GENERAL INFO: The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829 with mining reaching its peak in the 1880s. In Virginia, the last gold found was in a zinc mine during the 1940s. In 1971 Lake Anna was created to serve as a water coolant for Dominion Power’s nuclear plant. In 1972 work began on the acquisition and development of a water-oriented state park. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983.
While boating and fishing on this beautiful lake are major attractions, these are only some of the park’s offerings. Lakefront picnic areas and wooded hiking trails are also popular. On summer weekends, interpretive programs on the nature and history of the area complement exhibits and displays in the visitor center.
Lake Anna State Park has rental cabins, camping, more than 13 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnicking, a guarded swimming beach, a children’s play area, a boat ramp, a food concession stand, a bathhouse and a children’s and handicapped fishing pond.
Note: Day-use parking areas near the beach and picnic areas fill up rapidly when the summer weather is nice on weekends and holidays. When this happens, park staff close the park road to additional traffic until enough parking spots have been vacated. Park closure may remain in effect until 4 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.
New in 2007: Anglers may now access the park's boat ramp an hour before sunrise for early morning fishing. Lights have been added to help with early and late boat ramp activity. An automatic gate allows campers to exit the boat ramp area and return to the campground after hours.
LOCATION: The park lies adjacent to Route 601 off Route 208, 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg and 60 miles northwest of Richmond.
Drive Time : Northern Virginia, one hour; Richmond, one hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Roanoke, four hours
Click here for a Mapquest map.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF) for the park's trail guide. Click here (PDF) for its general facilities guide.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for overnight stays.
Site type: CF2W, 10 cabins. All two-bedroom waterview with woodframe construction (cedar siding), metal roof, dry wall, wood laminate flooring. Ceramic tile flooring in the bathrooms. Units have shower-bath. Sleeps six, no bed rentals; a queen-size bed in one bedroom, two singles in the other bedroom. Also a queen pull-out in the living room.
The campground offers sites with and without water and electric hookups, centrally located restrooms with hot showers, fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders.
Total sites of each type: RSTD, 23; REWA, 23
Site type:
REWA - Electric and water hookups for various equipment (tents, popups, RVs) up to 60 feet; bathhouse with hot showers. Tents must fit on a 20’ x 25' tent pad.
RSTD - No hookups, various equipment (tents, popups. RVs) up to 60 feet; bathhouse with hot showers. Tents must fit on 20’ x 25' tent pad.
Camp Cabins - coming soon, six sites, 1-6
Camping Lodge (bunkhouse): The park has one camping lodge (bunkhouse) for rent. The two-room trailer has seven sets of bunk beds, a refrigerator, a coffeepot and air conditioning but no heat. The camping lodge is about 75 yards from the north bathhouse in the park campground. (Camping lodge guests this bathhouse.) It features a covered deck, two picnic tables and a charcoal grill. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the lodge. Five vehicles are permitted with rental of the lodge; all other vehicles must pay the park's daily parking fee and park in the campground’s designated overflow parking lots. No week-long stay requirement.
SWIMMING: Per person fee Memorial Day-Labor Day for beach swimming. Click here for park fees.
A swimming beach, snack bar concession and bathhouse are available to the public during the summer. The beach can accommodate several hundred visitors per day and there are lifeguards on duty. From the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend, the beach is open:
Swimming cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed.
Annual parking passes are available through the Reservation Center or park. Discount swim coupons and annual swimming passes are available at the park only.
Note: Day-use parking areas near the beach and picnic areas fill up rapidly when the summer weather is nice on weekends and holidays. When this happens, park staff close the park road to additional traffic until enough parking spots have been vacated. Park closure may remain in effect until 4 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.
TRAILS: The park has 11 trails totaling more than 15 miles. All are for hiking with 10 miles designated as shared, multiple-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. All trails also allow travel in both directions. They pass over moderate terrain through mixed hardwood and pine forest. All trails except Big Woods, Pigeon Run and Gold Hill trails are rated "easy," those three are rated more difficult. Click here (PDF, 175K) to download an Old Pond Trail guide published by Friends of Lake Anna State Park.
FISHING, BOATING: Fishing: Lake Anna is well known for its largemouth bass, crappie, bream. A variety of other freshwater fish can also be found. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. A 1.5-acre fishing pond designed for children and handicapped persons only is located near the visitor center. Also, a public boat launching ramp is available, along with many areas for bank fishing. Call 1-800-933-PARK to purchase an annual boat launch passport. Click here for park fees.
HUNTING: Managed deer hunt.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: Open Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The visitor center has wildlife and historical exhibits as well as varying interpretive displays on gold mining. Be sure to visit the Gold Mine Gift Shop for a Lake Anna souvenir. All proceeds from the sale of souvenirs are used to operate and maintain Virginia State Parks.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: Panning for gold, pontoon boat tours, nature programs, gold mine tours. The Goodwin Gold Mine Tour is offered on summer weekends only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Included are a drive to the mine and a walking tour of the 1880s mine site, as well as plenty of information about how the mine operated and the history of gold mining in Virginia. The pontoon boat tour is a 45-minute ride along park shoreline during which participants enjoy the scenery and learn about local history. It's a good idea to call the park office prior to you weekend visit to confirm program offerings.
Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: This facility offers groups a facility to conduct programs to teach individuals about the world around them. A pontoon boat is also available during certain times of the year to enhance the experience. Supplies and a booklet covering nine lessons are available to group leaders. The lessons address a nearby stream, pond, lake and forest. Groups may use the lessons, materials, equipment and park grounds free of charge. Park staff can help plan the trip, but group leaders must conduct the programs and supervise the group. Contact the park for information or to schedule a group activity.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Visit www.lakeannaonline.com for local businesses in the Lake Anna area that offer private campsites, lodging, restaurants, boat rentals, etc.
PICNIC SHELTERS: The p icnicking area has grills and restroom facilities. Three picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are reserved by calling the Reservation Center, 1-800-933-PARK. Parking fees are not included in the shelter rental. See above for details.
Lake Anna State Park picnic shelters
Three shelters are available for rent. There are two sizes, large and small. They can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day). Click here for park fees.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.
Amenities: Visitors should contact the park if they want to coordinate payment of park admissions and/or beach admissions for their overall group. Use of a caterer to prepare the meal requires a special use permit. The park is open daily 8 a.m. to dusk. The swimming beach is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on holidays. See particular swimming dates above for more detail.
Shelter #1 (small): The shelter is a 40' x 20' framed tent so there are no poles in the center and the sides are open. No cement floor. The vinyl top has large green and white stripes. There are eight picnic tables and three pedestal grills (charcoal). The shelter can seat 50 people at one time; a group of more than 50 but fewer than 100can use the site, however people will need to bring lawn chairs. Erecting additional tents is not permitted. Bringing additional tables and grills is discouraged. Parking space is not a problem. The shelter is at the far corner of the visitor center parking area approximately 200 yards from the beach and restrooms. No electrical outlets or water hydrants. There is not a good view of the lake, however the shelter offers more privacy and a woodland view.
Shelter #2 (small): The shelter is a 40' x 20' framed tent so there are no poles in the center and the sides are open. No cement floor. The vinyl top has large green and white stripes. There are eight picnic tables and two pedestal grills (charcoal). The shelter can seat 50 people at one time; a group of more than 50 but fewer than 100 can use the site, however people will need to bring lawn chairs. Erecting additional tents is not permitted. Bringing additional tables and grills is discouraged. Parking space is adequate but on busy weekends it may be necessary to offload supplies and park in the beach area parking lot, which is approximately 200 yards away. The shelter is near the shoreline with a view of the lake between the boat ramp and swimming beach. The shelter is within Picnic Area A, and the general public uses the picnic tables and grills around this area. Restrooms are approximately 100 yards away. No electric outlets or water hydrants.
Shelter #3 (large): The shelter is a 25' x 35' wooden frame structure with a cement floor. There are four large picnic tables equivalent to eight regular size tables and two pedestal grills (charcoal). Two tables are wheelchair accessible, and there is a cement walkway leading to the shelter. The shelter can seat 50 people at one time; a group of more than 50 but fewer than 75 can use the site, however people will need to bring lawn chairs. Erecting additional tents is not permitted. Bringing additional tables and grills is discouraged. Parking space is limited. Groups with more than 25 vehicles are not recommended during the summer season, Memorial Day-Labor Day. The shelter is within Picnic Area B with restrooms and a small playground approximately 50 yards away. No electric outlets or water hydrants. The shelter is not within walking distance of the swimming beach. Reaching the beach is best accomplished by having group members car-pool about ½ mile. Boats can be launched at the park boat ramp and driven a short distance to this area and anchored around the shoreline near the shelter. The shelter has a good view of the lake.
CONCESSIONS: The park's snack bar, which is near the swimming beach, offers hot dogs, chicken tenders, french fries, ice cream, soft drinks, etc. It's open Memorial Day through Labor Day. And don't miss the Gold Mine Gift Shop, located in the visitor center, open 11 a.m - 5 p.m., open Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
LAUNDRY: Coin-operated laundry in south loop campground bathhouse.
RESTAURANT: Nearby you'll find: 208 Variety Store, 6274 Courthouse Road; RJ's Pizza, 6276 Courthouse Road; Chelsea Jo's, 5152 Courthouse Road; and Lakeview Restaurant on Rt. 719.
HISTORY: The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829 with mining reaching its peak in the 1880s. In Virginia, the last gold found was in a zinc mine during the 1940s. In 1971, Lake Anna was created to serve as a water coolant for Virginia Power's nuclear plant. In 1972, work began on the acquisition and development of a water-oriented state park. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983.
