Join our Park Rangers as they discuss the history, ecology, and culture of the Widewater Peninsula.

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Join us for our nature photography series!  April 19 - Wildflowers and Wildlife  May 17 - Bird ID and Photography  June 21 - Wildlife Photography and Scavenger Hunt  On June 21, we will begin with a review of techniques for taking close-up photographs.  Following the review, we will head to the field to practice these techniques by capturing images to complete a nature scavenger hunt.  This is a great family event.

Experience paddling on one of Virginia's most beautiful and historic waterways: the James River.

Join a park ranger on a hike to the waterfall and back.

Plan on hiking the Rhododendron Trail to see the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park?

Start your weekend with fresh air, beautiful scenery, comradery, and a feeling of accomplishment.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Let's venture out in search of the great bumble bee.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

Join park staff, volunteers, and community partners for a series of events celebrating African-American culture, resilience, and joy.

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

In observance of the 161st anniversary of the battle here at Staunton River Battlefield State Park, several programs will be set up just outside of the Clover Visitor Center.

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.

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

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

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

Join our costumed interpreters for a demonstration of historical cooking methods in the Jones-Stewart Mansion's original brick kitchen.

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what that shell is on the beach?

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Are you interested in getting into hiking as a hobby?

Stop by from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. to explore Virginia's AMPHIBIANS with hands-on activities and sensory explorations. The friendly folks from Family Learning Adventures will share all sorts of fascinating facts about Virginia's fresh water habitats that we all rely on.

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

Join us on the shore of Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), as we learn the history of Clarksville, Occoneechee, the lake, and the flooded world that lies beneath it.

Discover the vital role butterflies play in our ecosystem and the remarkable journey they undertake from egg to winged adult.

Did you know your shoes leave more than tracks behind?

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

Take a look at the fascinating lives of insects and let your creative juices flow.

Virginia is home to a healthy population of black bears; do you know what to do if you encounter one?

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.

Is the Chesapeake Bay healthy?

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

The salamanders of Virginia are an astounding group of animals that are often underestimated.

Join a ranger to create adorable DIY oyster shell ornaments, using paper napkins, oyster shells from the Potomac River, and a touch of decoupage.  Make a memorable piece to hang on the tree this coming year or a charm to remember your visit to Westmoreland State Park.  There are 10 available spots for this program.  Please register and pay for your spot in-advance by calling or visiting the Visitor Center.

The trash and litter we leave behind can damage the environment.

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

Southwest Virginia is home to only two venomous snakes.

Do you want to help out our pollinator friends the bee and butterfly, as well as birds who disperse seeds?

Take a journey to Wilburn Ridge and discover the marvelous world of the Mountain Laurel and the Catawba Rhododendron. Learn about the different species within the park, why they grow where they grow, and hear the lore of these amazing plants.

Join us at the Visitor Center and let's venture out into ancient times!

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking?

Have you ever wondered what lies under your feet?

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

Use all your senses to learn something new about the environment.

The Bay View Trail is one of our most popular hiking options.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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

Have you ever seen a squirrel fly?

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Come say hello to Ranger Shelly, our red-eared slider and local shellebrity. Join us at the beach as she enjoys some sunshine and enrichment time.

The natural world around us is like a game of Jenga, and when species are removed, the balance becomes increasingly unstable.

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 boom town. 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.

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.

Express yourself on the trail with a stylish and unique hiking stick you designed and decorated yourself.

Don’t miss this incredible live animal presentation!

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a lunch date, and they want you to join.

Come out to South Beach to learn how to use different types of nets to discover what animals are hiding offshore.

Come out to Chestnut Creek, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

What is paracord and what is it used for?

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." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish.

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

Evenings are a wonderful time in the park to be on the water.

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

Join us for the 2025 season of Music by the River, one of the highlights of the summer on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

The Friends of Westmoreland State Park presents Music on the Cliffs, a free Summer concert series featuring local musicians...

Join our friends from Whitetop Yoga to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our standup paddleboards out in the lake.

Come with us on a guided canoe tour of the beautiful lake at Fairy Stone State Park.

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk all about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

If you're camping with us at Chippokes, we would like to extend a warm invitation to attend our special evening ranger-led campfire program.

High Bridge Trail State Park invites you to witness the spectacular sight of nature's fireflies by the thousands in the treetops below the historic High Bridge.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Kick off your stay at our ranger-led campfire.

Who says bears can’t brush their teeth?

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

Come gather around the campfire and immerse yourself in a night of cultural storytelling, where we share remarkable ancient tales passed through generations. As you listen to these captivating stories, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some delicious s'mores next to the campfire with friends and family.

Join us for "Lamps of Love" as we showcase the beauty of twinkling firefly romance!

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

Ever wondered what it’s like to paddle under a sky full of stars?

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Have you ever wanted to enjoy the wonders of fossil beach after dark?

Each night when the sun goes down, the owls of First Landing come out to hunt!

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

A light glows beneath the surface of Holliday Lake.

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunting on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 hours. This program has limited available spots.

Plan on hiking the Rhododendron Trail to see the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park?

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

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

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