Events in Virginia State Parks

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

Blink and you might miss them—spring’s wildflowers don’t stick around for long!

Visiting the Natural Bridge could bring out your inner artist this weekend as Roni Navroski teaches you how to paint on a feather.

Meaningful, spontaneous conversations can inspire curiosity and foster deeper engagement with community programs!

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River. We'll take a wagon ride to the river and walk along the beach, where we aim to watch eagles as they nest and perch along the shore.

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, or is that a bat?

Join a community celebration of all things Jefferson and Natural Bridge with family-friendly activities along Cedar Creek trail.

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

After this cold winter, get ready for spring planting.

Have you heard the joke about frogs?

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

Join our volunteer John Duncan on a short stroll and tour of the historic Howe House as we discuss how the park came to be.

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

Join use for a garden clean-up at Holliday Lake State Park as we work together to support and enhance vital pollinator habitat.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

Come explore the historic town of Fries! A park ranger will share stories of local history and show what remains of the once thriving textile industry.

Unsure or unable to participate in walks over uneven forested terrain but have a desire to know nature better?

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

Join Imagine Well Being hosts, Lauren and Suzanne for a restorative spring afternoon where fresh air, budding trees, and the quiet rhythms of spring invite a return to balance.

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.

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

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Teens and adults are invited to slow down, step outside, and discover how nature journaling can change the way you notice the world around you.

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Drawing on years of dog training experience and a passion for our parks, join Ranger Rachel in the pilot program designed to bring training to the trails and help your dog become their best park-ready companion.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Take your first shot at archery in this beginner-friendly workshop.

Once a proud example of Georgian architecture, Lexington now exists as ruins and memories as the home of George Mason V. Learn about the architecture, archaeology, and landscape that tell the story of life on the Mason Neck Peninsula. This presentation will take place in the Visitor Center, and seating will be limited .

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bird?

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

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.

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk in Galax.

Vernal pools are shallow, temporary pools that typically form in early spring.

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

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.

Ever wondered what stories Douthat State Park holds?

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

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Do you know how fossils are formed?

Join a ranger to learn about meteorological vs.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Bloodroot, Dutchman's Breeches, Cutleaf Toothwort, oh my!

Trees have magical qualities that provide us with many important everyday items, as well as a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

Want to learn how to go geocaching?

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

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

If you're camping with us at Chippokes State Park, we would like to extend a warm invitation to attend our special evening ranger-led campfire program.

Join a park interpreter on a walk to listen to the sounds of spring- the calls of the frogs.

What do you know about our scaly friends?

Experience the sights and sounds of the park at sunset with a leisurely guided hike beginning at 7:30 p.m. from the main parking lot.

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for a night of awe and wonder.

Step back in time and experience the daily life of an American Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

This archery session for beginners and provides shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with instruction time on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

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

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

"Wisdom from the Wild" is a monthly series that will lead you on wonder-filled journey to recovering your sense of belonging and finding your truest self, rooted in the rhythms and raptures of nature.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

Looking to get hooked on a new hobby?

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

As spring unfolds at Natural Tunnel State Park, the forest floor begins to come to life with the vibrant colors that Mother Nature offers.

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape 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 head 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.

Interested in learning about archery in an adult setting?

Join us for a flexible Stewardship Sunday, offering both self-guided and ranger-led opportunities to lend a hand and give back to Mother Nature.

Step into the past on a guided hike through the park.

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Westmoreland State Park is home to four different ambassador animals: Reba the corn snake, Stevie the king snake, and two red-eared sliders, Venus and Jennika.

Search for salamanders as they quest for vernal pools!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bird?

Want to save the bees, butterflies, birds, and more?  Just plant native!  Even the smallest pollinator-friendly patch will make a difference.  At our pollinator garden workshop, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started and receive a planning packet to help create your own pollinator habitat at home.

Do you have a passion for nature, environmental education, and wish to make a difference?

"A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can indeed change the world." - Margaret Meade, Anthropologist Do you have a passion for teaching and being outdoors?

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.

Have you seen the Blue Bird Boxes at Mason Neck and wondered who lives there, and why they are necessary? This program is perfect for bird lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the small but important conservation efforts happening right here in the park. After the discussion, we will go for a short walk to view some of the boxes. Meet interpreters at the Visitor Center. .

Join the Friends of Twin Lakes for a fun gardening workshop. The Friends have a variety of seeds to choose from and some seedlings.

This is a “casting” call for miniatures enthusiasts and historic craft fans!

From the role of ‘good fire’ in restoring forests to the many ways we thoughtfully steward wildlife and habitats, this talk, presented by Mel Perry, highlights how Virginia State Parks keep nature in balance.

Stop by the Wilderness Road Blockhouse and step back in time to experience aspects of life on the frontier.

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

Do you think you know some of the animals that reside here?

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

April showers bring May flowers.  For the month of April, homeschoolers will learn about the water cycle, water pollution, and how it affects us and the environment.

Enjoy maximum bluff and shoreline views on this ranger guided hike.  The hike is just about a mile and includes a portion of the new Hognose Trail.  We will explore the popular Fossil Beach and the secluded Pete's Overlook.  .

This FREE two-night (April 13 & 14) Boating Safety Course will enable participants to obtain their Boater Safety certification/card which is required in Virginia for all PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine.  Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult and pre-registration for all participants is required. Register online here.

Want to make a difference at Douthat State Park?

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

This FREE two-night (April 13 & 14) Boating Safety Course will enable participants to obtain their Boater Safety certification/card which is required in Virginia for all PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine.  Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult and pre-registration for all participants is required. Register online here.

Sip, Snack & Create: Paint-N-Snack Night at the Museum.

Come join the monthly meeting of the Widewater State Park Friend's Group!

Join a park ranger on a three-mile hike to the waterfall and back.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

April showers bring May flowers.  For the month of April, homeschoolers will learn about the water cycle, water pollution, and how it affects us and the environment.

Come explore nature's amazing spring happenings through the Powhatan Library's new educational series: Nature Days!

"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.  .

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets of the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Join the Mecklenburg County YMCA for the 2026 Tracks and Trails Hiking Series with Steph Bowen at Occoneechee State Park!