The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak.

Frogs, turtles, and fish, oh my!  Explore the life that exists in the pond while learning about the abundance of animals that call this ecosystem home.  Join a park ranger and learn how you can help protect these fascinating creatures.  For more information, please call the Visitor Center at (703) 583-6904 or send an email to leesylvaniavc@dcr.virginia.gov.

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

The Park is excited to announce their Children’s Junior Ranger Camp is back again for 2024.

Try out freshwater fishing from the lake shoreline using our tackle.

This nature walk and talk is about the textures and aromas of three native forest species and their role in developing special relationships between plants and humans.

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

Spend time floating five and a half miles down the Clinch River.

Explore some of the coolest little critters that fly in our amazing world of the night sky above. Join an interpreter on Wednesdays this summer to learn about bats and what they mean for our ecosystem.

Join us for an unforgettable Junior Ranger Camp adventure at Holliday Lake State Park.

On this hike, all 5 of your senses will be stimulated as we immerse ourselves in nature.

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center for a feeding frenzy.  You will be able to observe a variety of animals in our saltwater fish tank while they eat.  Learn how to identify the different animals and what they all like to eat.  Great for all ages!   .

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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

Step inside to learn all about the magic of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants.

Do you want to witness the art of Gyotaku fish printing, an ancient craft where you can create your own fish masterpiece!

Bear Creek Lake is a modest 40 aces in size yet has a many-faceted story to tell.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

What's a benthic organism and how do they survive in the creek?

Like them or loathe them, snakes are important to our ecosystems.

Come along on a hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park. Meet at picnic shelter #2. The hike is roughly 2 miles long. Great for all ages!

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

Hop on over to learn the calls and search for some of Virginia's native frog species.

Practice your netting skills to find out what lives in the Bay using techniques dating back to ancient times!

Kayak through the sunset on Swift Creek Lake.

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

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

The Park is excited to announce their Children’s Junior Ranger Camp is back again for 2024.

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

This week's Junior Rangers theme is Animals and their Habitats.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to identify some of Virginia’s native trees? It can take some time to develop this skill, but we have a park Interpreter who is willing to help you get started. We will go on a short hike on the River Bank Trail, and along the way will stop at some of the more well-known trees in Virginia.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

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

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

Been itching to go fishing?

Explore the 32-acre Prince Edward Lake, the larger of the park's two lakes, on this guided canoe tour.

Join us for an unforgettable Junior Ranger Camp adventure at Holliday Lake State Park.

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a lesser-known part of First Landing State Park: the Narrows Beach!

Enjoy a fun paddling adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  Watch majestic bald eagles and ospreys soar above, a heron hunting along the shore, and turtles basking in the  sunshine.

Are all snakes venomous?

Join us as we explore the wonders of nature.

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

Have you ever thought about where the railroad at Natural Tunnel goes and what it has been used for through the years?

Did you know you can make paper from paper?

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

Sometimes the best way to make new discoveries in nature is to play a game. I spy something round on the ground. I spy something blue up high. Can you guess what “I Spy” as we hike the River Bank Trail?  Come find out and play along.

Christmas has come early at the park!

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

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.

Imagine a world without fruits and veggies...this could exist without pollinators! Join us for "Buzzy Gardens" as we explore the needs of our pollinators and create our own "Buzzy Gardens" that keep bees and our native pollinators happy and healthy.

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

There are many different wildlife that call Leesylvania State Park their home.

Ahoy Matey!

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun a peek at some critters and a cute craft.

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

When it comes to carrying survival materials with you on the trail, every little bit of space counts, so hikers come up with creative ways to carry their gear.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

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

Not all bees live in hives.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

What's under that rock?

Have you ever wanted to see one of the park’s many reptile residents up close?

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

Embrace your creativity by exploring unique connections to the natural and historic elements of the park through this dynamic art program.

The Chesapeake Bay provides visitors with some of the most stunning views of the sunset and sounds of the waves.

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

The surface of the water might seem calm, but down under there is an exciting world filled with all kinds of life.

Silent and spooky, the owl is a magnificent animal.

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.

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

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.

Let us teach you all the basics you'll need to know to get yourself started with one of our most popular outdoor activities, from tying on your hook and tackle to casting your line.

The Park is excited to announce their Children’s Junior Ranger Camp is back again for 2024.

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

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

Explore the beautiful wetlands with us.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own interpretive guide!

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

Toads, Turtles and Snakes- Oh my!

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center for a feeding frenzy! You will be able to observe a variety of animals in our saltwater fish tank along with our resident Eastern box turtle. Learn how to identify the different species and what they all like to eat.

Leesylvania State Park makes its own worm compost!  Join rangers as we take a closer look at worms and how they can benefit your kitchen and backyard.

Second only to humans in the ability to change their environment to fit their needs, learn just how smart a beaver can be.

Join us and Mount Rogers Community Services and immerse yourself in nature's grandeur while fueling your body, mind, and soul every Friday at noon.

Owls are known as silent fliers, impeccable listeners, and skilled hunters.

Step inside to learn all about the magic of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants.

Learn about the local history of Draper, it's early inhabitants and significant figures and the early industry of the 1800's.  The Draper Historic District, covering 40 acres in Pulaski County, encompasses a concentration of historic resources that coalesced in the Draper Valley into a railroad depot community in the late 1800s.

Come as a family, with friends, or fly solo on this seasonal scavenger hunt.

Meet local 'shellebrity', Ranger Shelly, our Red-eared Slider turtle as she suns herself and enjoys some enrichment at the beach area.

You can learn a lot about the health of a stream by seeing what lives beneath its surface.

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

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.

Meet Natural Tunnel's wildlife ambassador, Popcorn the corn snake.

Get hooked on fishing at False Cape State Park.

Are you comfortable climbing in a gym but want to try bouldering in the wild?

Come over to picnic shelter #2 and get inspired by the great outdoors.  Create your own masterpiece!  Great for all ages. .