Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Machicomoco State Park by participating in a guided hike which explores the history of the land and the park, as well as the natural elements that form the park.  We strive to make our programming and special event opportunities accessible and inclusive to all.

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

Slither on down and join the Park Ranger for an in depth look into the fascinating lives of some local reptiles.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'Fairy Stone' that everyone is looking for.

Tree identification made fun and easy through leaf rubbing.

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.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

Join Leesylvania State Park Rangers at the Bushey Point Trailhead for a guided hike and discussion on wetlands, their ecology, and their vital importance in maintaining a balanced, healthy ecosystem.  Perhaps we'll come across some wildlife on our excursion!  Meet at the entrance to the Bushey Point Trail on the south side of Boat Launch Parking Lot Number 1 for a 1.5 mile hike.  This hike is rated as moderate in skill level; please dress for the weather, wear sturdy closed-toe footwear, and consider bringing water.  For questions, please call the Visitor Center at (703)583-6904.

Learn the fundamentals of geocaching by participating on a guided hike.

Grab your gear and saddle up for a ride down the Cape Henry Trail, First Landing‘s longest multi-use trail.

Join us at Widewater State Park for a slithery, fun-filled adventure with “Snakes Alive!” Meet our friendly, live, non-venomous snake ambassadors and learn fascinating facts from a park ranger who’s a herpetologist specializing in snake behavior!

Have you ever fished the Chesapeake?

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

How do you tell trees apart?

Join the Ranger on an exploration of the Old Pond Trail.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Textile waste is over-crowding our landfills; definitely not the kind of crowd to be in!

The forests are full of things both delicious and dangerous, but can you tell which is which?

Join park rangers for an evening campfire at the Visitor Center.

We will start with the Occoneechee fire building challenge.

We have returning to close out our season, ZOSO The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience! It’s been over 28 years and over 4500 shows since ZOSO came together as a group in the mid-‘90s.

Can you pitch a tent?

Join the Virginia Peninsula Stargazers as they point out the different items of our solar system in the night sky.  They will have the equipment.  Just bring your curiosity.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs. .

Three hundred thousand men, women, and children traveled through Powell’s Valley onto a new frontier.

There are certain things that can’t be explained. Have you encountered doors that open and close abruptly with no visible force pushing them, a sudden shift of temperature in an otherwise ordinary room, or mysterious emanating noises indicating a presence unseen?

Contemplate the universe from Caledon as we observe the stars together.

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.  Hike is roughly 1 mile and better suited for older kids and adults.

What hides in the Appalachian wilderness after dark?

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Three hundred thousand men, women, and children traveled through Powell’s Valley onto a new frontier.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Find out their characteristics, their habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much, much more.

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

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Stop by the Discovery Room on your way out on the trail to visit some of First Landing's premier animal ambassadors!

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Fall is just around the corner with its cooler weather and show-stopping colors.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our Visitor Center.

Mussels play a huge part in our watershed.

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

Learn about the history of Westmoreland State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as you walk to Rock Springs Pond accompanied by a ranger.

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

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

Learn about the reptiles that can be spotted in the park!

Join us in late September for the Grayson Highlands Fall Festival.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

The Chesapeake Bay Lab is home to many marine creatures found in the Park.

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.

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.

In the 18th century, this area was a thriving place for business, people, and transportation.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

Westmoreland State Park is home to many birds.

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

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!  Learn about different turtles that call Kiptopeke home and why it's important to keep wildlife wild.

Come explore aquatic life in the James River!

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

What's under that rock?

What is a gundalow?  These long wooden flatboats were used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

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.

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

Grab your gear and saddle up for a ride down the Cape Henry Trail, First Landing‘s longest multi-use trail.

Hop on over and enjoy a short walk around Old Pond Trail as we look and listen for these amazing amphibians.

Evenings are a wonderful time in the park to be on the water.

Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies and other unloved animals with a Park Ranger.

Join us to learn about insects and the different jobs they do here at Fairy Stone State Park and in your own backyard. Our adventure will continue as we search the area to find examples of these important members of our neighborhood.

Bring your paint brushes, pencils, pens, felt, yarn and needles or whatever art medium you choose and meet us at the Interpretive Center to enjoy the view!  Poetry and gentle music also encouraged.

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

Owls, bats and bugs oh my!

Kids will dive into the slimy world of amphibians like frogs and salamanders!

The Fall 2024 installment of the Staunton River Star Party will be sponsored by CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) and hosted at Staunton River State Park.

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.

Come along on a hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park. Meet at picnic shelter #2. The hike is roughly 1.5 miles long. Great for all ages!

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

Kids will dive into the slimy world of amphibians like frogs and salamanders!

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

Our park interpreter will be stationed at Cullers Overlook to answer all of your questions.

It's that time of year again!

The Archery Range opens for the season daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.

Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

The Visitor Center at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park offers a museum filled with treasured artifacts discovered over the years where the last major fight of the American Civil War in Virginia occurred on April 6, 1865.

Tours of the Hillsman House, a National Historic Landmark, are available to the public by request.

A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Sailor's Creek Battlefield is available to visitors year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield offers six, self-guided Hiking Trails with historic markers for the public to explore year round during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

Join us on a real or virtual hike through Claytor Lake State Park as we take a closer look at some of the beautiful native trees.

The Staunton River Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided program that you can enjoy with family and friends.

Pick up the Staunton River State Park bird identification list in the Visitor Center for this self-guided program.

Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Pick up this Ranger Quest guide at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Did you know that Haven Howe was an early advocate for environmental reform in Virginia? Participate in person or virtually as we examine the fine craftsmanship of the Howe House and learn of its builder, inhabitants, and history.

Take a hike back in time by visiting our tour points located at the same location as our collection of photos and videos from past years at Claytor Lake State Park and Claytor Lake.

Earn your junior ranger patch through a variety of programs and fun family activities.  Visit the park office, gift shop, or contact station for a copy of our junior ranger booklet, or you can download it from the link below.