When we first decided to go ahead with this challenge to visit all 36 Virginia State Parks in one year, we were just starting off what would become a beautiful, warm, Virginia winter.

Once 2016 hit and we began our park adventures we didn't take into account how busy the months can get. April came and went in the blink of an eye with no park trips to record. Now that spring is finally here, and the weather is at least pretending to be normal, we are full steam ahead!

Mr Rigby loves to hike at Virginia State Parks

May 8, 2016 Pocahontas State Park

One thing about winter hiking that is absolutely stunning: the mosses. They brighten the gray and brown forest with hints of green around every corner.

The best thing about spring hiking? Everything. We're fortunate enough to live in an area of Virginia that has over a dozen parks that are less than 3-hours away. Not the easiest day trip adventure, but do-able! This time we chose to check out Pocahontas State Park, located just outside of Richmond, which offered us a chance to grab dinner in the Capitol on the way back home.

A bit of advice for future visitors

Pocahontas State Park is a huge park. Our plan was to put hike a solid 5-miles and we were surprised at how many options that left us with. Thanks to the knowledgeable ranger in the Park Office we chose to hike the Beaver Lake Trail (2.56 miles) and the Forest Exploration Trail (2.28 miles) which we were told were the more scenic trails of the park and would get us to our 5-mile goal.

Scenic also tends to mean more traffic, so if you're looking for solitude there are plenty of other options to pick.

Pocahontas State Park has 64 miles of scenic trails

Beaver Lake Trail

This moderately difficult trail surrounds Beaver Lake with rolling hills along the shoreline, lots of great lookout posts, tons of frogs and other wildlife, and a couple of streams to wade through barefoot when the water is high and covers over the walking path. We had to take a slight detour towards the end onto State Park Road due to some bridge maintenance, but the dynamic landscape provided an impressively picturesque hike that left us in awe at what this park has to offer.

Forest Exploration Trail

This is certainly an easier trail to hike, not as many inclines and a wide gravel path for much of the walk. It included plant identification markers so if you'd like to brush up on your natives you might enjoy this walk. We also stumbled upon what was once the old homestead of the property with graves still intact.  It was interesting reading about how the presence of certain plants is indicative of previous settlement, with periwinkle being the example in this case. This trail is tucked nicely in back of the picnic area and boat launch, so if you're visiting to celebrate a birthday or baby shower take an hour to explore the woods too!

Fun places to explore at Pocahontas State Park like this iron foot-bridge over Swift Creek

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

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