Chesapeake Bay Gateways come in many shapes and sizes. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network is a partnership system of 168 parks, wildlife refuges, museums, historic communities and trails in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Whether you're interested in paddling the marshes of the Mathews Blueways Water Trails or visiting Jamestown Island to learn about the first permanent English settlement - the Gateways Network has something for everyone.
Up until just over 50 years ago, boats were often the "vehicle" of choice for moving around in the Chesapeake Region. Now, people look to the Bay and its rivers for recreational canoeing, kayaking and boating. Explore your paddling and boating options on hundreds of miles of new and developing water trails! See all of the Gateway water trails.
The Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River flows from Virginia Beach through Norfolk before joining the main river and the Chesapeake Bay. This historic area combines natural wetlands and naval shipyards. The scenic Eastern Branch provides a glimpse of the environment as Captain John Smith would have seen it, with the r...More info
