 2.5 miles and features beautiful wildflowers. One reviewer noted that it “can be used by children or the disabled quite easily.” Possibly seeing herons, egrets, or a giant snapping turtle is an added treat!

3. Long Meadow Loop is 3.1 miles “along naturally worn paths and a wooden bridge over the waterway.” The alltrails.com reviewers give this trail a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
8. Discovery Center Trail is a 0.6-mile loop that begins and ends at the Discovery Center, an interactive natural history center with Civil War and wildlife displays. It is also the location for the city’s wildlife rehabilitation program.

For additional trail options throughout Newport News, download the AllTrails app to your cell phone or visit www.alltrails.com and create a free account. More than a dozen trails are listed, including those in Mariners’ Museum Park, Beechlake Park, and Monitor-Merrimac Overlook Park. For more outdoor fun recreation, you can also see our list of bike trails in Newport News.

There’s no doubt that autumn is the perfect time to enjoy Newport News. We have mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s and gorgeous foliage turning every color imaginable. Call the Newport News Visitor Center at 757-886-7777 or visit them at the entrance to Newport News Park at 13560 Jefferson Avenue for additional ideas for outdoor fun in this city by the mighty James River!