Updated: February 1, 2022

You know you can go to any Virginia State Park to spend the day hiking, biking and picnicking, but why stop there? Why not pick up a paddle and experience the park from a different point of view, a waterview.

Sitting low in a canoe or kayak allows you a close-up view of the incredible wildlife in a park as you quietly glide through the water at their level. Some of the reasons our park guests thoroughly enjoy paddling are:

• The Scenery
• The Exercise
• Being Unplugged
• Spending Quality Time

Here are eight parks that you're sure to love for kayaking and canoeing this summer.

1. BEAR CREEK LAKE STATE PARK

Canoes, rowboats, trolling motors, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Shoulder season rentals are offered on weekends only from May 1 through Columbus Day weekend. During the shoulder season, rentals may be canceled because of bad weather or staff shortages, 804-492-4410. Parental supervision is required for all rentals.

Drive Time: Northern Va., three hours; Richmond, one hour; Roanoke, two hours; Virginia Beach, three hours. See park info and directions.

2. OCCONEECHEE STATE PARK

Kayaks, paddleboards, pontoons and fishing boats, including safety equipment, can be rented at boat ramp #1 from Clarksville Marine Rentals Inc. On weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's open 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and by appointment at all other times during the year. Boats must be returned by 6 p.m. Rent hourly, daily or weekly. For motorboats, a full tank of gas is included in the rental—Call 434-374-2755 to make reservations.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three and a half hours; Richmond, two hours; Virginia Beach, three hours; Roanoke, two and a half hours. See park info and directions.

3. HUNGRY MOTHER STATE PARK

Canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and paddleboats are available for rent Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends through October, weather permitting, 276-781-7400

Drive Time: Northern Va., six hours; Richmond, five hours; Virginia Beach, six hours; Roanoke, two hours; Bristol, Va., 45 minutes; Charlotte, N.C., three hours. See park info and directions.

4. CLAYTOR LAKE STATE PARK

Claytor Lake Water Sports rents many types of boats and offers water-sports packages. Call 540-731-8683, or visit this website for details or to make reservations.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 5 hours; Richmond, 4 hours; Virginia Beach, 5 hours; Roanoke, 1 hour. See park info and directions.

5. WESTMORELAND STATE PARK

Paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks can be rented Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends from mid-April to Memorial Day and from Labor Day to Columbus Day weekend - call 804-493-8821.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia and Washington D. C., two hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Virginia Beach, two and a half hours; Roanoke, five and a half hours. See park info and directions.

6. FAIRY STONE STATE PARK

Rowboats, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes may be rented during summer and on weekends, weather permitting 276-930-2424.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., six hours (from Washington, DC); Richmond, four hours; Virginia Beach, five hours; Roanoke, one hour. See park info and directions.

7. YORK RIVER STATE PARK

Guided canoe and kayak trips begin at the visitor center. Guests learn about salt-marsh ecology on the Taskinas Creek canoe trip and the natural and cultural history of the York River on the kayak trip. Paddleboats, Jon boats, canoes and kayaks can be rented for use at the creek and pond from April 1 through October 31., 757-566-3036. Only rental boats may be used on the pond. Motorboats are only allowed on the river.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, two to three hours; Richmond, one hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, one hour; Fredericksburg, two hours; Roanoke, five hours. See park info and directions.

8. BELLE ISLE STATE PARK

Guests may rent canoes and solo and tandem kayaks to explore the park's 7.5 miles of shoreline on the Rappahannock River, Deep and Mulberry creeks, and the seven varieties of wetlands and coastal agricultural fields. The park offers guided canoe trips during the summer season. 804-462-5030.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia: two hours; Richmond: two hours; Virginia Beach: two hours; Roanoke: five hours. See park info and directions.

 

Learn to stand-up paddleboard (Image credit: Old Dominion Dog Training, Eliza Robinson)

If that's not challenging enough, you can teach an old dog a new trick and rent Stand-up Paddleboards (SUP) at many of our parks, click here to learn more.

You may also enjoy Paddleboarding with Dogs: Tips and Tricks for a Fun, Successful Paddle.

TUBING

Spend a lazy day on the river at James River State Park.

Want to float instead of paddle? Well, we've got that as well at James River State Park. A canoe livery enables guests to float up to eight miles of the river. James River Outdoor Adventures rents kayaks and canoes. It also offers shuttles for those renting equipment and those bringing their own equipment. Call 434-933-8682 or click here to learn more.

Shenandoah River State Park two companies offer tubing: Down River Canoe Co. and Front Royal Outdoors

New River State Park also has tube rentals. Call 276-699-1034. Learn More

PROGRAMS

If you're interested in a paddling program, you can search by park, date or event in our event database or call the park directly. Water-related activities start to ramp up in late spring when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees with a 60 or above air temperature, making it safer.

This is a shortlist of eight great parks that rent canoes or kayaks. See a listing of all Virginia State Parks with kayak or canoe rentals.