The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is an above average meteor shower with about 30 meteors per hour at its peak in the Northern Hemisphere.

Looking for a family friendly way to kick off your summer fun?

Grab your binoculars and get outside.  Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will lead these monthly hikes to discover and identify birds at Sweet Run State Park. We will explore parts of this beautiful 900-acre preserve to see what lives in it and visit its diverse habitats.

Start your morning with a scenic and inspiring bike ride led by a park ranger on High Bridge Trail!

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

What some people call creepy crawlies are actually some of the most interesting and beneficial animals in our area.

Spring has sprung.

Can you hear the park talking?  There are many tales and tails throughout Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some are tactile, most don’t use words, so how does the park share its stories?  Park Interpreters will help you discover the park through hands-on activities, artifacts, and even some stories.

Explore the 32-acre Prince Edward Lake, the larger of the park's two lakes, on this guided kayak paddle.

Explore the rich natural history of trees guided by a Virginia Master Naturalist.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

In our park's nature center, you can see many different native animals of Virginia.

Come and join us for our monthly Trail Workday on May 24th.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Hear the tale of star-crossed lovers that the trail is named after and view the tunnel from above.

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

Explore the beautiful wetlands with us.

Did you know that there are over 1,300 different types of insects that call Virginia home?

Stop by this tabletop program and discover the basics of birding followed by the opportunity to explore some of our most popular birding habitats.

The trash and litter we leave behind can damage the environment.

The Survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

National Scavenger Hunt Day is a celebration dedicated to the fun game of finding a list of random items.

In 1847, Theodore O'Hara wrote Bivouac of the Dead.

Owls, bats and bugs oh my!

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home or what those shells on the beach are called?

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Interested in learning about local geology?

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

Have you ever touched bear fur or looked at the teeth of a beaver?

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a lunch date, and they want you to join.

Come join our Rangers on a hike of Long Pond Trail!

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Challenge yourself to name various songbirds found around Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Join the interpretive ranger and see how many of our common birds you can identify.

What's under that rock?

Celebrate Southwest Virginia's rich tradition of old-time, bluegrass, blues, and Americana music with performances by regionally and nationally renowned musicians, including a star-studded main stage lineup!  Also enjoy instrument competitions, songwriting competitions and jam sessions.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Have you ever been walking along a trail and come across a pile of "meatballs"?

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Explore the shoreline of the Potomac by kayak! Enjoy a daytime paddle on the lower Potomac River as we look and listen for bald eagles.

Join a ranger at the Discovery Center and ask any questions you may have about Westmoreland State Park.  Feel free to drop in and check out the items on display.  Do you have a fossil you need help to identify?

Want to learn how to go geocaching? Join one of our rangers on a guided program on how to start your geocache adventure. Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure.

The Friends of Twin Lakes State Park is hosting its third annual 'shellebration' of World Turtle Day® with the following activities: turtle-themed games and face painting, a 'shellfie' station (with wearable turtle shells!), a turtle-themed craft, and visits from turtle experts with live turtles, as well as the beloved local 'shellebrity' Ranger Myrtle the turtle.

Explore the 32-acre Prince Edward Lake, the larger of the park's two lakes, on this guided kayak paddle.

Southwest Virginia is home to only two venomous snakes.

As you make your way to the shoreline, stop and visit the live creature displays of fish & shellfish that were recently captured in the York River and Woodstock Pond.  The ranger on duty will share about these creatures and their role in the ecosystem.

Celebrate Memorial Day with us by making your very own Bald Eagle for you to keep!

Join a ranger for a 1.5-mile guided hike through fields and marsh to a splendid beach view of the Rappahannock River.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Holliday Lake State Park is buzzing with life this time of year.

This ranger-led hike will teach you the principles of "Leave No Trace".

Where do toads live?

Come learn about the Clinch River's famous mussels.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone State Park and your own backyard.

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

Our animal ambassador Maverick, a native corn snake, enjoys helping people learn that snakes aren't all that scary, and in fact are very good for the environment!

This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions!

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

Take some time to get out of the hot sun and join our park nature interpreter under the tent for some fun crafts.

Pan for gold in the James River while learning about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park, and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river.

Food webs can get pretty complex, but at the very top of the food chain is the best predator in the ecosystem.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boomtown. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Come say hello to Ranger Shelly, our red-eared slider and local shellebrity. Join us at the beach as she enjoys some sunshine and enrichment time.

It is Memorial Day weekend, and we are honoring the heroes who sacrifice for all of our freedoms. Join a ranger to learn about this special American holiday.

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

You don't need a boat or fishing license to learn how to fish with the rangers at Holliday Lake State Park.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

The blue crab is one of the most iconic species of the Chesapeake Bay.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

We will begin the 2025 Music in the Park series with Occoneechee's second annual open mic session.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Spend an entertaining evening sitting around the campfire with other park visitors.

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Enjoy a cool fall evening with a short, moderate hike to the highest point in the park, Little Pinnacle, to witness one of the most stunning sunsets in Virginia.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Come with us to experience the beginnings of Bluegrass music and follow its evolution as it traveled across the ocean and settled in the Appalachian Mountains.

What does it take to build a "one match" fire?

With 400 years of history, there are thousands of stories that the land of Chippokes has to offer.

Gather around a crackling fire to hear stories shared by a park ranger. Some stories come from this region's history as well as a few short stories featuring adventure, mystery, and mishaps in the outdoors.

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

The surface of the water might seem calm, but down under there is an exciting world filled with all kinds of life.

Take a stroll along our lake shore as you visit several mesmerizing lights that have been placed in or along the lake.

Whooo’s out there in the dark?

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

Come see the stars and explore our night sky with our park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

This is a self-guided program for the whole family to enjoy.

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Come experience the beautiful James River on this guided kayak tour with DCR's Bay Experience team!