Lake Lawson / Lake Smith Natural Area
Lake Lawson / Lake Smith Natural Area is a park in Bayside, Virginia Beach, best for freshwater fishing, kayaking, birding, short shaded walks.
A 42-acre wooded preserve in Bayside with an outsized 12,000 feet of shoreline on two connected freshwater lakes — which is why anglers and birders treat it as one of the city's best small parks. Just over 1.5 miles of soft trails thread the woods between fishing decks on the water, and paddlers get real infrastructure: a boat ramp, an ADA-accessible kayak launch, and a summer kayak 'vending machine' that rents boats by the hour. A quiet counterweight to the beaches, ten minutes from both First Landing and Chic's Beach.
- Free
- Family Friendly
- Dog Friendly
- Wheelchair Accessible
Amenities
- 1.5+ miles of soft trails
- 12,000 feet of freshwater shoreline
- Fishing decks
- Boat ramp and ADA kayak launch
- Seasonal hourly kayak rental kiosk
Know Before You Go
- Best for: freshwater fishing, kayaking, birding, short shaded walks
- Parking: Free lot at the Shell Road entrance, including trailer parking at the ramp.
- Accessibility: ADA-accessible kayak launch and drive-up fishing decks; trails themselves are soft and unpaved.
- Dogs: allowed — Dogs must be on a leash at all times, per city park rules.
- Location: 5381 Shell Rd, Bayside, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Lynnhaven River NOW Oyster Roast
May 1, 2027 · annual (first Saturday in May)
Lynnhaven River NOW's signature fundraiser turns the waterfront lawn at the Brock Environmental Center into an all-you-can-eat oyster roast, marking the nonprofit's multi-decade push to bring the Lynnhaven's namesake oyster back from near-collapse. Roasted and raw oysters pulled from the restoration reefs anchor the spread, backed by barbecue, local beer and spirits, live music, and a shucking contest, with proceeds funding the group's oyster-reef and water-quality restoration work. It's a rare chance to eat Lynnhaven oysters within sight of the reefs that grew them, at a bayfront green building a few minutes off Shore Drive.
Town Center Summer Fest Music Series
May 22, 2026 – September 7, 2026 · seasonal (nightly concerts, late May-early September)
The Central Business District Association's free concert series takes over Town Center's Fountain Plaza most nights from late May through early September, with cover bands, tribute acts, and local musicians playing against the backdrop of the plaza's high-rises. Restaurants ringing the plaza put out sidewalk seating within earshot of the stage, turning a weeknight downtown into an impromptu outdoor show. It's the closest thing Virginia Beach's inland downtown has to the Oceanfront's summer concert culture -- free, walkable, and parked in the Town Center garages rather than beach lots.
Autumn in the Air
November 7, 2026 · annual
A newer addition to the city's Parks & Recreation calendar, this single-day fall festival takes over Mount Trashmore Park with folk, americana, and rock bands on an outdoor stage, food and drink for purchase, and activities scattered across the lakefront lawn. Now in its third year, it's grown into the city's answer to a proper autumn street festival without the Oceanfront crowds -- bring a lawn chair or blanket, since tents and large coolers aren't allowed in the event area. Free admission and parking make it an easy afternoon add for anyone already in Kempsville.