Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m., Feb. 15 through April 30. Learn more.
Earth Day Events
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, Virginia State Parks offers a range of special events and activities highlighting the importance of conservation and sustainability. Visitors are invited to participate in educational programs, guided nature walks, wildlife observation, tree plantings and service projects to help preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the state’s 44 parks. The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Planet vs. Plastics," which focuses on reducing plastic production and consumption to address its harmful health and environmental effects.
April 17, 2026. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
New River Trail State Park
Are you curious about the birds around us?
April 17, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Slippery, slimy, salamanders are out and about!
April 18, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Belle Isle State Park
Want to help the Chesapeake Bay watershed and our planet this weekend before Earth Day?
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Love your planet!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Machicomoco State Park
Join us for the 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Art in the Park programs explore connections between art and the natural world through a different hands-on project each month. April's program is Paper Making!
April 18, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Douthat State Park
Ready to see the forest wake up after winter? Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short, guided hike focused on the fascinating world of spring tree identification.
April 18, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.
April 18, 2026. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by discovering the magic of vernal pools!
April 18, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by diving into the fascinating world of native fish.
April 18, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Join us on Earth Week for a Hungry Mother Lake clean-up.
April 18, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Ahoy, nature-loving engineers.
April 18, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?
April 19, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Create a recycled flowerpot out of newspaper that you can place right in the ground with native flower seeds.
April 19, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Powhatan State Park
Join fellow nature-lovers to help safe-guard our native birds during Earth Week! On this guided birding walk, you will be encouraged to practice identification and record the species observed using the eBird app by the Cornell Lab.
April 19, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Spring is arriving in the mountains!
April 19, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you. This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water and snacks.
April 19, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Hold the whole world or at least a mini ecosystem in your hands.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grayson Highlands State Park
Join park staff, Friends of Grayson Highlands State Park and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy volunteers for the High-Country Clean-up!
April 22, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Join us this Earth Day at Douthat State Park to make a lasting impact on our forest ecosystem.
April 22, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Volunteer your time this Earth Day with a shoreline cleanup at our park. Learn about how pollution can spread in an aquatic environment and help us protect ourselves and our wildlife.
April 22, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Grab your gloves and boots as we go hunting for non-native species that are disrupting the native ecosystem.
April 22, 2026. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
Join us for a self guided Earth Day cleanup at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park.
April 22, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
“Animals of Fairy Stone” explores the habits and characteristics of a variety of animals found in the Park. Find out who may be sneaking through your back yard or even around your campsite after you’ve gone to sleep. While at the program, examine pelts, bones, and more!
April 22, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Turtle time in our front yard.
April 22, 2026. 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park
Join Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes and park staff for a night amphibian walk! We will start the evening at the River Bend Discovery Center to learn about amphibian conservation and ecology. As the sun starts setting, we will take a walk in the woods to look and listen for frogs and toads!
April 22, 2026. 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
On the night of April 21–22, 2026, the Lyrid meteor shower will peak, offering a prime stargazing opportunity to see roughly 10–20 meteors per hour.
April 22, 2026. 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Come out and enjoy a beautiful meteor shower.
April 24, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
Take care of your mother Earth by joining the more than one billion people worldwide who celebrate Earth Day annually.
April 24, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.
April 24, 2026. 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Whooooo’s calling in the night!?
April 25, 2026. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Take a chance, step outside and discover your local "flew" crew.
April 25, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
High Bridge Trail State Park
In a partnership program with High Bridge Trail, the Margaret Watson Bird Club will have volunteers available to share their knowledge during this birding adventure.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wilderness Road State Park
Celebrate Earth Day with the naturalist of Wilderness Road State Park and create a personalized micro environment.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
On this special edition of "Ranger-led Hikes", we will celebrate Earth Week as we hike through areas of the park that show signs of human impact.
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Join us for a Ranger-led Nature Search to celebrate Earth Week!
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sky Meadows State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to beautiful Sky Meadows State Park!
April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum
The Dogwood Garden Club of Big Stone Gap, Va., will host “Bee” Power for Our Planet Exhibit in observance for Earth Week.
April 25, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Have some old hiking, camping, fishing, or any other kinds of outdoorsy gear that you no longer need?
April 25, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
Did you know Twin Lakes State Park is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
April 25, 2026. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by discovering the magic of vernal pools!
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park
Celebrate Earth Day by diving into the fascinating world of native fish.
April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
Have you ever wondered what a plant would sound like if it could speak...or play music?
April 25, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Give trash a second chance.
April 26, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Stop being another brick in the wall and make one instead.
April 26, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Powhatan State Park
During Earth Week, you are invited to see, smell, and taste the many ways the earth nourishes and provides for us! Foraging can foster a special connection with the land as well as with fellow foragers.
April 26, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
National Audubon Day is celebrated annually on April 26th to honor the birthday of renowned ornithologist, naturalist, and painter John James Audubon.
April 26, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum
The Dogwood Garden Club of Big Stone Gap, Va., will host “Bee” Power for Our Planet Exhibit in observance for Earth Week.
April 26, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!
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