Mount Trashmore Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Mount Trashmore Park is a popular recreational area located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, not North Carolina.


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Summary

The park was created in the 1970s by transforming an old landfill into a public park. It covers 165 acres and features a wide range of amenities, including playgrounds, picnic areas, basketball courts, and hiking trails.

One of the main attractions of Mount Trashmore Park is its scenic overlook, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area. Visitors can also explore Lake Trashmore, a man-made lake located within the park. Mt. Trashmore Skate Park, a large skateboarding facility, is also a major draw for visitors.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was once the largest landfill east of the Mississippi River and that it has won numerous awards for its innovative design and environmental sustainability.

The best time of year to visit Mount Trashmore Park is in the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. However, the park is open year-round and offers a range of activities for visitors to enjoy in all seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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