This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the remarkable abilities of bats and the importance of preserving their habitats.

Join us for a magical and entertaining view of one of our most treasured holidays at the Karlan Mansion.

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

A beloved holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees celebrates its 29th year.

During this annual winter event, visitors will drive their car through the park’s campground and beach area to experience a wonderland of lights and community displays.

Experience the park at night, illuminated with lights and decorations.

As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights.

Gather along the Shenandoah River to watch the Geminids Meteor Shower!  Visitors can expect to see as many as 100 meteors per hour!

Join us for a magical night under the stars as we gather to witness the Geminid Meteor Shower, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year!

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a monthly "Birding in the Gap" on the second Saturday of each month.

Each month, volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to work together on a project that helps improve and maintain our beautiful park.

What better way to start the day than with a hot cup of coffee.

As cold winds and long shadows fill Powell’s Valley, journey to Joseph Martin’s station for an evening of glad tidings and good cheer.

Ol' St.

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

Take a closer look at your surroundings in our monthly nature journaling classes.

Get creative when you build your very own bug at this ranger-led program.

Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach clean up.

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

Enjoy a winter birding adventure to discover duck species and habitats.  In less than a mile we will look for waterfowl from a shallow pond, tidal creek, and the river.  Bald eagles are also frequently found in the area.

Join an interpretive ranger on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

Slither on down and join the Park Ranger for an in depth look into the fascinating lives of some local reptiles.

Winter is a great time to appreciate the light that our moon shares with us here on Earth.  In anticipation of the last full moon of 2024, we'll be reading If You Decide to GO to the Moon by Faith McNulty.  Together we'll learn about what it would be like to travel to the moon.  Following the story, we'll create our own moons, craters and all, with a just a few recycled materials.

Winter reveals hidden secrets as animals leave tracks in the snow.

In preparation for the Christmas Bird Count, come brush up on your avian identification skills with one of our Rangers!

Play classic Hide-and-Seek with a modern twist!

These wood cookies aren't meant for eating.

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'.

The Visitor Center is home to two freshwater Red-Eared Slider turtles, Jennika and Venus, and it is time for them to eat.

It's feeding time for two of our ambassador reptiles, Stevie the King Snake and Reba the Corn Snake, and we welcome you to attend this demonstration and learn about these snakes as they prepare to feed on a frozen mouse! .

Immerse yourself in the history of Timberneck through the lens of Fanny Catlett, whose family built the house and lived in it for two centuries.

Embrace the beauty of winter and get crafty with natural materials. Join us at the Camp Store to create unique, nature-inspired crafts.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Create your own unique light-catching snowflake or snowman to hang and dazzle in your window all winter long!

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the trail around High Bridge with interesting historical items from the park.

Citizens of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe are sharing their practice of pine needle basketry in this hands-on workshop.

During this one-mile trek, a ranger will guide you through this journey through time on Goodwin Lake Trail. Although rated easy, this trail may not be suitable for those with strollers or severe mobility issues.

The tranquility of the winter woods offers a perfect chance to reflect and connect with nature amidst the beauty of the season. Hike with an interpreter as we take in the stunning winter scenery throughout the park.

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 boomtown. 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.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

Need a break from your long trip and have a little fun? Do you like being creative? We have many things to see at our Visitor Center.

Join a ranger-led hike to catch glimpses of the full moon.

Join us for a magical and entertaining view of one of our most treasured holidays at the Karlan Mansion.

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

A beloved holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees celebrates its 29th year.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights.

During this annual winter event, visitors will drive their car through the park’s campground and beach area to experience a wonderland of lights and community displays.

Experience the park at night, illuminated with lights and decorations.

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

As you ride down on the chairlift and make your way to the tunnel, you will be surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights and see animated Christmas displays.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights.

Carol your way through the winter woods on a wagon decorated with holiday lights.

Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

The Visitor Center at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park offers a museum filled with treasured artifacts discovered over the years where the last major fight of the American Civil War in Virginia occurred on April 6, 1865.

Tours of the Hillsman House, a National Historic Landmark, are available to the public by request.

A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Sailor's Creek Battlefield is available to visitors year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield offers six, self-guided Hiking Trails with historic markers for the public to explore year round during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

The Staunton River Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided program that you can enjoy with family and friends.

Pick up the Staunton River State Park bird identification list in the Visitor Center for this self-guided program.

Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Pick up this Ranger Quest guide at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Did you know that Haven Howe was an early advocate for environmental reform in Virginia? Participate in person or virtually as we examine the fine craftsmanship of the Howe House and learn of its builder, inhabitants, and history.

Take a hike back in time by visiting our tour points located at the same location as our collection of photos and videos from past years at Claytor Lake State Park and Claytor Lake.

Earn your junior ranger patch through a variety of programs and fun family activities.  Visit the park office, gift shop, or contact station for a copy of our junior ranger booklet, or you can download it from the link below.

Find out what it takes to be a ranger at Sky Meadows State Park.

A new discovery awaits your family with Sky Meadows' Discovery Backpacks.

Discover the different habitats Sky Meadows has to offer on our Kids in Park's TRACK Trail!

Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a copy of a self-guided brochure on the "22 Trees of Virginia Tour." This one-mile hike will take you on an adventure to awe-inspiring overlooks while identifying some of the common trees you may find in your backyard.

Experience geocaching at Sky Meadows State Park with three park-themed caches.

Contribute to citizen science by helping us create a time lapse of this mysterious site.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

Request a ranger to give your family or group a chance to engage in activities not otherwise available in our park.

We have some exciting self-guided activities launching this year; whether it's kayaking the New River, enjoying an audio tour, or becoming a Junior Ranger, there's something for everyone. Here is a list of what is available: Geocaching: This is a fun way to merge technology and outdoor exploration.

As you explore the Wilderness Road Blockhouse and the surrounding area, discover what makes this building so unique as well as what was commonly used on the frontier for survival during the 18th Century.

Enjoy a self-guided tour as you walk down to see the Natural Tunnel.

Put on your boots and take your class outdoors with our new teacher-led Outdoor Educator Backpack.

Biking is a wonderful activity to do here in the park.

Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect location for fishing.

Discover the secrets of the park through geocaching.

Schedule some fun at New River Trail State Park!

Belle Isle State Park has some great activities that you can do on your own schedule.

Belle Isle State Park is looking for the next generation of ranger, are you ready to give it a try?

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

Make your outdoor experience more memorable with a private program for your group or family at Shenandoah River State Park!

Are you looking for a great activity for the kids that is both fun and educational?

This is a self-guided program for the whole family to enjoy.

Join us on a real or virtual hike through Claytor Lake State Park as we take a closer look at some of the beautiful native trees.

Stop by the fishing area behind Howe House to check out our EnChroma color blind scenic viewer.

The park has over 12 miles of beautiful hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

Throughout the year various constellations appear in the night sky.

Drop by the kiosk at the Spillway, pick up a special brochure, and get ready to get dirty with our seasonal scavenger hunts for kids.

If you're interested in learning about trees while you hike, this self-guided program is for you.

Stop by the Discovery Center and go inside to grab a booklet that will take you and your kids on adventure through time in Hungry Mother State Park.

Find the special Track Trail kiosk at the corner of Parking Lot 6 to pick up a brochure with fun activities for kids to enjoy around the park.

If you're excited to learn more about our native plants and animals, then you're in the right place.

Stop by Hungry Mother's Discovery Center and ask front desk about our Park Packs.