Can you identify Kiptopeke critters just by their bones?

Gather around the crackling campfire for an afternoon of tasty treats and tall tales!

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.

Join Virginia Master Naturalist and entomologist Sarah Reilly as she introduces us to some of the beautiful and fascinating tiny critters you’re likely to find in this part of Virginia during this part of the season. Far from creepy, these many-legged crawlers are bound to amaze you as you learn about some of their mind-blowing adaptations and behaviors. Sarah’s presentation will be followed by an optional bug-themed craft that kids and adults alike can take home.

Join us at the Discovery Center, where we'll take a short walk to gather natural materials and create your own unique fall-themed craft.

Come celebrate Halloween at Occoneechee State Park.

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.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

In 1976, William W.

Join a ranger to explore leaf packs pulled from Rock Spring Pond.

Bring the family to the park to enjoy the fall colors and a fun-filled Halloween event. Activities include a costume contest (for ages 12 and younger), pumpkin decorating, crafts, candy, and games.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Join Park Rangers and volunteers as we explore the traditional cultural traits related to death and dying in the Central Appalachian Region.

Crows are more than just a Halloween symbol, they’re also super smart!

It's International Bat Week!

This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'Fairy Stone' that everyone is looking for.

Boo!

Celebrate Halloween by creating your very own painted rock.  Once you've created your masterpiece, you're invited to hide your rock for someone to find.  Free your creativity and join us for a fun themed activity.

Join us at Widewater State Park for a slithery, fun-filled adventure with “Snakes Alive!” Meet our friendly, live, non-venomous snake ambassadors and learn fascinating facts from a park ranger who’s a herpetologist specializing in snake behavior!

Foraging can foster a special connection with the land as well as with fellow foragers.

Experience the beauty of autumn on our Fall Colors Canoe Tour at Douthat State Park.

Peek at the peaks with a ranger as you leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

Pan for gold in the James River while learning about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park, and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river.

Come one, come all, for a spooky hike this Fall!

It's that creepy time of year...Join a ranger to make your own seasonal treat to eat.

Get ready for a 'spook-tacular' time at "Trunk or Treat" at Holliday Lake State Park!

Slime is survival.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Join  park rangers as we stroll through Big Stone’s Historic Glencoe Cemetery.

Wear your best costume and come join us at Fairy Stone State Park for a fun filled afternoon of Trunk-or-Treating. Parking for the event will be in the overflow lot directly across the street from the entrance to Shelters 3 & 4.

Join us as we build a creature to find out how adaptations of native animals (as well as creatures of Appalachian folklore) can help them be specially made for their environment. As a spooky twist, put together pieces of famous creatures to make your own cryptic, just as Dr.

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. .

Come Trunk-or-Treat at Caledon!

Ever had homemade peach or apple crisp cooked over a fire, in a Dutch Oven?

Put on your costumes and join us for an evening of Trick-or-Treating around the campground.

The park will offer a family-friendly, haunted attraction on the park’s grounds.

 Face your fears and unlock the mysteries Machicomoco's night time creatures by investigating the park after dark with us. Join us on a hike to discover some of the "spooky" animals of the park and to do some hands-on learning to find out what you really need to worry about and make the outdoors less frightening.

Whoooo goes there?

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

The requirements of survival cannot be met on an empty stomach.

Celebrate the spookiest season by daring to walk the park's haunted trail.

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories!

Join us for an evening of spooky Appalachian storytelling at Natural Tunnel State Park.

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories!

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories!

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

Bring your canine companion and join the B.A.R.K.

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

Step back in time as we uncover the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Slither on down to the Visitor Center to weave a web of knowledge on the spookier side of nature.

Join us at Westmoreland State Park for one of our annual themed special events to celebrate the spooky season of October.  There will be games, activities, face painting, pumpkin carving and decorating (and a contest for the best pumpkin), programs, and...

Pop-Up StoryWalks are part of a national trend encouraging movement and reading.

Join us in celebration of the spooky season by attending our annual Halloweekend event at Westmoreland State Park.

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

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

Learn about the reptiles that can be spotted in the park!

Learn about Kiptopeke’s role as a major migration route for raptors and other species including dragonflies and Monarch butterflies.

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

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Westmoreland State Park invites you to learn about the different fossil types that you can find here along the shoreline, and why, as you create your very own shark tooth necklace keepsake.

Enjoy the stunning views of the awe-inspiring mountains as the leaves begin to change from a deep green to vibrant red, orange and yellow hues.

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'.

Join us, in the great spirit of October, Fall, and Halloween, to paint keepsake ornaments behind the Discovery Center.  This special and themed DIY craft is designed for participants of all ages to get creative in the great outdoors.

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.

You are invited to participate in a guided hike with an interpretive ranger to learn about the medicinal plants of central Virginia.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

In the 18th century, this area was a thriving place for business, people, and transportation.

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!  Learn about different turtles that call Kiptopeke home and why it's important to keep wildlife wild.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

Come to Widewater and help our Rangers fill our windows with Autumn leaves!

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Can you hear the park talking?  There are many tales and tails throughout Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some are tactile, most don’t use words, so how does the park share its stories?  Park Interpreters will help you discover the park through hands on activities, artifacts and even some stories.

At night there are many predators that take flight and all serve important parts in the ecosystem, including the only flying mammal.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Leesylvania State Park is part of many different watersheds, some large and some small.

Can you dig it?  This special program is designed to introduce participants to the wonderful world of fossil finding at Westmoreland State Park.

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Bring your paint brushes, pencils, pens, felt, yarn and needles or whatever art medium you choose and meet us at the Interpretive Center to enjoy the view!  Poetry and gentle music also encouraged.

Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies and other unloved animals with a Park Ranger.

Step back in time and discover the history of candle making.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone State Park and your own backyard.

Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic town of Ivanhoe, VA with a very special guest and author Patty Elton.

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'.

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.

Autumn brings many seasonal changes to the forest.

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'.

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.

It's that time of year again!

The Archery Range opens for the season daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.

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.