We have more than three dozen Virginia State Parks, and in the peak of the summer season most of our parks have not only weekly events scheduled, but many have them even daily. This means a whole-lotta fun to be had at your favorite Virginia State Park.

Special programs and activities are planned all summer at High Bridge Trail State Park

LET'S DO THE MATH

I asked Don our Database Wizard, how many programs and events do we have listed in our events database right this very moment until the end of the year? His reply was: 3,818. This means there are hundreds of opportunities for you, your family and friends to go outside and play at your favorite Virginia State Park. To learn something new, to explore some place you might have never been.

PICK A PARK

Today we'll highlight a handful of what I think are especially fun events at High Bridge Trail State Park. If we get a good response I may make this a series and pick a park at random and share throughout the summer.

High Bridge Trail State Park is a dawn to dusk park, which means day visits only, no overnight accommodations in cabins, lodges or campgrounds. If you want to stay at another nearby Virginia State Park, then High Bridge is highly day-trippable.

I recommend Bear Creek Lake State Park, or Twin Lakes State Park for your overnight stays. Both of these parks have great campgrounds, with cabins and family lodges, and both are less than thirty minutes drive from High Bridge Trail State Park. You can also call 800-933-7275 to check availability or make reservations.

Airedale Terrier Del and Mom Karla love to visit High Bridge Trail State Park in Central Virginia

ABOUT

High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Once a rail bed, the trail is wide, level and generally flat. Its finely crushed limestone surface and dimensions make it easy to enjoy. The park’s centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River. It is the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and among the longest in the United States. 

Airedale Terrier Del and Karla W of Trueheart Kennel, Farmville love visiting High Bridge Trail State Park, especially midweek when it is less crowded

The linear park has more than a total of 40 miles of hiking, bicycle and bridle trails. High Bridge Trail, a recognized National Recreation Trail, itself is 31 miles long, and numerous additional biking and hiking trails adjacent to it. Learn more about this here.

You can search the events database any time from any place, and select the park or parks, a date span, and even down to the type of event, like a festival or nature program. Be sure to call ahead if you are going to the park specifically for an event, to ensure it is still scheduled.

H I G H L I G H T E D   E V E N T S

Great American Campout on High Bridge is 06/24/2017 to 06/25/2017 from 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night and concluding at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning

A once in a lifetime experience June 24 and 25, camp-out on the bridge

Make reservations to come out to this special event at High Bridge Trail State Park

Have you ever wanted to campout on, not at, but ON High Bridge? This is your chance. High Bridge Trail will open the bridge to kids and their families for camping on this special weekend evening, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday night and concluding at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Several programs will take place such as campfire tales and a night hike.

We have just 30 sites available. To get a reservation for one of the available camping spaces on High Bridge, contact our customer service center at 800-933-PARK. The cost of reservation is $35 dollars + tax.

Tents must be free-standing because staking will be impossible on the bridge surface. Tents must have a maximum width of 6 feet, and be no longer than 10 feet so as not to block pedestrian passage and due to limitations of space on the bridge. Tents wider than 6 feet will not be permitted to camp on the bridge. There will be a maximum of 6 persons per site. Open fires, alcoholic beverages, and pets are prohibited. 

Location: Parking will be at Camp Paradise (map here)

For more information about this event, please contact the park office at (434) 315-0457, or email here.

Extra Event Fee: Yes | Children Allowed: Yes

For the complete list of Great American Campout

Events at Virginia State Parks on June 24, 2017 click here.

Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters Old Time Music July Kickoff on 07/01/17 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cut a rug to the Farm Use Only String Band

The Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters, known as PALS, is a community support organization for Pamplin, a little town rich in local history, and soon to be the western terminus of High Bridge Trail State Park.

Pals is sponsoring a dance to the old time music by the Farm Use Old Time String Band in celebration of a July kickoff in honor of our country's independence. Visitors of High Bridge Trail are encouraged to participate, and representatives of High Bridge Trail will attend. The dance styles will include folk standards such as the Virginia Reel, and called contra type dances. No experience is required. The dances are simple, but challenging enough to be fun for everyone.

This program is free, but a picnic cookout style supper will start at 6:00 p.m. and costs $5. All proceeds will support PALS, a 501C3 organization. The music will start at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Pamplin Train Depot, Pamplin City, Virginia (map here)

Extra Event Fee: No | Children Allowed: Yes

 

The High Bridge: Lee's Lost Gamble on 07/12/17 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

Learn the history of the bridge and the role it played in the Civil War

Enjoy our Beat the Heat summer programming partnership with the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library as park ranger Bob Flippen presents a series of PowerPoint shows on local history topics in the comfort of a cool interior. On this evening, featured is The High Bridge: Lee's Lost Gamble. This talk focuses on the early days and construction of High Bridge in the 1850's when it took over two years and 1,000 men with 200 horses to construct, through the bridge's significance in the closing hours of the American Civil War. Learn about and see images of major figures associated with the Battle for High Bridge. Call the Park office at (434) 315-0457 for more information.

Location: Farmville-Prince Edward Library 1303 W Third St, Farmville (map here)

Extra Event Fee: No | Children Allowed: Yes

 

Beneath the Brick Piers - A High Bridge Substructure Tour on 07/30/17 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Scenic Appomattox River below the bridge at High Bridge Trail State Park

Airedale Del and Karla recommend High Bridge Trail State Park for events and fun walks above and below the bridge

Meet Park Education Specialist Bob Flippen to embark on a walking tour beneath the towering High Bridge to see, up close, the steel edifice as well as the original brick piers built between 1851-1853 by a workforce of over 1,000 men and 200 horses. Learn how the bridges were constructed and their significance.

This program is free but $4 parking fees apply at the River Road access and the Rice access to High Bridge Trail. For more information contact the park by email here, or call (434) 315-0457.

Location: Camp Paradise Parking Lot (map here)

Extra Event Fee: No | Children Allowed: Yes

eNEWSLETTER

The other nifty way to see a listing of events is to subscribe to the eNews, where we showcase featured events, and also provide a listing of upcoming events at our parks. You can see a listing and view the last few eNews or subscribe here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR FAVORITE PARK

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