GENERAL INFO: Just an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., Sky Meadows State Park in Clarke and Fauquier counties, offers a peaceful getaway on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With rolling pastures and woodlands, the park boasts beautiful vistas of the foothills and access to the Appalachian Trail. Its rich history is shaped by the development of agriculture and the impact of the Civil War. Activities include hiking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, primitive camping, and nature and history programs.
LOCATION: The park is less than two miles south of Paris, Va., via U.S. Route 50 to Route 17 South; or seven miles north of I-66, Exit 23 on Route 17 North. The park entrance is on State Route 710.
Drive Time : Northern Virginia, 45 minutes to one hour; D.C., over one hour; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/ Norfolk/ Virginia Beach, three hours; Roanoke, two and a half hours
Click here for a Google map.
PARK MAP: Click here for a map depicting the park's facilities. Both require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing or printing.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: This park offers hike-in primitive camping (12 sites) and a primitive group camping area year-round. There are no cabins or developed campsites with hookups at this park. Reservations are required.
Site type:
TPRI - 12 primitive, hike-in sites; no hookups; non-potable water only; pit toilets.
GPRI - One group campsite for up to 36 people.
Total sites: 13
For general information about Virginia State Parks accommodations, amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
CABINS / CAMPING: None. This park has no cabins or standard campsites, only primitive campgrounds. If you're interested in other parks' overnight accommodations, rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, offering and park. Rates are subject to verification by DCR's state parks reservations staff (1-800-933-PARK). First determine the park, the season (which varies by park), then the rate. Click here for park system fees.
TRAILS: The park has more than 12 miles of hiking trails ranging in difficulty from moderate to hard. In addition, the park offers access to the Appalachian Trail. The park is a three-day hike from Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., and two days from Shenandoah National Park. To protect our wildlife, all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Vehicles and bicycles are permitted only on paved park roads. Horses are not permitted on hiking trails
The park also has bridle trails; bring your own horse to enjoy more than six miles of challenging, scenic riding on two loop trails.
FISHING, BOATING: Freshwater fishing in one-acre pond. Fishing is permitted from the shoreline only, with a valid license. Fish typically include largemouth bass, catfish and bluegill. No boat rentals or launch.
HORSES: No rentals, however the park has more than six miles of bridle trails for those bringing their own horses.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: The visitor center features nature and history exhibits and a gift shop. Hors are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday and on holidays.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: The Delaplane Strawberry Festival is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Historic homes, Civil War sites, horse farms, bed and breakfast inns, Virginia State Arboretum, quaint villages, wineries, and Virginia and International Gold Cup steeplechase races.
PICNIC SHELTERS: One shelter is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are only two picnic tables under the shelter, which overlooks rolling pastures. The area has drinking water, grills and modern restrooms.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Historic Mount Bleak House, built in 1843, is open for guided tours on weekends and holiday afternoons from mid-April through November.
CONCESSIONS: Small gift shop; beverage vending machines.
HISTORY: Settlement of the area can be attributed to nearby Ashby's Gap, which gave settlers access to the Shenandoah Valley.
In 1731, Lord Fairfax sold a 7,883-acre tract of land just south of Ashby’s Gap to James Ball. Ball died in 1754, and his land was divided among his daughter and five grandsons. One grandson sold his land to John Edmonds in 1780. Edmonds died eight years later, and his land was divided among his five children.
Isaac Settle of nearby Paris bought land from two of those children and in 1812 built a large brick house called “Belle Grove.” In 1842, he sold Belle Grove farm to his son in-law, Lewis Edmonds, who shortly thereafter sold 148 acres to Settle’s son, Abner, who built Mount Bleak House.
Mount Bleak in 1868 became the property of George M. Slater, who had been in Mosby’s Rangers during the Civil War. Slater and his son lived there for 55 years.
The property changed owners several times in the 1900s. In 1975, Paul Mellon of Upperville, Va., donated a 1,132-acre tract to the Commonwealth for the development of a state park. Another 248 acres were acquired in 1987, thus providing a corridor to the Appalachian Trail. In 1991, Mr. Mellon donated another 248 acres, designated the Lost Mountain Bridle Trail Area.
The name Sky Meadows comes from former owner Robert Hadow, who named the property "Skye Farm" after an island in Scotland.
