Many people take for granted the freedom to visit a Virginia State Park and wander through nature or hike a trail. When you are challenged by impaired mobility, nature still calls but enjoying it is more difficult. This is my second article in a series on how to enjoy our parks if you are in a wheel chair or need assistance while walking.
Two of the dune crossovers are fully accessible – from the Chesapeake Bay Center and Campground H
First Landing State Park is known for its beach front on the Chesapeake Bay. Usually water enthusiasts can walk out into the Bay for quite a distance before reaching water too deep to remain above water. While it is not a guarded swimming beach, many families enjoy this aspect of the beach. But if you are a child or adult that needs a wheel chair, you may think that all that sand would be a barrier. However, the park has made access to the water's edge possible with a special wheelchair and you can call (757) 412-2320 for more details.
First Landing also has one of the longest accessible trails in our system (the longest if you don't count New River Trail and High Bridge Trail). The Cape Henry Trail is accessible from the western Shore Drive area park boundary at Kendall Street all the way to 64th Street on the Ocean side.
A detailed map of the Cape Henry Trail including GPS way points can be found by clicking here.
The park has a number of other accessible features. Both the Chesapeake Bay Center and Trail Center are accessible including the exhibit areas. Campgrounds A, B, G and H have universally acceptable rest rooms and showers with paved access. The playground in campground B and at the picnic area are also accessible.
At this time none of the cabins at the park are ADA accessible but cabins 12 and 16 are partially accessible. Please be sure to check these cabins out to make sure they meet your needs before reserving them.
More details on accessible facilities can be found here.