Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m., Feb. 15 through April 30. Learn more.
Earth Day Events
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, Virginia State Parks offers a range of special events and activities highlighting the importance of conservation and sustainability. Visitors are invited to participate in educational programs, guided nature walks, wildlife observation, tree plantings and service projects to help preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the state’s 44 parks. The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Planet vs. Plastics," which focuses on reducing plastic production and consumption to address its harmful health and environmental effects.
April 17, 2026. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
New River Trail State Park
Are you curious about the birds around us?
April 17, 2026 8:00 a.m. - April 26, 2026 4:00 p.m.
First Landing State Park
Come celebrate our planet with First Landing Rangers during Earth Week!
April 17, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 17, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Did you know if Americans recycled one-tenth of their newspapers it would save 25 million trees a year?
April 17, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Slippery, slimy, salamanders are out and about!
April 17, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Clinch River State Park
Join a ranger for Earth Day on a hike!
April 17, 2026. 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
April 17th is International Bat Appreciation Day!
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Belle Isle State Park
Want to help the Chesapeake Bay watershed and our planet this weekend before Earth Day?
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Leesylvania State Park
Join a Ranger to conserve and protect Leesylvania State Park's natural resources.
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Kiptopeke State Park
Looking for a fun service project to celebrate Earth Day? Help Park Rangers as we preserve the beauty of the Big Water Visitor Center. We will be cleaning out flower beds, weeding the walkways, and planting native species. Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. Come prepared to get your hands dirty, bring gardening gloves and wear appropriate clothing. All ages are welcome.
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
First Landing State Park
Join First Landing Rangers for an Earth Week shoreline cleanup at the Narrows Beach located at the 64th Street entrance.
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 18, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sweet Run State Park
Join us for a special collaborative planting event as Sweet Run partners with the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Woodgrove High School.
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Love your planet!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Machicomoco State Park
Join us for the 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Art in the Park programs explore connections between art and the natural world through a different hands-on project each month. April's program is Paper Making!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Douthat State Park
Ready to see the forest wake up after winter? Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short, guided hike focused on the fascinating world of spring tree identification.
April 18, 2026. 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lake Anna State Park
Calling all hikers, bikers, equestrians, and trail enthusiasts! Celebrate Earth Week at Lake Anna State Park by joining our Trail Survey Team. Volunteer Trail Surveyors will mark damaged signs, fallen trees, and other potential hazards on the Avenza free navigation app to help guide our maintenance projects for the upcoming season. Volunteers will check in at the Visitor Center by 10:30AM.
April 18, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.
April 18, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Where do toads live?
April 18, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Staunton River Battlefield State Park
Do you know what critters are crawling in your backyard?
April 18, 2026. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by discovering the magic of vernal pools!
April 18, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by diving into the fascinating world of native fish.
April 18, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
Have you ever wondered what a plant would sound like if it could speak...or play music?
April 18, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Join us on Earth Week for a Hungry Mother Lake clean-up.
April 18, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Ahoy, nature-loving engineers.
April 18, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?
April 18, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
What better way to support Mother Earth on this Earth Day than to plant an eco-friendly garden?
April 19, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Create a recycled flowerpot out of newspaper that you can place right in the ground with native flower seeds.
April 19, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 19, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Powhatan State Park
Join fellow nature-lovers to help safe-guard our native birds during Earth Week! On this guided birding walk, you will be encouraged to practice identification and record the species observed using the eBird app by the Cornell Lab.
April 19, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mason Neck State Park
Why throw away old magazines, water bottles, or old craft materials when you could use them for an art project?
April 19, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Spring is arriving in the mountains!
April 19, 2026. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Landing State Park
Kick off Earth Week with creativity and turn old tees into new treasures!
April 19, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
You may think you know all about turtles, but come join us for Earth Week to discover how amazing they really are! How long can they really live?
April 19, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you. This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water and snacks.
April 19, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Widewater State Park
If you don't know what you're looking for, an invasive species may seem like just another part of an ecosystem.
April 19, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Hold the whole world or at least a mini ecosystem in your hands.
April 20, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 20, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 21, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 21, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 21, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bear Creek Lake State Park
This special activity is a part of Virginia Volunteer Week as well as Earth Day Week activities.
April 21, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Bear Creek Lake State Park
To celebrate the 56th Earth Day, visit our fun display of solar powered gizmos.
April 21, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Widewater State Park
Have you ever wondered how long it takes for our trash to fully decompose? This program will explore our trash and its effect on the environment.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grayson Highlands State Park
Join park staff, Friends of Grayson Highlands State Park and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy volunteers for the High-Country Clean-up!
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Join us this Earth Day at Douthat State Park to make a lasting impact on our forest ecosystem.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bear Creek Lake State Park
This Virginia Volunteer Week and Earth Day Week activity will have us cutting down invasive Autumn Olive shrubs encroaching into the archery range and in the campgrounds.
April 22, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Volunteer your time this Earth Day with a shoreline cleanup at our park. Learn about how pollution can spread in an aquatic environment and help us protect ourselves and our wildlife.
April 22, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Grab your gloves and boots as we go hunting for non-native species that are disrupting the native ecosystem.
April 22, 2026. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
Join us for a self guided Earth Day cleanup at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.
April 22, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
“Animals of Fairy Stone” explores the habits and characteristics of a variety of animals found in the Park. Find out who may be sneaking through your back yard or even around your campsite after you’ve gone to sleep. While at the program, examine pelts, bones, and more!
April 22, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Hayfields State Park
This Earth Day join our rangers in protecting the environment by leaving nothing but foot prints and taking only photos.
April 22, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Turtle time in our front yard.
April 22, 2026. 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park
Join Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes and park staff for a night amphibian walk! We will start the evening at the River Bend Discovery Center to learn about amphibian conservation and ecology. As the sun starts setting, we will take a walk in the woods to look and listen for frogs and toads!
April 22, 2026. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
On the night of April 21–22, 2026, the Lyrid meteor shower will peak, offering a prime stargazing opportunity to see roughly 10–20 meteors per hour.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Come out and enjoy a beautiful meteor shower.
April 23, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 23, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 23, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Widewater State Park
Water, no matter if it comes from oceans, rivers, or rain, tells us a story.
April 24, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 24, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 24, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
Take care of your mother Earth by joining the more than one billion people worldwide who celebrate Earth Day annually.
April 24, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.
April 24, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Come celebrate Arbor Day with us! Join our rangers for a scenic hike from the Howe House to the beach as we learn how to identify some of our common native trees using our handheld identification sheets.
April 24, 2026. 7:45 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
'Whooo' will hear 'whooo' first?
April 24, 2026. 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Whooooo’s calling in the night!?
April 25, 2026. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Take a chance, step outside and discover your local "flew" crew.
April 25, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
High Bridge Trail State Park
In a partnership program with High Bridge Trail, the Margaret Watson Bird Club will have volunteers available to share their knowledge during this birding adventure.
April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
False Cape State Park
Celebrate Earth Week 2026 at False Cape State Park all week long by supporting healthy and happy beaches.
April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate Earth Week by giving back to your park and making a positive impact on the environment!
April 25, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Caledon State Park
Give back to our beautiful planet and create art at Caledon State Park as part of our annual Earth Week celebration.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wilderness Road State Park
Celebrate Earth Day with the naturalist of Wilderness Road State Park and create a personalized micro environment.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
On this special edition of "Ranger-led Hikes", we will celebrate Earth Week as we hike through areas of the park that show signs of human impact.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Join us for a Ranger-led Nature Search to celebrate Earth Week!
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sky Meadows State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to beautiful Sky Meadows State Park!
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum
The Dogwood Garden Club of Big Stone Gap, Va., will host “Bee” Power for Our Planet Exhibit in observance for Earth Week.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
James River State Park
Celebrate Earth Day in a big way at James River State Park!
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
James River State Park
Discover the hidden world of James River State Park’s grasslands, and the beauty of its riverfront, on a special Earth Day guided hike.
April 25, 2026. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Westmoreland State Park
Leaf your worries behind and tree-t yourself to a ranger-led hike that shows how trees are everything but still! We will be hiking ~0.5 miles down an accessible paved trail to Rock Spring Pond.
April 25, 2026. 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lake Anna State Park
Calling all hikers, bikers, equestrians, and trail enthusiasts! Celebrate Earth Week at Lake Anna State Park by joining our Trail Survey Team. Volunteer Trail Surveyors will mark damaged signs, fallen trees, and other potential hazards on the Avenza free navigation app to help guide our maintenance projects for the upcoming season. Volunteers will check in at the Visitor Center by 10:30AM.
April 25, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Have some old hiking, camping, fishing, or any other kinds of outdoorsy gear that you no longer need?
April 25, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
Did you know Twin Lakes State Park is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
April 25, 2026. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by discovering the magic of vernal pools!
April 25, 2026. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Holliday Lake State Park
Join us in an Earth Week discussion while making earth crafts.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by diving into the fascinating world of native fish.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
York River State Park
Come and explore a dynamic ecosystem that prevents erosion and brings life to the river. The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants. Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum
Come join the fun.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
We only have one planet, and it is up to all of us to help care for it, for ourselves as well as future generations.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Chippokes State Park
Observe and capture the natural world of Chippokes State Park with writing and drawing in this introductory session.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
Join a park ranger and your fellow earth-lovers in removing Japanese honeysuckle vine which will be used for future basket-weaving programs!
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
James River State Park
Discover the hidden world of James River State Park’s grasslands, and the beauty of its riverfront, on a special Earth Day guided hike.
April 25, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Join the rangers for a fun tree craft!
April 25, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Give trash a second chance.
April 25, 2026 3:00 p.m. - April 26, 2026 8:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Help us celebrate our planet with some special Earth Day programs: Friday, April 25: 3 p.m. - Tree Identification Hike @ the Howe House Join us for a scenic hike around the historical Howe House and learn how to identify some of our native trees.
April 25, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.
April 25, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Learn about how pollution can spread in an aquatic environment and help us protect ourselves and our wildlife by cleaning up our shoreline.
April 25, 2026. 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Can you match the skull to its pelt?
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