Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

Home > Blog > Waggin' Trails: Nature, can you dig it?

Waggin' Trails: Nature, can you dig it?

By Junie BPosted April 27, 2016

Dawgs, we roolly need to talk, this blog is for you dawgs who have good intentioned families who think your backyard is enough. They love you, they feed you, they protect you, and play with you but they are sorely missing one important factor in your life:

Dawgs like to go wild

One of my favorite places to explore is the salt marsh at Belle Isle State Bark

Every once in a while we need to get back to nature, and to sow some wild oats, after all we are descendants of wild ones, this means leaving our backyards, and our neighborhoods and getting outside at a Virginia State Bark. There are so many smells to follow at a Virginia State Bark it's enough to drive a dawg mad.

Not only does my family get outside to see new things they also learn about nature with the interpretive signage at Virginia State Barks

We all learn heaps when we go to Virginia State Barks

It was winter time when we visited Belle Isle State Bark so we didn't go paddling

Dawgs at Virginia State Barks

Trails! Lots and lots of trails. Every Virginia State Bark has trails to get your tails on dawgs. For our two-leggeds there are programs and events, lakes to walk around and hold hands. But we need trails to explore. Did you know that more than 160 miles of the bark system's 626 miles of trails are reserved for hiking, and hiking is allowed on more than 397 miles of multi-use trails.

Nature, can you dig it?

The Quest

If you really want to get your family excited about hiking (or walkies) at Virginia State Barks give them a challenge with a reward, we all like treats.

Tell them about the hiking program called Trail Quest. Not only will this help to get them outside where the wild-things live, fresh air, and exercise, but they can earn attractive hiking stick pins.

Now that's something to howl about! Tell them to visit one of the 36 Virginia State Barks here and sign up for Trail Quest.

Learn more about Trail Quest here.

Dawggy be good

I am the first to admit that I want to run free and uninhibited when I am outside, just ask Mum. Before we even enter the bark, I am standing up on the seat in the car with pent up excitement. I want to leap out the windows and chase birdies and scribbles. But rules are rules, and if we visit their big back yard we have to play by their rules:

We must keep our owner on a leash at all times (no longer than 6 feet)
We must make sure we have our shots and dawg tags up to date (to let them know in advance)
We must keep them on the trails, even when they see cool stuff like mushrooms and wildflowers
We must make sure they clean up after us (and if they have forgotten doo-doo bags the park always has some they can use)

Also important, not a rule but something worth mentioning is that we will need some fresh water after we go hiking and exploring. A snack, er like a treat is also nice. Not all of us are good in car rides, but for those of us who are bacon wouldn't go to waste, jus' sayin'...

Jingle those car keys, it's time to get outside yawl

...and time those walkies were at a Virginia State Bark!

Calling all cool dawgs

If you are a cool dawg with a story from your walkies at a Virginia State Bark, I wanna talk to you! If you want to be featured in my new blog series "Waggin' Trails" send me an email here with your name, a photo of you at a Virginia State Bark and some info on your favorite trails. If you have a fun story to go with it, then that is even better!