Events in Virginia State Parks

Forgo the fireworks and crowded festivities and accompany a ranger on this guided hike through the quiet woods with the moon and stars lighting the way.

The New Year's Eve Night Hike is full.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

While Americans traditionally ring in the New Year at midnight on New Year's Eve, other cultures welcome it with the first sunrise of New Year's Day. Join rangers for this unique experience, witnessing the sky transition from dark to light as a new day and a new year dawns. While on top of the Piedmont Overlook, we will have ample time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

Greet the sun along Beaver Lake trail to start the new year off right.

Come join our Ranger on a sunrise hike through the Holly Marsh Trail! With sunrise at 7:30am over the Potomac River, the hike will begin at 7:00am sharp. Registration is required and you can register here.

Immerse yourself in the serene wooded landscape just after sunrise on New Year's Day, where the soft light filters through the trees and the sounds of nature come alive.

We are looking forward to starting off 2024 on the right foot with our series of First Day Hikes: December 31, 2024 New Year's Eve Night Hike (11 p.m. - 1 a.m.): Hike in the new year.

While jumping into the new year, join some guided hikes or take in the beauty of nature on your own.

Ring in the New Year with a self-guided hike at Kiptopeke. This scavenger hunt will take you all over the park and show you spots you never knew existed.  Copies of the Kiptopeke Scavenger Hunt will be available at the brochure holders at the contact station, park office and trail head.  You can also download and print it yourself.   .

Not able to attend a ranger-led program?

Drop by the kiosk at the Spillway, pick up a special brochure, and get ready to get dirty with our seasonal scavenger hunt for kids.

Start a healthy New Year's resolution by taking up or resuming your state park hiking journey.

Start the new year with a photo scavenger hunt at Powhatan State Park.

Join us at Occoneechee State Park for a ranger-led First Day Hike.

Get your heart pumping in the New Year, on this ranger-led hike along Purchase Ridge.

Breathe in the New Year.

Download and print the interpretive trail guide to discover the hidden meanings behind the elements of the interpretive area as you guide yourself through the park.  We strive to make our programming and special event opportunities accessible and inclusive to all.

Start off the New Year with an invigorating winter hike in one of Virginia's most unique state parks.

Explore the hidden hamlet of Wash Woods and see the various coastal habitats of False Cape.

Here at Sailor's Creek Battlefield, greet the New Year at your own pace with a self-guided hike down any one of our trails.

Start off the New Year on the right, or left, foot.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Step into the new year by joining Machicomoco's rangers on a hike through history at our interpretive area.

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

Come on out to Chippokes State Park and discover what is left of a forgotten historic roadway on this ranger-led First Day Hike. Learn about historic transportation routes, the area's first inhabitants, speculation and myths of the road, and natural history.  This trail takes visitors from rolling farm fields into canopied woodlands, up and down inclines, and to a worthwhile scenic view of the beautiful salt marshes of Chippokes.  Parking is available at the Chipoax Trail Trailhead along Chippokes Farm Road.

Sweet Run’s 11 miles of hiking trails will be open for you to enjoy on your own or with us on one of our two naturalist-led hikes.

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

Join our rangers on the first day of the New Year with some fun hikes or blaze your own trail.

This place, this land, is as old as time itself.

Ring in the New Year with a guided hike led by Leesylvania State Park Rangers.  Guided Discovery Hike 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  - Lee's Woods Trail  Follow a Ranger on this guided hike to learn about the history and wildlife that make Leesylvania State Park unique.

Join us for our kick off to 2025 with one of two great hikes.  Take a two mile journey to our living shoreline with a grand view of the York River (the hike to the hill overlooking the shoreline is meant to be ability-inclusive and will have an all-terrain wheelchair available for reservation).  Or go on a four mile adventure to the Pamunkey Trail and gaze at the river from a secluded viewing platform.  Both hikes will begin at 10:00 am from the amphitheater.  .

Since hiking is a healthy activity and a great way to connect with nature, doing it more often is a perfect New Year's resolution.

Ring in the New Year by joining us on a ranger-led hike on the River Bank Trail. Is your New Year's resolution to get in better shape, spend more time with friends and family, or to be in nature more? This is the perfect opportunity to jump start those initiatives. The hike will be about two miles with a difficulty level of easy to moderate. We will have multiple opportunities to observe the Staunton River, Dan River, and the largest lake in Virginia: John H.

Grab your hiking boots and step into the rich history and vibrant landscapes of Sky Meadows State Park, once known as the Mount Bleak Farm.

Join the Ranger on Railroad Ford Trail for a leisurely 1.5 mile hike to start the year on the right foot! The terrain is generally flat with minimal elevation, but some areas have many roots.

Start the New Year off on a good foot with a ranger-led hike through winter woods, along banks of the James River, and by frosty golden meadows.

Start 2025 by joining park rangers for our annual First Day Hike. This year we will be admiring the Blue Ridge Mountains and beautiful panoramic views from Skyline Trail, which is a 1.6-mile, easy to moderate hike.

Whether you're a seasoned birding expert or a curious newbie, this hike is a great way to explore the park’s diverse habitats and spot some feathered friends along the way.

2025 is going to be a walk in the park!

Celebrate the New Year by going back in time to the historic village of Foster Falls.

You are welcome to hike on your own or join us for one of our four guided hikes throughout the day.

Welcome 2025!!

Bring the family and celebrate this New Year by adventuring out into the woods and on the Trail with a ranger. All tiny participants will be given helpful hands-on bug finding tools for investigating nature signs.    Let's try to use all of our senses to see, smell, touch, track and observe.

Our Little Tyke Hike, designed for families with children ages 6 and under (but suitable for all ages), is perfect for letting your little one(s) discover the park and the natural world in their own special way and at their own pace.

Join us in the New Year in exploring the future Mayo River State Park!

What better way to kick off the new year than a guided nature hike observing local wildlife.  Join Friends of Kiptopeke State Park for a guided nature hike.

Make a first-day keepsake!  Join us at the River Bend Discovery Center to make your first craft of the new year.

There is no better way to celebrate the new year than with a hike!

Head out into the woods and work on your navigation skills with the Central Virginia Orienteering Club.

Inhale a fresh new year breath while enjoying a ranger-led walk or one on your own.

As our modern-day fades, journey through the history of southwest Virginia on your first day hike.

Start your new year with constructive and invigorating action by joining us for a First Day Hike.

Start the new year of 2025 outdoors with a Virginia Master Naturalist and Chippokes Collaboration for First Day Hikes.  The Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Southside Chapter will be hosting a guided hike and workshop experience for all to attend and enjoy.  Spend time exploring and observing with Master Naturalists in the field.

Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

What can we see, hear, smell, and possibly touch?

Turn a new leaf this year by joining Machicomoco's rangers on a woodland hike.

Start the year off on the right foot, and what better place to do it then James River State Park.

Celebrate the New Year by exploring the historic town of Fries.

Celebrate the new year with a retirement party!

This ranger-led hike, designed for friends, families, and well-behaved pets on leashes, will bring you on all or portions of Co-op, Hawkins, and Forest Exploration Trails.

Hike along the shoreline of Fairy Stone Lake and discover how the Civilian Conservation Corps created the lake and other park features as they helped to bring our country out of the Great Depression.

Ever wondered where salamanders live?

Participants who are interested in the First Day Hike will meet rangers at the front gate of the museum and take a walk through time as they begin their hike on the grounds of the museum.

Come join a park ranger on a guided walk to the historic bridge and earthworks here at Staunton River Battlefield State Park.

Do you have a bad case of "cabin fever"?

This hike will take participants into the high country for great views and to learn about the unique boreal world of Grayson Highlands State Park.

What better way to start the New Year than to learn about trees?

Kick off the New Year with a refreshing, family-friendly hike that everyone can enjoy!

Start your new year with constructive and invigorating action by joining us for a First Day Hike.

Start 2025 with a Ranger led hike on the Sugar Hill Loop at Clinch River State Park!

Start off the New Year with an invigorating winter hike in one of Virginia's most unique state parks.

If weather permits, we'll kick off our maple syrup program series.

In partnership with the Cumberland County Recreation Department, the third annual Cumberland Plunge will be held at the beach at 2 p.m. Upon the signal, participants will dash into the park's swimming area. A warming bonfire will be on the beach to help dry you off.

Join the Ranger on Railroad Ford Trail for a leisurely 1.5 mile hike to start the year on the right foot! The terrain is generally flat with minimal elevation, but some areas have many roots.

Ring in the new year with a stroll along the river!  Join us for a nice stroll along our River Trail.

There's no better way to start the new year than a visit to Smith Mountain Lake. The Discovery Center will be open after our First Day Hike.

Start the New Year off right by embarking on a delightful one mile hike filled with adventure and exploration along the paved multi-use High Point Trail.

Learn how to incorporate technology into your next hike and get to know some of the park's native flora and fauna along Big Poplar trail. Before you begin, visit the following websites and download your preferred app(s): Seek by iNaturalist Merlin Bird ID PictureThis-Plant ID app Avenza Park Map Fifth Star Labs-Constellations iNaturalist PocketMacros Call 804-796-4474 or email Rebecca.Whalen@dcr.virginia.gov for more information.

Explore helpful ways to relax and de-stress yourself in nature while learning about the history and culture of using nature as a means of therapy. Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, on a relaxing hike made to calm the mind.

Celebrate the New Year by hiking to Lovers' Leap to hear about the tale of the star-crossed lovers.

Start your New Year off right by taking a leisurely walk in nature while learning all about the history of Douthat State Park and the CCC.

End your First Day on a hike to see one of the "crown jewels" within the park.

The Quadrantids meteor shower is an above average meteor shower with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet know as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5.

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Bring your canine companion and join the B.A.R.K.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Join an interpretive ranger on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

The Visitor Center is home to two freshwater Red-Eared Slider turtles, Jennika and Venus, and it is time for them to eat.

It's feeding time for two of our ambassador reptiles, Stevie the King Snake and Reba the Corn Snake, and we welcome you to attend this demonstration and learn about these snakes as they prepare to feed on a frozen mouse! .

Douthat State Park is home to many fascinating mammals, including black bears.

Meet a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a guided hike to see if you can spot any of our winter birds.

When the weather cools, the mammals of First Landing enter a long state of dormancy until the conditions warm up again.

Did you know that 2025 is the year of the snake?

Keeping up with New Year's resolutions can be stressful.