dog friendly park

Sandy Bottom Nature Park

Overview: Sandy Bottom Nature Park is rated 4.6/5 from 2151 Google reviews. This city park offers beautiful trails, a nature center with native animals, and opportunities for picnics, paddle boating, and fishing. Crowd: Reviews describe regular visitors and active use and steady activity with other dogs to meet.

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4.6Google rating

2,151reviews

6photos

Overview

What stands out here

Currently closed

4.6(2,151 reviews)

People say this city park offers beautiful trails, a nature center with native animals, and opportunities for picnics, paddle boating, and fishing. They highlight the park's peaceful and tranquil vibe, and the well-maintained facilities, including playgrounds, a fishing pier, and a bird-watching tower. They also like the helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Best for

social dogs and owners who enjoy a regular crowd

Quick facts

Address1255 Big Bethel Rd, Hampton, VA 23669, USA

Phone(757) 825-4657

City pageNewport News

Imported fromNewport News, VA

Visit park site Jump to map

Useful details

These tags come from the imported Google export and help visitors scan the park vibe quickly.

social dogs and owners who enjoy a regular crowdcity parkfishing pondcampgroundlodging6 Google photos2151 reviewsCurrently closed

Park photos

Real photo coverage helps visitors judge size, atmosphere, and maintenance before they head out.

Recent Google review highlights

Showing the actual texture of owner feedback makes the park page much more useful than a bare directory card.

Stacey Salerno6 months ago

We joined the Homeschoolers of Newport News, VA for the Wildlife of Virginia interactive lesson at Sandy Bottom Nature Park, and it was such a great experience! The program was hands-on, educational, and fun for both kids and adults. The Rangers did a fantastic job keeping everyone engaged while teaching about local wildlife. The kids got to see and touch real examples like a boxing turtle shell, deer antlers, snake molting, and even a live snake (though my son and I both passed on that one! 🤣). We all learned something new and left with a deeper appreciation for the animals around us. Highly recommend this park and their educational programs or just a walk to get away from the world for just a little bit. A true gem in our city!

Eva Thomas5 months ago

The staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful! Had a really cool experience there recently - I had a green tree frog friend that my partner and I had taken in over a year ago, long story short he was unable to be released back to the wild. We had been wanting to find him either a companion critter for his enclosure or we knew we might find a better situation for him to live somewhere else. I happened to stretch my legs walking around the Nature Center one day and I saw the beautiful tank the staff created for frogs and toads. After talking w them the staff told me due to the specific circumstances they would be permitted to take him in! After a quarantine period he can live out his days in the amazing environment they created for these guys surrounded by other lil critters and people that are the best fit for caring for him. So! All this to say please show support for the wonderful staff that make the continued care and education surrounding our local wildlife possible ☺️ Our lil guys name is Linus, if you see him in the tank say hi for us and please DO NOT tap on the glass 😁

Joyclyn Kananen, REALTOR7 months ago

After a busy week in real estate, I decided to take a hike in nature at Sandy Bottom. I enjoyed every second of it. The trails were easy to follow. I saw some wildlife like birds and turtles. I visited the nature center. I highly recommend and will be back.

Richard Ea month ago

A great place to go for a walk, ride a bike, have a picnic, camp, or just get away.

cathy mercadal7 months ago

Definitely recommend, such a relaxing nature walk, my daughter and I walked a few trails, walked on a pier and visited the garden!

Opening hours

When Google exported structured hours, they’re surfaced here instead of being buried in the raw payload.

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Google map

Embedded map view for quick orientation before visitors head out.

Keep exploring

Helpful links to compare this park with the wider area and plan your next outing.