Lake Anna State Park is located on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia it is our 22nd park this year; we are almost 2/3 of the way through our challenge to visit every Virginia State Park in 2016, and are enjoying every second of the adventure.

The Lake makes scenic appearances along the trails at Lake Anna State Park

August 7 Lake Anna State Park 

We started this trip by spending a night in nearby Fredericksburg and enjoyed an evening in the historic downtown area in preparation for a day of hiking. In the morning we took a mere 30 minute drive to Lake Anna State Park and parked at the start of the 1.2 mile Big Woods Trail. This moderate trail meanders through a healthy forest and in its final stretches hugs the shoreline of Lake Anna before meeting up with the 1.1 mile Glenora Trail.

A lovely footbridge over a creek on the Big Woods Trail

A short distance from where the two trails meet lies the historic footprint of the original estate on the property and remaining smokehouse. 

The Smokehouse and what's left of the original buildings

We followed the Glenora Trail to the 2.5 mile Sawtooth Trail featuring a number of fitness stops along the way. We hiked about half of the Sawtooth Trail before winding up back at our parking area.  This was roughly a 3-mile, relatively easy loop that lets you explore the beautiful forest while catching a glimpse of Lake Anna. Just be careful for Horseback riders as these trails are all multi-use and we passed a number of groups along the way.

Peaceful creeks cut through the quiet forest

After grabbing lunch at the park’s snack stand, we enjoyed another aspect of this park, the beach! It was filled with visitors enjoying the sun and water, had plenty of room to find our own space, and a deep water area for visitors looking to swim laps or escape the more crowded shallow section of the lake. The lake itself stretches far beyond the reaches of the State Park, with plenty of beach access and boating ramps for visitors to enjoy.

Steps leading to the beach at Lake Anna State Park

We met up with friends from D.C., a perfect halfway point between Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area where we live.

Virginia State Parks are a great place to meet up with friends

Lake Anna State Park was a beautiful mix of riparian forest and sandy beach that tailors well to visitors looking to refresh in the lake after a long hike. With over 12-miles of trails to explore there are plenty of options when you visit.

If you would like to go on your own adventure to Lake Anna State Park and would like more information about this park, click here.

Guest Bloggers Peter Radlowski and Sarah Sumoski plan to tackle all 36 37 Virginia State Parks in 2016 and they invite you to come along on the adventure with them.