Events in Virginia State Parks

Help ensure years of great fishing at Claytor Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

The Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park is a volunteer organization of interested citizens who actively support the park. The group works on behalf of the park by assisting in daily programs, special events, fund raising, and public education. The partnership provides a mechanism to use the skills, contacts, and resources of private citizens and businesses to improve services that may not otherwise be available.

This hike honors the shared history of African, European, and Native Americans who made their homes along the Mattaponi, Pamunkey, and York River.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

This is a rescheduling of the monthly litter cleanup due to weather - the cleanup will now take place on MLK Day.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

Make your voice heard!  Master plans are updated every 10 years and help guide park development and conservation.

Help support the park you love.

The Friends of Powhatan State Park is a group made up of citizen volunteers from Virginia’s Piedmont region who are passionate about supporting the park’s mission.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

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

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Want to bring home a treat for the birds in your backyard?

"Beavers:  Nature's Engineers" examines the characteristics and habits of North America's largest rodent.  Learn about how beavers alter the environment more than any other creature except humans.  Find out how beavers contributed to the westward expansion as settlers arrived in the New World.  Following a short lecture about the beaver and a few "local stories", a beautiful movie will follow the life of a pair of beaver's lives throughout a year-long period.  Various items, including a beaver skull, pelt, and examples of wood cuttings, will be displayed.  A special gift will be given to all children who attend the program.

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

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Grab your binoculars and get outside.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Bird Walks from November 2025 thru March 2026!  Join an experienced birder on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

Join a Ranger on a frosty adventure that highlights three of Grayson Highlands State Park's crown jewels!

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

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

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.

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

Join us for a guided Winter Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience the quiet beauty of the forest in its cold-weather stillness.

Join a ranger for a guided hike to look for winter birds.

Join us on January 24 at Princess Anne Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Festival Kickoff!

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Stop by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center and learn more about the people who lived on the Wilderness Road frontier.

Rangers from Leesylvania State Park will take your little ones on a nature adventure with reading, games, and crafts.

Join us for an exciting Ranger-led winter birding hike at Occoneechee State Park, where we will explore the various bird species that make the Southern Piedmont Region of Virginia their home during the winter months.

Woodpeckers are wonderful in winter!

Join us for our new series "Tales and Trails" with Samuels Public Library.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

This lecture opens up the world of Civil War cavalry and how mounted soldiers shaped the conflict.

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Use your phone or provided GPS units and join a ranger to learn what multi-billion-dollar technology and plastic containers have in common, as you and the whole family go on a thrilling treasure hunt along Muddy Buddy Trail.

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 head to the site.

Join us for a guided winter hike to discover the hidden homes of park wildlife.

Did you know Westmoreland State Park has a beach where you can find fossils?

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

Come get an in-depth look at the only star in our solar system, the Sun!

Keep an eye out near the Visitor Center for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

This special craft program involves making fun edible ornaments that will serve winter birds as a dependable food source during the cold winter months.  Participants will make a natural bird feeder using pine cones, peanut butter, string, and birdseed.  Shortening is available for guests with peanut allergies.  While creating your bird feeder, learn about some of our common Virginia backyard winter birds.

Think you’ve got sharp eyes?

Humans have relied on fire for heat, light, and cooking since prehistoric times.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

What do you have in common with the largest rodent in North America?

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 boom town. 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.

 Join our rangers as we take a short guided hike down the Poplar Trail searching for wild winter edible species while connecting with the natural world.

Parents, you spoke, and we listened!  We're excited to introduce our first toddler series: Little Wanderers.

You can help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s rivers by participating in Mason Neck's Grasses for the Masses program.

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

Can you maintain ecosystem equilibrium?

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

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

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) museum to learn more about the CCC, the original six Virginia State Parks, and the creation of Pocahontas State Park.

Every January, during National Hobby Month, folks all over the United States try new hobbies and celebrate their old ones, and Pocahontas State Park is the perfect place to do both.

Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center, which houses both the Nature Center and the Discovery Center, where you can grab a map and fill up on water, snacks, and souvenirs before you hit the trails.

Humans have relied on fire for heat, light, and cooking since prehistoric times.

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

This lecture opens up the world of Civil War cavalry and how mounted soldiers shaped the conflict.

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

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

Utilize the magical colors of the swamp during this arts and craft workshop!

It's wintertime at Sky Meadows, but there is still so much to explore in the lush forests of the Shenandoah Valley. While a lack of leaves can make tree identification more difficult, there are still many clues that you can use to identify trees in their leafless state.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

You can help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s rivers by participating in Mason Neck's Grasses for the Masses program.

Discover the timeless art of pine needle basket weaving and unlock your creativity with this hands-on workshop.

Join a ranger for a guided hike along one of the fingers of Fairy Stone Lake that leads to an abandoned iron mine.

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

All are welcome at the Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield volunteer support group during their monthly meeting as they focus on a variety of objectives designed to assist the park's mission in preserving the hallowed grounds of the last major battle of the American Civil War in Virginia on April 6, 1865.

This program is designed to introduce young participants to the wonders of the natural world and foster an appreciation for the environment.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

Do you love First Landing State Park and want to make a difference?

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

Biking is a wonderful activity to do here in the park.

Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect location for fishing.

Discover the secrets of the park through geocaching.

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.

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.

Stop by the fishing area behind Howe House to check out our EnChroma color blind scenic viewer.

Contribute to citizen science by helping us create a time lapse of this mysterious site.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

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.

Groups or individuals can adopt a section of a trail or a trail within our 7-mile park trail system.

Nothing beats a ranger-led program in one of our parks.