Events in Virginia State Parks

Help ensure years of great fishing at Claytor Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

This program is designed to introduce young participants to the wonders of the natural world and foster an appreciation for the environment.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

Do you love First Landing State Park and want to make a difference?

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

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Let the hunt begin!

Let your Friday afternoons be filled with natural  and historical wonders.  Join us for a closer look at some of the interesting things about our ecosystem and region.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Who-who-whoooo's calling?

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

Did you know January 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day?

Enjoy a winter birding adventure to discover duck species and habitats.  In less than a mile we will look for waterfowl from a shallow pond, tidal creek, and the river.  Bald eagles are also frequently found in the area.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Discover Caledon’s rocky past with a fun mix of learning and adventure! Enjoy a wagon ride through the forest, examine local rock features, and explore the shoreline of the Potomac River while learning how nature formed this special place.  Meet inside the Visitor Center to check in for the program.

Join us for a guided Winter Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience the quiet beauty of the forest in its cold-weather stillness.

Join a ranger for a guided hike to look for winter birds.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Stop by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center and learn more about the people who lived on the Wilderness Road frontier.

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Let the hunt begin!

Join us for a guided hike along the Old Pond Trail and discover how the forest changes with the seasons.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Experience the ground connected to the fighting around the Harper Farm, where cavalry forces clashed in a fast moving and intense engagement.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Spill the tea (or coffee) with a ranger.

Join our rangers as we complete the new 2026 Junior Ranger Activity Booklet to earn a badge and become a certified Junior Ranger!

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.

Warm up by the campfire with a cup of hot cocoa.

Cold weather, hot coco, and stories exchanged are always a delight to those that visit this diverse region.

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

Come get an in-depth look at the only star in our solar system, the Sun!

Keep an eye out near the Visitor Center for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

In recognition of World Wetland Day on February 1, 2026, this 45-minute walk will find us winding along Little Bear Creek.

Have you ever thought about making maple syrup at home?

Join a ranger on this one-mile trek and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter. Be sure to wear warm, comfortable shoes and clothes, and bring a water bottle if possible.

Join a ranger for a cozy conversation about our cliffs, erosion, and how to preserve the scenery of a landscape that is constantly changing while enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa!

Finding your way may not always be easy, but it’s always rewarding.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2, and legend has it that if the curious critter sees its shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter.

Slither on over to the Visitors Center for an in-depth look into the fascinating lives of local reptiles.

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

Can you maintain ecosystem equilibrium?

Join us for a nature walk along Lakeshore Trail where we might observe the majestic Bald Eagles frequently spotted around Holliday Lake.

“The Moon and stars are not above us; they are within us." --John Muir Come join our rangers on an evening hike through the Holly Marsh Trail to view the Full Moon rising above the Potomac River!

See James River in a whole new light with this special candlelit winter hike!

Biking is a wonderful activity to do here in the park.

Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect location for fishing.

Discover the secrets of the park through geocaching.

A short ranger talk offering a general introduction to the lives and experiences of enslaved people in central Virginia during the nineteenth century.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

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

Let the hunt begin!

The month of February is nationally recognized as an annual observance and celebration of African American History. Upon visiting the park you'll find many historic buildings that are direct links to the property's past as a former plantation and active farm site.  Beyond these fields and buildings, there are important narratives of the men, women, and children who worked and lived on property over the years as Chippokes has continuously evolved.  Join a ranger as we walk along the historic Quarter Lane,  from the River House to the Jones - Stewart Mansion, to share the history of both enslaved and tenant farmer families of Chippokes.

Finding your way may not always be easy, but it’s always rewarding.

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

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

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.

Slow down, observe, and discover what’s happening in the woods.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Join us for a hike in celebration of World Wetlands Day!

It's wintertime at Sky Meadows, but there is still so much to explore in the lush forests of the Shenandoah Valley. While a lack of leaves can make tree identification more difficult, there are still many clues that you can use to identify trees in their leafless state.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Do you have a passion for nature, environmental education, and wish to make a difference?

Ready, set, crawl on down to the Visitors Center to meet our woodland box turtle, General Raphael!

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

"A track is a window to the past of an animal.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?  The Tyke Hike is the perfect fit for little legs.  The hikes are less than a mile and mostly stroller friendly.  The ranger will help your little one discover neat things in nature in this one hour adventure.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

The Friends group is a dedicated volunteer organization made up of community members who actively support the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park.

Join us at Douthat State Park for Homeschool Naturalists, a monthly outdoor education series designed for homeschool students of all ages.

"A track is a window to the past of an animal.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Bird Walks from November 2025 thru March 2026!  Join an experienced birder on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

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

Join a ranger to learn about science, history, and nature at Leesylvania State Park!

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

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 your Friday afternoons be filled with natural  and historical wonders.  Join us for a closer look at some of the interesting things about our ecosystem and region.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

The big blue can hold many secrets and sometimes those secrets wash ashore! Join a Park Ranger as we wander the beach identifying shells, animals, and other treasures commonly found along the beach at False Cape.

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Come see us for a general overview of the service of United States Colored Troops in the final operations of the Civil War.

Come join our Rangers on a guided hike through Long Pond Trail.

Joining a park ranger for a fun reading adventure!

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes State Park through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

Think opossums are just pesky critters?

Learn the fundamentals of geocaching by participating on a guided hike.

Celebrate World Wetlands Day with a fascinating exploration of Douthat State Park’s vernal pools.

Learn the fundamentals of geocaching by participating on a guided hike.

Whatever the prediction about winter that was made on February 2 by the groundhog of your choice, spring is still on the way.

Step into the forest on a guided hike at Westmoreland State Park that shows how trees are everything but still, even in the winter!

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River.

Mason Neck is home to more than twenty species of waterfowl during the winter.  Meet Rangers at the Visitor Center for an introduction to our visiting waterfowl, then join us as we look out over Belmont Bay for the many ducks, geese, and coots in the park.

Join us as we build a beaver to find out if their teeth, and other body parts, are useful, or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature.