Description
This 40-acre park offers two mile of multi-use, easy nature trails to explore an urban oasis off Paradise Creek. The park is an excellent example of wetland restoration and it’s just one component of the larger, on-going creek restoration that began in 2001. Interpretive signs along the trails tell the story of how the non-profit Elizabeth River Project, the City of Portsmouth, The Port of Virginia, and many other partners restored the park’s eleven acres of salt marsh to a natural state, bringing back a part of the Elizabeth River, once presumed dead.
The park trails traverse an old growth coastal oak woodland (a rarity along the Elizabeth River and especially in this urban area), meadows, and a restored saltwater marsh with a view of Paradise Creek. Birders will enjoy the diversity of birds that these various habitats attract. An impressive 160 species of birds have been documented at this successful restoration site, including Osprey, Bald Eagles, Clapper Rail, Northern Bobwhite, and long-legged waders. During spring and fall migration, a wide variety of warblers may be spotted. Some of the best vantage points in the park for birding are the bridge on the Osprey Trail, which overlooks Paradise Creek and the saltwater marsh, the top of the earthworks mound on the Blue Heron Trail, and the length of the Otter Trail between the woodland and the marsh, which provides easy spotting in its edge habitat.
In addition to its diverse birds, the park also provides opportunities to spot a wide diversity of butterflies and other pollinators, including the salt marsh skipper, long-tailed skipper, monarch, eastern tiger swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail, zebra swallowtail, pearl crescent, and common buckeye. Box turtles are also commonly observed at the park along with foxes and non-venomous snakes.
A canoe/ kayak launch, just a short portage from the parking area, is available for those who wish to explore the creek and Elizabeth River.
The canoe/kayak launch allows visitors to paddle the river. Photo Credit: Lisa Mease/DWR
Notes:
- Please stay near the center of the trails to avoid the fire ant hills and poison ivy.
Wildlife Sightings
174 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Paradise Creek Nature Park:
- Mallard
- Hooded Merganser
- Mourning Dove
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Great Egret
- Great Blue Heron
- Osprey
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | 25 | Lee Larrew |
| 4 Mar 2026 | 15 | Kelly Creger |
| 4 Mar 2026 | 17 | Eren Wolbert |
| 28 Feb 2026 | 6 | Eren Wolbert |
| 23 Jan 2026 | 15 | Dominik Hann |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
- Kayak/Canoe Launch
- Birdability Report Available
Other Amenities: Bike Trails, Hiking Trails, Interpretive Program/Events, Visitor/Nature Center
Accessibility Considerations
This location has a Birdability Site Review available
Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces
Maps & Directions
Physical Address: 1141 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23702
From Norfolk, take I-264 W toward I-464/Downtown Tunnel, keep right to continue on I-464 S, take Exit 4 for VA-337 toward Poindexter St, slight left onto Truxton St, turn right onto Poindexter St/South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, continue onto Elm Ave, turn left onto SR-239/Victory Blvd, make a U-turn at Dahlgren Ave, and turn right into the parking area.
Site Information
Access Requirements:
- Open daily Mar-Oct, 6:30am -7:30pm; Nov.-Feb, 7am - 5:30pm
Contact Information:
- Phone: 757-399-7487
- Email: info@elizabethriver.org
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.