Often mislabeled and misunderstood, vultures are a vital part of our ecosystem.

Explore the marshes of Back Bay by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

Dusk is a magical time at the park.

Join the Virginia Peninsula Stargazers as they point out the different items of our solar system in the night sky.  They will have the equipment.  Just bring your curiosity.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs. .

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

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

Rev3Endurance is pleased to bring back the Shenandoah River Aquablaze. This is a fun race that combines running and watercraft as part of your race route (kayaking for soloist/canoeing for 2-person teams).

Enjoy a peaceful morning canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  Take in the tranquility of this tributary, watch majestic bald eagles and ospreys soar above, a heron hunting along the shore, turtles basking in the morning sunshine, or a river otter retiring for the day to its den .

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

The Let's Go Adventures staff will introduce you to the basics like, how to select a rod and reel combo, knot tying, and selecting the right fly for conditions and species.

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Enjoy a ranger-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

We need your help.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

Join our Park Rangers for a unique experience of Aquia Creek as the cloak of twilight descends.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Come explore the historic town of Fries.

This is an easy and fun ride for cyclists of all skill levels that covers 11.4 miles out and back and takes about 1.5 hours.

We need our Girl Scouts to lead the way and help to create a better planet for us all. Come on out to Staunton River State Park and explore our rivers, trails, and open spaces. Be sure to visit our Visitor Center to grab a trail map and check out our unique self-guided programs.

Our natural world is full of fascinating plants, animals and water all in different landscapes.

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

Prepare to refine your camping skills in this crash course designed to refresh you on the art of building campfires.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

From the the backyard to the backcountry, Girl Scouts USA has a long and storied history of getting every girl outdoors.

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Most people are familiar with the lake habitat and the forest that surrounds it, but there are many micro-habitats that attract animals with very different needs.

Join False Cape staff and volunteers in helping keep our beaches pristine by picking up shoreline debris.

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

Did you know that one out of every three bites of our food, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and spices, is created with the help of pollinators?  Join us as we review tips for capturing great photographs of our summer pollinators including butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and more.  We will begin with a review of when, where, and how to photograph these flying wonders.  Following the review, we will head to the field to practice these techniques.  All types of cameras from smartphones to professional cameras and levels of photographers are welcomed.

Camping occurred on the Virginia frontier in 1775 much as it does in 2024.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

'Family Learning Adventures,' formally known as 'Arks for Parks,' is back this year at Twin Lakes State Park.

Download your Girl Scouts Love State Parks Passport from the Girl Scouts website, when available and come to the park to work on Legacy badges and more!

Join us for a women and girl-centric hike in celebration of Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day!

Calling all nature-loving Girl Scouts!

Join us during Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend and work on completing different badges.

Celebrate National Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day at Twin Lakes State Park by learning archery basics, an activity that has been practiced on the land that is now the park for thousands of years. At the program, a ranger will go over the basics of target archery, including safety practices and shooting techniques.

Imagine finding yourself approaching a beacon of rest and resupply with nothing but the clothes on your back.

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

In celebration of Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day, Twin Lakes State Park is hosting this modernized game of hide-and-seek. Participants will compete to find objects hidden by the opposing team using GPS units.

Want to learn how to go geocaching? Girl Scouts can join one of our rangers on a guided program on how to start your geocache adventure.

Want to learn how to go geocaching? Join one of our rangers on a guided program on how to start your geocache adventure. Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure.

Girl Scouts Love State Parks 2024 focuses on "leading the way caring for your parks", and together with Pick Up America, "fostering a clean environment for everyone to enjoy." At Virginia State Parks we follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace to minimize the impact we have upon the natural world and Belle Isle State Park also recycles.

Once the smoke cleared from the battlefield, Johnny Reb and Billy Yank would often collapse from exhaustion and set up camp for the night. What did a military camp look like? Was it dangerous to be in camp? Come out for an interactive experience with our rangers as we walk you through the lives of the soldiers from both North and South.

Crawdads, Salamanders, and Stone flies, oh my!

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

Calling all Girl Scouts, girls, and women of all ages!

Join us during Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend and work on completing different badges.

Embrace your wild side and come play a game of chase that predator and prey have to "play" to survive everyday.

Imagine finding yourself approaching a beacon of rest and resupply with nothing but the clothes on your back.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Join us during Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend and work on completing different badges.

Enjoy a peaceful evening canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  View the majestic colors of a Northern Virginia summer sunset on this tranquil tributary of the Potomac River while catching glimpses of the nocturnal wildlife emerging for the evening.  No paddling experience is required; all participants must be of 6 years or older.

Take a float as day turns into twilight, and the creatures of the night arise.

Come take a walk with us under a starry sky to search for some of the park's most elusive night-time predators: owls!  As we walk along under the quiet cover of darkness, we'll listen for their haunting voices as they cry out across the landscape.

Are you ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city?

Come enjoy the challenging routes of Sky Meadows State Park and Valley View Farm, home of the Gnarled Orchard. These courses are knotty, knot nice at the farm as they are a mix of cross country, trail, and hills! Runners may also redeem their drink ticket for sweet cider, juice or soda. To see what else Valley View Farm has to offer, click here.

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

Stewardship in nature is a core value shared by those who enjoy public lands.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

We need your help.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

If you love nature and the outdoors, come check out the Friends of Powhatan State Park monthly meetings and gather with like-minded people who are passionate about supporting Virginia State Parks through volunteerism and legislation.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra, and only a portion of it passes through the darkest shadow, or umbra.

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

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

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Paddle through the Catlett Islands on a Ranger led kayak tour which explores the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and history of the park.

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

Take into your heart the peace of wild things.

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

We are hosting Central Virginia’s most exciting new event, the 2nd Annual Pawpaw Festival.

Join us for the Westmoreland State Parks one and only Music on the Cliff!

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

Take in the sounds of the Richmond Symphony at the Heritage Amphitheater while surrounded by the beauty of Pocahontas State Park.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Watch the stars come out at night, then watch the moon rise over the Blue Ridge Mountains! Join park rangers for an exploration of our night sky at this International Dark Sky Park.

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Have you ever wondered how to eat an acorn?

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.