Running trails in Norfolk, VA
Norfolk has 10 trails in the directory — 1 paved and 2 on crushed gravel or dirt, 1 shaded, and 1 open 24 hours. 8 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 2,617 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Northside Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,537 reviews
This 62-acre recreation area has a skate park, an indoor pool, picnic shelters & kids' play areas.
Bay Oaks Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 381 reviews
New, clean park featuring 2 playgrounds and an exercise area, as well as benches.
Plum Point Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 201 reviews
Riverside open space with a dock for kayaks and canoes, plus paved paths and benches.
Elizabeth River Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Well-known 10.5-mile riverfront route for walking, running, biking or cycling, with ocean views.
Monkey Bottom Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 126 reviews
Peaceful, historic park featuring numerous oak trees and a swing set.
Northside Park Mountain Bike Trail - Multi Use Trail
4.2 ★★★★☆ 98 reviews
Skate park, baseball field and other outdoor areas with hiking trails that once served as a naval dump.
Colonial Place Greenway
4.3 ★★★★☆ 58 reviews
Park that's especially good for kids, and features a dog park.
The Glowline
4.8 ★★★★★ 18 reviews
Cannonball Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 7 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Norfolk
- Match the surface to your legs. Norfolk gives you a choice: 1 paved, 1 crushed gravel, and 1 natural surface. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? A loop finishes back at the car with no backtracking; on an out-and-back you simply turn round at half your distance.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 1 trail in Norfolk is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 8 of the 10 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 4 have trailhead parking, 2 have restrooms, and 1 has a water fountain in Norfolk. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 1 shaded, 3 that runners describe as quiet, and 4 dog-friendly. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Norfolk trails by type
Running trails near Norfolk
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.