The Noland Trail
The Mariners' Museum and Park, 100 Museum Dr, Newport News, VA 23606, USA
Sunrise to sunset
$$
outdoor-adventures, museums, hikes
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Spend an afternoon looking for turtles, frogs, birds, and other woodland creatures on this loop trail around Mariners' Lake in Newport News!
The Noland Trail is a gem tucked away in the Mariners' Museum Park in Newport News, VA, and adjacent to Christopher Newport University. The Noland Trail offers a 4.8-mile long loop trail around Mariners' Lake. There are multiple offshoots that cut the trail down to anywhere from one mile to 3-4 miles. There are multiple free parking areas, including the Mariners' Museum parking lot (located off of Warwick Boulevard), a small parking area once you enter the Mariners' Museum, or additional parking located along the Lion's Bridge (located on Museum Drive).
If parking at the Lion's Bridge, to the left of Mariners' Lake, take a short walk up the hill by the horse sculpture to find the gravel trail. You can then continue straight into the woods and walk alongside Mariners' Lake and over a few footbridges. Make sure you stop to look at turtles! You will end up at a crossroads when you come back out of the forested trail and can turn left to walk alongside a straight path back to the Lion's Bridge. To the right of Mariners' Lake from the Lions' Bridge, locate the gravel trail (usually a few ducks and geese hanging around) and continue into the forested path on the opposite side of the lake.
If parking by the Mariners' Museum, walk to the right and head past the museum. You will see an entrance to the trail on the lefthand side of the road. Also, the open areas around the Lions' Bridge are great places to bring a picnic lunch or sled!
The trail winds alongside a lake, which gives a great opportunity to see frogs, tadpoles, and turtles. The trail is quite gravelly, with a few places that are washed out as well as some gradient steps to help people walk up and down the slight inclines/declines in the trail. This may be slightly difficult to navigate with a stroller once you walk along the wooded part of the trail so consider bringing a carrier if you have a baby with you. Roots and rocks are painted bright pink so that people will not trip. Dogs are more than welcome but must be kept on a leash. There are a few port-a-potties located along the trail. Bring warm clothes and close-toed shoes in the colder months. In the warmer months, bug spray, sunscreen, and a water bottle!
Make your trip to the Mariners' Museum and Park a half-day excursion by packing lunch and either sitting on benches along the trail or in the open fields looking over the James River at the Lions' Bridge. Mariners' Museum entrance fee is only $1 per person (children three and under are FREE), and the museum is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. Masks are required in the museum.