Rich in history, Sky Meadows State Park can be your gateway to adventurous recreation. Situated in the Crooked Run Valley on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this spot provides a multitude of options for exploring nature through the park’s unique pastoral landscape. Here are five activities that you won’t want to miss when planning your visit.

1. Hike to an overlook

Sky Meadows State Park is known for its magnificent vistas. Although one of the best views in the park is accessible from the Historic Area just outside of the visitor center (or the view through the large windows from inside the visitor center), taking a hike will get you to a higher vantage point from which to survey the scenery.

The view behind our park visitor center is one of the best in the park, but there are many more vistas to view if you are willing to hike to them

There are several hikes with overlooks to choose from. In fact, those can be discovered in “5 must-hike trails to overlooks at Sky Meadow State Park.” Your first step in the planning process should be to review the park’s trail guide and pick an overlook based on the distance, difficulty-level or time constraints unique to your situation and preferences.

The view from the Piedmont Overlook is worth the uphill hike and you get to go back downhill on the return

2. Picnic in the Picnic Area

Nothing works up an appetite quite like hiking the trails. Lucky for you, Sky Meadows State Park also has picnic amenities. Bring your family, friends or group gathering to the Picnic Area which features options to reserve as well as first-come, first-served individual picnic tables with grills.

Picnic in the park

The park’s Picnic Area is also home to the Children’s Discovery Area and the Sensory Explorers’ Trail, both fun and educational diversions for your picnic or gathering.

One of the fun play stations at the Children’s Discovery Area invites you to build a “frontier settlement”

In addition to picnic tables in the Picnic Area, the Lost Mountain and Turner Pond areas also feature picnic tables with grills and access to porta-johns. Of course, picnicking on the ground is always an option for smaller groups that don’t require a table.

3. Attend a guided program

Allow our park rangers and park volunteers to be your guides to the nature and history that surround you here. We offer year-round guided programs to connect you with the park’s natural resources and agricultural history.

Ranger Kathy, leading visitors on a Twilight Hike and explaining the importance of bluebird nesting boxes

Highlights include the Virginia Master Naturalist-guided hikes on the Sensory Explorers’ Trail, guided Twilight Hikes at the Lost Mountain Entrance, and historic hearth cooking and blacksmith demonstrations on the first Saturdays of each month (April – November). Be sure to check our online events listing for details and an up-to-date schedule of programs.

“The Settle’s Kettle” historic hearth cooking in the log cabin is always a treat at our recurring first Saturday programs

4. Stargaze

Designated as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International since 2021, Sky Meadows State Park is proud to offer monthly Astronomy for Everyone programs to educate the public on the importance of dark sky conservation and what we like to call “our biggest natural resource: the universe.”

Astronomers and members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) set up for the Astronomy for Everyone program

Are you looking for more solitude with your stargazing, rather than a guided program? For self-guided observation, the park has designated Turner Pond as its official Dark Sky Observation Area. Here, stargazers may access our dark skies on their own, after ordinary park hours.

5. Camp in our primitive backcountry campground

Do you want to take your park visitation to the next level? Why not spend the night in our campground? There’s no better way to immerse yourself in nature than our primitive hike-in campground.

Happy campers

Accessing the campground requires a one-mile hike or bike ride, achieving the goal of removing you from the demands and distractions of our modern day-to-day. For those seeking such a respite, our campground is the ideal getaway.

Pre-cut firewood for sale is one of the amenities available at our primitive campground

And since it’s only one mile from the overnight parking area, it makes a great “intro to backpacking” for those looking to dip their toes into the hobby or families with children trying backpacking for the first time. Reservations are encouraged as space is limited, especially on weekends.

Hammock camping is always an option for backpackers going “UL” or ultra-light.

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We hope this list provides you with a solid starting-off point to plan your next visit. These five activities are only the beginning of the unlimited opportunities that await you here at Sky Meadows State Park.