HomeVirginiaHampton › Waterwalk at Central Park

Waterwalk at Central Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 71 Google reviews · Running trail in Hampton, Virginia · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Waterwalk at Central Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAQuiet

Peaceful walking trail with a boardwalk and a canoe/kayak launch, plus aircraft and models on display.

What runners say about Waterwalk at Central Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (71 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“The path is very clean & well maintained.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Beautiful addition to the area to showcase the beauty and diversity hampton can offer”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“It’s mostly peaceful but you can hear the traffic off Mercury and Lasalle.”

This is a nice park for a 15 - 30-minute walk and to read about the NASA projects and the cooperation of the Army and Airforce and the amazing men and women that made it all possible.

★★★★☆ — Johana , Jul 2025

Nice little boardwalk! Good birdwatching and we saw some turtles. Curious to try the kayak/canoe launch behind the Air Power Park. It’s mostly peaceful but you can hear the traffic off Mercury and Lasalle.

★★★★☆ — Larissa , May 2021

2.5 miles per way. You can touch the planes as u walk under it. Also saw ducks and Turtles. It starts at air power park and ends at Rosie's area. Good cardio rush.

★★★★★ — Dee , Jul 2023

Wonderful walking path! Clearly marked, smooth, wide path. 2.25 miles one way. Walking by water and around the Coliseum.

★★★★★ — Keely , May 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 71 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 10 mentions

“Beautiful addition to the area to showcase the beauty and diversity hampton can offer”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“The trail is paved, which works great with strollers, wheelchairs, bikes, and such.”

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🪵 Boardwalk 3 mentions

“It is a combination of boardwalk and sidewalks.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 3 mentions

“The trail is paved, which works great with strollers, wheelchairs, bikes, and such.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“It’s mostly peaceful but you can hear the traffic off Mercury and Lasalle.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

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Plan your run at Waterwalk at Central Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitehampton.gov

Hours

Monday 6 am–8:30 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8:30 pm
Wednesday 6 am–8:30 pm
Thursday 6 am–8:30 pm
Friday 6 am–8:30 pm
Saturday 6 am–8:30 pm
Sunday 6 am–8:30 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Waterwalk at Central Park

Hampton, Virginia

Get directions

Running trails near Hampton

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Matteson Trail

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Paved trail for biking or running that winds around a golf course and is shaded in spots.

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Picnic and picnic-table-dotted ecological park overlooking the water.

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Huntington Park

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LitScenic

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Grandview Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 928 reviews

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ScenicDog-friendly

Birding & wildlife viewing on trails leading through marshes & woodlands to a long, scenic beach.

5.6 miles away

King-Lincoln Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 678 reviews

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Featuring a beach, this park offers basketball & tennis courts, playgrounds & picnic shelters.

5.8 miles away

Oxford Run Trail

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1 miNatural surfaceDog-friendly

Park suitable for children and dogs featuring a walking trail.

5.8 miles away

All running trails in Hampton, VA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.