Paradise Creek Nature Park

This is a hidden gem. It is small. About 2 miles of Loop trails. Gravel and dirt paths. Trails have views of trees, wildflowers, birds, very small marsh, and a bridge. Super Easy hike, great for people of all ages, dogs, and runners. The extras I love about this park is they have structures built out of natural materials. I will include pictures. They also have colorful art in random areas on the paths. I included a couple of pictures of that too. The paths are VERY well marked. It is impossible to get lost. They have a HUMONGOUS American ELm and near there is a small secret path area that is more like the hiking that I prefer. It is always nice to explore. They also have a kayak area with a kayak ramp. They have a little playground. Next to the playground is a covered area that they hold lectures. There is a picnic table area. They have 2 porta potties. There is a couple of buildings on site but they were not open so I'm just mentioning them. Parking was fantastic. There were quite a few vehicles when were showed up but we saw a few people but it did not seem that busy. So this is a win for us. We walked it a couple of times just to make sure we saw it all and like I said super easy hike. If your in the area check it out

A perfect day for a family adventure!!! Rock collecting, dandelions a picking and meeting new friends at the park! There's plenty of things to do! Different hiking routes and a kayak landing area! They have plenty of benches around the trail to take a little breather. Parking area available. Pet friendly, just make sure you pick up after your fur baby. They do have poop baggies available at the entrance.

Who knew this was even there? My friend asked me to get out and about with her today and suggested this little gem! Such a nice little park with nice walking trails, kayaking availability, an adorable playground for kids, picnic areas, and nature. Such a nice afternoon out!

This is a nice nature park, I have been only an handful of times but each time I have seen maybe one or two other people which is a nice break from other more utilized parks. I would not recommend visiting this park alone if you are a female due to the isolated & some what secluded nature of this park & the rather questionable surrounding neighborhood.However, this is a perfect area to have a relaxing walk or jog. There are areas with plenty of shade, nice views, is fairly quiet & has different educational material posted up about this parks immediate environment. They have an edible garden growing for the public & a new children's play area that was recently built, my toddler enjoyed climbing on the apparatus they had, only thing missing was a swing. Porta potty is on site, there is plenty of parking in the lot, no fishing or crabbing is allowed although we saw literally hundreds of crabs which was cool! There is a doc available for kayaking.

A small nature park near Cradock in Portsmouth. I like coming here for a quick walk/run in the morning or after work in the afternoon. I've never seen it crowded. Not many people here when I come. I like to use the AllTrails app to make sure I cover every inch of trails.

"They took all the treesAnd put 'em in a tree museumAnd they charged the peopleA dollar and a half to seem 'em"--"Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni MitchellOpened in June 2013, Paradise Creek Nature Park (PCNP) was created by the non-profit Elizabeth River Project -with help from others- and is now a 40-acre park with new tidal wetlands and a forest under revitalization. While the song written by Mitchell depicts a society that destroys nature, some people are trying to help. Once presumed dead, and one of the three most toxic rivers in the Chesapeake Bay, the Elizabeth River is now thriving and recently scored a "C" in 2014 (http://media.wix.com/ugd/8de0fd_6fd8647352d84f91a842eaf0c37da40a.pdf). When visitors immediately drive into the park, they see a beautiful, yet interesting sculpture. It was built "by Peruko Ccopacatty, a Peruvian artist who lived in Norfolk in the early 1980s, and it represented the history of the creek" (http://www.pilotonline.com/news/sculpture-a-symbol-of-park-s-restoration-industrial-past/article_0fda95bc-6a1d-5742-890a-b8ff20928c9e.html). The history of the area that surrounds PCNP is full of industry--such as colonial and modern shipbuilding. They wanted a piece of art to represent the park, and found this particular artwork sitting at Peck Iron and Metal company. The owners donated the sculpture to the park.Here are some info about PCNP:*Over two miles of trails including a fitness trail and a butterfly garden trail*Large parking lot*Tree Field Guide for you to use while you're there (http://media.wix.com/ugd/8de0fd_ac594a62e1a44bf8868672f3084e4529.pdf)*Downloadable Field Guides for different seasons (http://www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com)*Educational Programs such as Forestry Stewardship Corps (757-399-7487, [email protected])*No restrooms--just a port-a-potty*Dogs (on leash) and bikes allowed (there are a couple of pet waste stations)*Osprey Platform*No fishing*No smoking on the premises *Enviva (a company that stores wood pellets and can be seen while in the park) donated hundreds of treesI enjoy this park because of its solitude and the variety of songbirds and waterfowl. Phase II will include outdoor classrooms, kayak launch, playground, picnic pavilion and compost toilets, some of which are currently being built. I think once the second phase at PCNP will become a fantastic park. It warms my heart to see so many people, including businesses, creating this oasis in an urban setting.

Super nice trail. You get to see lots of animals and the views are pretty nice. Just make sure u wear lots of bug spray because there are ton of mosquitoes

This is a nice place to hike. The only problem is that some folks seem to like to run their dogs without a leash. There are dog parks everywhere. A dog on a leash is okay. Running free? Not. I would give this park an almost perfect score if not for the dogs.

This is a nice natural area. They offer trails that meander around wetlands and a wooded area. They are a great display of the recreation/reconstruction of the natural process. Meaning they are stimulating a dry area into a flourishing area. You are able to volunteer as well as take part in community activities throughout the year. You will see a variety of birds and maybe a creature or two by the water. Walk through the wooded area and they have a few bird and bat houses attached to trees. You will find a bench or two, a bridge and they have fitness stations now which is a nice mix for your cardio routine with! Clean park and usually not busy at all. They have a lot of future plans to include kayaks!

Paradise Creek a nice place for a fast lane run or slow stroll. Please take advantage of the events held here when posted . I find them fun and very informative and most of the time free.