Caledon State Park

General Information

A National Natural Landmark known for its old growth forest and summer home to many American bald eagles, Caledon attracts bird watchers of all ages. Trails, including Boyd's Hole Trail, which leads to the Potomac River, are open year-round. A visitor center with bald eagle exhibits, four picnic areas, a picnic shelter and restrooms also are available.

Hours

8 a.m. - Dusk

Location

Caledon is located in King George County between Fairview Beach and Owens, 23 miles east of Fredericksburg on Route 218. From Fredericksburg, take 218 East for 23 miles. Caledon is on the left. Or you may take Rt. 3 east 18 miles to a left onto Rt. 206 for six miles, then turn left onto Rt. 218 and go about one mile; Caledon is on the right. From U.S. 301 (MD), turn right onto Rt. 206 for four miles to Rt. 218, then west about one mile.

Its address is 11617 Caledon Rd., King George, VA 22485; Latitude, 38.333999. Longitude, -77.142639.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 1 hour 45 minutes; Richmond, 1 hour, 30 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 3 hours, 30 minutes; Roanoke, 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Park Size

2,587 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

Enjoy a unique and peaceful camping experience at Caledon State Park. The park offers year-round primitive hiking, bicycling or paddle-in tent camping nestled along the shoreline of the Potomac River. Campers must hike or bicycle 3.5 miles with their gear from the overnight parking area to get to these campsites or paddle in from another site along the river.

Caledon has six campsites available for rent. The park has no cabins or drive-to campsites. See below for details.

For information on the availability of all parks' overnight accommodations and particular park amenities, or to make a reservation, call 1-800-933-7275. Or reserve online. 

Camping

Camping

The park's six sites are accessible only during daylight hours. Guests must access the sites by kayak, canoe or other non-motorized boat or by hiking or bicycling on established park trails three miles from the visitor center. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 800-933-7275. Camping fees.

The paddle-in campground, which is part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, is at Jones Pond on the Potomac River: latitude 38.363867, longitude -77.142567.

• Tents only.
• Camping is permitted year-round, but advanced reservations are required.
• Campers may reserve as many sites as desired so long as the maximum capacity is not exceeded.
• Maximum of six people per site.
• All trash must be packed out when you leave.
• All overnight guests must remain in the designated campground from dusk to 8 a.m.
• Each site is a framed, sand-filled pad with a fire ring, lantern post and picnic table. Campers must set up on the framed area. Fires are only allowed in the site fire ring.
• No potable water. Campers must bring water for drinking and cooking.
• The campground has a portable toilet.
• No electricity or showers.
• Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 1 p.m.
• Fees include parking for two vehicles.
• All fees are subject to change.
• All pets must remain on a leash while in the park, including while in the campground.

Recreation

TRAILS

Ten hiking and four multi-use trails take park visitors through environmentally sensitive marshlands and picturesque wooded areas of the park. The 2-mile Boyd's Hole Trail leading to the Potomac River is the most popular of the trails.

SWIMMING

There are no designated swimming areas.

FISHING, BOATING

Fishing is permitted along open areas of the Potomac River but not at Jones Pond or Caledon Marsh. No boating.

HORSES

No horses allowed.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

Use this interactive map, complete with photos and locations, to find things to do near Caledon State Park.

Picnic Shelters

The park's picnic shelter can be rented 8 a.m. - close (all day). The shelter accommodates 40 comfortably, is universally accessible and is about 75 feet from the parking area. The shelter has tables, a grill and a portable toilet about 75 feet away. The visitor center is also nearby. Call 1-800-933-PARK to reserve. Click here for park fees.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

None at this park.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

Located in the Smoot House, the visitor center features exhibits on the bald eagle and on the park's history. Exhibits depicting representative habitats of Caledon and covering the park's ongoing resource management activities are free to the public. Open Wednesday through Sunday, Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends in April, May, September and October.

RESTAURANT

None at this park.

LAUNDRY

None at this park.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Environmental education facilities are available.

SPECIAL FEATURES

None at this park.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY:

• The visitor center is accessible by a ramp at the right, front corner of the building. It contains exhibits, a gift shop and restrooms. Office on second floor is not accessible.
• Picnic area: There are three paved sites with wheelchair accessible tables. These sites connect to the parking area via paved paths.
• Environmental Education Pavilion is universally accessible from universally accessible parking at the picnic area via compressed rock dust path. This is a 20 x 40 foot covered shelter with lights and electricity, and there's an extra large grill at the rear of the shelter. A water fountain and faucet also are located adjacent to the building. This area can be rented as a picnic shelter when not in use for educational programs.
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Eagle tours, night hikes, conducted walks, astronomy, storytelling, bonfire programs, bird-watching and crafts - some fees required. Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

CONCESSIONS

None at this park.

HISTORY

Caledon is where the early colonial seat of the Alexander family once was. John and Philip Alexander founded the city of Alexandria and established Caledon Plantation in 1659. William A. Smoot inherited the property from the Alexander family in the mid 1800s. In 1974, Caledon was donated to the commonwealth by Mrs. Ann Hopewell Smoot in memory of her late husband, Lewis E. Smoot, who passed away in 1962. After the importance of Caledon to the summering eagle population was noted in 1981, Gov. Charles S. Robb appointed the Caledon Task Force to develop a management plan. The task force was successful in creating a no-boating zone off the shores of the Potomac River at Caledon. Other recommendations included the management of the property as a natural area, continued eagle research, and the development of nature trails and limiting public access in eagle-sensitive areas and buffer zones. Robb accepted the task force's recommendations in 1984 and designated the park as Caledon Natural Area. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list, symbolizing the species' remarkable recovery. In 2012, Caledon was reclassified from a natural area to a state park.

FRIENDS GROUP

Friends of Caledon State Park is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization. Its members help park staff with programs, special events, fundraising and education. The partnership enables members to utilize skills, contacts, and resources of private citizens and businesses to provide services that might otherwise not be available. Other activities include trail maintenance and construction projects.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.