Holliday Lake State Park is centrally located in Appomattox, VA and is part of the ‘Farmville 5’, a group of parks located in the Farmville area and are less than an hour away from each other. This location provides overnight accommodations and allows you to easily visit other nearby parks as well as tour the beautiful and historic area. Holliday Lake offers scenic views and tons of activities that are perfect to enjoy over a long weekend or in a day trip.

1. Enjoy water activities

Holliday Lake provides a wonderful atmosphere for enjoying time on the water with activities such as fishing, kayaking and boating. Unguarded swimming is available year-round, and guests must stay within the beach’s designated buoyed area.

If you love to fish, you should check out Holliday Lake. Impressive Largemouth Bass, chain pickerel, crappie, catfish and yellow perch can all be found in the lake. A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required and can be purchased at the park office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or by visiting dwr.virginia.gov.

The park rents Jon boats, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddle boards seasonally. You can enjoy a self-guided water adventure or attend a ranger led paddle program when available.

If you are looking for a unique water adventure, then you must experience the Sunfish Aquatic Trail. This one-mile trail is a self-guided water exploration that requires a boat and a free trail brochure. A brochure map with numbered stops provides information so you learn about the lake and its environment as you paddle around its edges. The guide directs you to numbered posts along the perimeter of the lake, with a description in the brochure. To start this adventure, you must go to the boat rental dock. Please note that boat rentals are available seasonally, but you can use your own boat too. Ask for a free brochure at the park office, contact station, or boathouse.

2. Go for a hike

Holliday Lake State Park has six hiking trails in addition to the one aquatic trail mentioned above. This park provides a variety of scenery and remarkable overlooks as you traverse through different areas. It is worth noting that maintenance staff have worked hard to add new sturdy creek crossings.

The Lakeshore Trail is a 6.5-mile hiking trail that loops around the lake and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, passing through a hardwood forest, wetlands and a managed loblolly pine plantation. There are four scenic overlooks and a view of the Holliday Lake Dam. You can see wildlife on your hike and this trail is perfect for birdwatching. Be sure to have proper footwear as this trail can be muddy at times. While it is rated difficult due to the length, most of the terrain is moderate to easy. 

The Lakeshore Connector provides quick access to Lakeshore Trail for campers, especially those in the Redbud Campground. Access is at the Campfire Circle. While the terrain is steep, it is a very short section.

Saunders Creek Trail is a .1 mile trail that provides a mix of ground and boardwalk surfaces and allows access from the campground to the picnic area. You can enjoy a quick hike through the woods that provides access to the lake and beach area.

Dogwood Loop is a .7-mile loop that starts across from Redbud Campground. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the forest where you can see a variety of hickory, yellow poplar, red oak, beech and pine trees near the picnic area.

Northridge Trail is .4-miles and provides a ridge top walk from the picnic area toward the northern end of Holliday Lake and connects to Lakeshore Trail. This trail winds you through the woods and includes minimal elevation changes. Access is just west of the day use restroom. This short trail takes hikers on a hilly journey, through old growth forest and ultimately to the beautiful Northridge Overlook, where it intersects with Lakeshore Trail. From the overlook, you will have full view of the north end of the lake, including Holliday Creek. Educational signs inform you of what you might see in this area of the park. This trail is rated moderate because of a few steep areas. 

The Northridge Connector joins Northridge Trail with Dogwood Loop. It’s great for those who want to make a longer hike by combining these two family-friendly trails.

The Laurel Ridge Trail begins near the Group Camp in Laurel Ridge Campground and connects to Saunders Creek Trail. The S-Curve Trail, which starts at Redbud Campground and ends at the picnic area, enables guests to stay off the road while walking to the beach area.

Download the park’s Avenza map to plan and guide your trip today.

3. Have a picnic

Holliday Lake provides the perfect location for a picnic with a lake view. You can rent out one of the picnic shelters to be sure it’s available for you and your guests. Each shelter has a grill, picnic tables and access to a restroom. There are other picnic tables in the park that also provide a nice place for an outdoor meal.

The park also provides seasonal programs aimed at youth and those who camp at the park. This summer programs include Toddler Adventure Time and the Community Campfire. New this year are live animal programs where guests can get a hands-on experience with the park’s animal rangers, Hisstopher the corn snake and Harrold Holliday the red painted turtle. There are some Junior Ranger programs available, but you must call the park at (434) 248-6308 to register for these sessions.

For more information about park events and programs, visit the park’s event web page.

4. Stay overnight

Holliday Lake has a bunkhouse that can be rented during camping season, which occurs between the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December. The bunkhouse requires a two-night minimum stay. This three-room, climate-controlled trailer has seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker. Outside the bunkhouse guests will find a deck, a large fire ring with a cooking grate, a large pedestal grill, a water spigot, and a small screened-in shelter with two picnic tables and an outdoor sink. Water is available during warmer months, but it’s best to call the park and verify.

You can camp at Holliday Lake during camping season in Laurel Ridge or Redbud Campground. All campsites require site-specific reservations. You can reserve your space online here.

The park also has a group site for standard tents, but there is no electricity. Water is available at the entrance to the group camping area. Running water and showers available at the Laurel Ridge Bathhouse.

As always, pets are allowed, but must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 ft and attended to at all times.

Enjoy staying overnight and exploring more of Holliday Lake or venture to the other park locations nearby.

Visit the park’s webpage for more details about the campgrounds.

Check out my itinerary blog about the Farmville 5 for more trip ideas in this area.

5. Volunteer at the park

There is always something to do at Holliday Lake State Park and if you want to volunteer all you have to do is reach out to the park to discuss your options or click the volunteer link for more opportunities.

You can also become a member of the park’s Friends Group. The Friends of Holliday Lake State Park is a hands-on volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and supporting the park. You can email Friendsofhollidaylake@gmail.com for more information.

However you decide to enjoy the park, be sure to share your voyages on social media using #VaStateParks. We look forward to seeing your Virginia State Park adventures!