Events in Virginia State Parks

Help ensure years of great fishing at Claytor Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

Help ensure years of great fishing at Fairy Stone Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

Gather around the weapons display in the Visitor Center for an in depth look at the carbines carried by Union cavalry.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail (0.81mi.).

Join us for a flexible Stewardship Sunday, offering both self-guided and ranger-led opportunities to lend a hand and give back to Mother Nature.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snakes that live here in our Visitor Center.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Every January, during National Hobby Month, folks all over the United States try new hobbies and celebrate their old ones, and Pocahontas State Park is the perfect place to do both.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Looking to get hooked on a new hobby this year?

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Our Winter Lecture Series is back for its twenty-first year!

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

Enjoy the beauty of York River State Park, while having the opportunity to take pictures along the way.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

Join a ranger for a guided hike along one of the fingers of Fairy Stone Lake that leads to an abandoned iron mine.

'Whooo' will hear 'whooo' first?

"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson With the use of a Celestron telescope, view the astral bodies up close and learn about the history of the stars.

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Join us in the park’s orchard for a special day of learning and community.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Take a guided walk with a ranger alongside golden meadow and frosty forest to find out who is out and about!

Turn trash into treasure at Caledon!

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Join us for a guided Winter Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience the quiet beauty of the forest in its cold-weather stillness.

Join a ranger for a guided hike to look for winter birds.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Stop by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center and learn more about the people who lived on the Wilderness Road frontier.

Teens and adults are invited to slow down, step outside, and discover how nature journaling can change the way you notice the world around you.

Enjoy maximum bluff and shoreline views on this ranger guided hike.  The hike is just about a mile and includes a portion of the new Hognose Trail.  We will explore the popular Fossil Beach and the secluded Pete's Overlook.  .

Join Gail Olson, a dedicated member of the Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter, for a hands-on workshop on winter sowing and growing native plants.

Let's walk back in time through the exhibits here at Occoneechee State Park and learn about the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Celebrate 80 years of history, conservation, and outdoor recreation by stepping into the story of the park on this guided anniversary hike.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

Where do our amphibians and reptiles live?

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Discover how fire affects our world and how we attempt to harness its power.

Have you ever found yourself in need of a length of string while out in the wilderness?

Settle into the quiet calm of winter at Sweet Run State Park.

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

Keep an eye out near the Visitor Center for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

Think you can’t draw?

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Have you ever thought about making maple syrup at home?

Discover the art of journaling in the wild with a ranger.

Westmoreland State Park is filled with tons of flying friends; can you make a nest as good as them?

Step back in time to 1939, when Pocahontas State Park was known as the Swift Creek Recreational Demonstration Area and learn more about the history of the park.

Trees are some of the most crucial organisms on the planet.

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Looking to get hooked on a new hobby this year?

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

Can you maintain ecosystem equilibrium?

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

Experience Sky Meadows, an International Dark-Sky Park, at this monthly astronomical celebration!

James River State Park is a designated International Dark Sky park.

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

This trail begins on Iron Mine Trail and features an iron mine once used by Fayerdale residents, as well as an overlook of Fairy Stone Lake.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snakes that live here in our Visitor Center.

Become a Turtle Tummy Detective!

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Every January, during National Hobby Month, folks all over the United States try new hobbies and celebrate their old ones, and Pocahontas State Park is the perfect place to do both.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Tree ID can be tough enough, but a tree in winter leaves a lot to be desired.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Did you know that January 21st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day?

Waterfowl are wonderful in winter!

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Hoot have thought reconstructing skeletons could be so cool?!

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

The Bald Cypress Trail is one of the park’s most popular trails with several swamp overlooks.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

The Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park is a volunteer organization of interested citizens who actively support the park. The group works on behalf of the park by assisting in daily programs, special events, fund raising, and public education. The partnership provides a mechanism to use the skills, contacts, and resources of private citizens and businesses to improve services that may not otherwise be available.

This hike honors the shared history of African, European, and Native Americans who made their homes along the Mattaponi, Pamunkey, and York River.