Stumpy Lake Natural Area

Stumpy Lake Natural Area turned out to be a fairly nice hiking destination. It's got trails that are easy to access which are surfaced either with plain dirt or wood chips. If you cover the whole length of the longest trail it's just over a mile and a half, and you'll be able to hear birds (and even seen an occasional leaping deer) when you're in the thick of things :-)Tip: For an additional activity that might be of interest, you'll find a place where you can do rentals for Kayaks and/or Paddle BoardsThere's a limited number (around a dozen) free parking spots adjacent to the boat launching area. There's also additional free parking near the golf lodge.All told this is a very satisfying destination if you're interested in a nice, relaxing afternoon stroll; I'll be back!

Very well maintained free public park in Virginia Beach. It's located off Indian River Road, near Elbow Road. It's truly a hidden gem and can be easily overlooked if not familiar with the area. The park is open year round form sunrise to sunset. Please note parking is sparse but there has only been one time in all the times I've gone that all spots were full and I had to wait. Like other parks there is a few picnic tables and benches. It's dog friendly but you must use a leash. Make sure to spray yourself and your fur babies with bug spray. The walking trail is very woodsy, it floods easily when it rains causing the trail to get super muddy. The best part is the kayak, paddle boarding and canoe launching dock. It's perfect for these activities due to no waves. Just be mindful no swimming or other watercraft's like boats. And it's a fresh water lake surrounded by the woods so be aware of the bugs and other living creatures. Like I mentioned already bug spray bug spray bug spray.

1.5 mile hike. Forest, lake views and bird watching. Kid, dog, hiker, fisher and kayaking friendly. Easy level. They have a great kayaking ramp for the lake. Good parking. They also have 2 picnic table areas. They have a porta potty.Stumpy lake appears to have 2 areas to enjoy and 2 parking areas. The one area over by the golf course is the area for the 1.5 mile walk. It is easy to follow with plenty of trail makers . They have an area with signs telling you what the trees are. That is also the area with the Kayak ramp. The second parking area is next to the man made walkway and observation deck. I love this part because it is so pretty. It over looks the lake. They also have a couple of benches down at one end.

Love taking my dog out on these trails. Gets a bit busier than I'd like on really nice days, but that is to be expected. Highly recommend.

Stumpy Lake Natural Area is in a quieter part of Virginia Beach and the border to Chesapeake. Walking in the mini pier off the road is a beautiful lake for boaters and those who like fishing. The only part that doesn't make this area too quiet is the traffic noise of cars driving through.

This is definitely a must for some kayak lovers! It was so relaxing it gets a little ruff but makes it fun. We only caught one fish but we sure did see a lot of snakes in the trees. We spent over two hours in the water and it went fast. The only down fall is the parking is so small.

Maybe because I'm a city girl -- but I have never seen any lake like this before!It's name is truly befitting because this lake is full of Cypress trees just jutting straight out of the water. This is a wonderful, serene spot to go hiking or kayaking.But don't go alone -- locals say it's haunted!

This is my first time going for a trail walk with the dog here. As I pulled into the park I past several people with professional cameras set up along the road side next to the lakes on both sides of the road. The parking lot was pretty empty and I had no issues finding a nice shady spot. There are 2 trails that you can choose from, the puppy and I decided on the 1.5 mile loop. The trail was pretty muddy and the ground was covered with roots. The roots were such a burden that if you walked at a moderate pace you are bound to twist your ankle. The roots run the entire length of the trail! Not good for me as the pup was pulling a little bit. The second reason why I did not give a 5 star review was due to the population of mosquitoes in the park. It was pretty unbearable for both the puppy and I. If we stopped for more than a second to let him sniff around we got bit three times. It was so bad the dog eventually walked at such a fast pace that you can tell he was tired of getting bit too. I would recommend going here after several dry days and never to ride a bike through here.

This place is a hidden gem of mini hiking nature trails, fishing spots and a place to enjoy the beauty of nature.I love the docks and the serenity this place gives u. They have a few picnic area and there is a parking lot to park your cars.I like that they have a launch area for canoeing and kayaking. The trails are not super long and it's great to bring the kids and walk with the dogs.I will have to come back and rent out a canoe sometime and enjoy some recreational fishing. This place is located along Indian river road there are two sides. The fishing dock is off of elbow road and the launch pad and car parking is in the side of Indian river road.

Nice retreat to nature! If you need to knock your stress level down a few notches, this is a good place to take a stroll and let your worries melt away. The sound of birds chirping makes you feel worlds away from the grunt of the daily grind. The gentle calm of the water mirroring the cypress trees just seems to transport you to another realm of placidity. So take a walk.. on the quiet side