Enjoy a movie under the stars.

Ever wondered what it’s like to paddle under a sky full of stars?

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

Join us after dark to observe moths and other insects of the night. Entomologists Dr.

A light glows beneath the surface of Holliday Lake.

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!

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

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

There are many stories to tell about Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some will be tactile, and most do not use words.

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

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

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to begin your exploration and story time at your own pace.

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

Hungry Mother State Park's interpretive rangers are always finding cool things around the park and thinking up new activities and crafts.

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.

Do you know how many common "weeds" have historic use as food and medicine?

Have you ever thought about what an animal eats?

Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Virginia Master Naturalist Anne Ellis at the Sweet Run State Park for a leisurely walk in search of butterflies.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Join us for a guided hike through Goodwin Lake Trail as we explore the trees that make up our local ecosystem.

Take a guided walk with a butterfly expert in search of tiny-winged creatures of the forest! First, you'll get tips and tricks for learning butterfly identification and anatomy as well as a glimpse into their amazing life cycles and awe-inspiring adaptations.

What is a seed bomb?

Dive into excitement with our "Dipnetting Adventure" at Holliday Lake State Park.

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

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

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

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

Get your feet wet investigating the vast array of life in a stream. Catch crawdads, salamanders, frogs and such.

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

Come and explore a dynamic ecosystem that prevents erosion and brings life to the river.  The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants.  Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

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.

Every Monday evening from May to the first week of September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

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

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

Week 3 is all about Park Pros!

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the American Civil War.

While most of the adventure on the New River takes place above the water, there is no shortage of things to see below the water!

Trees are so important to our environment. They give us air to breathe, homes for animals, wood to build our homes and help control erosion.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

This is a fantastic time of year to take-in the beautiful scenery of Southwest Virginia.

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

This program is all about learning how to identify wild animals by the tracks that they leave behind.

Staunton River State Park is home for many different types of wild animals. Hike around the park and see if you can spot some of these homes. Remember to think outside the box on this one. Some animals live in trees, some live in the ground, and some live in the water.

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

The batteau was a historically significant boat used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground. Staunton River’s campground is nestled back in the woods right beside the Staunton River and is the perfect place to spot some interesting rocks, animals, and plant life. Each guest will be provided with a list of items to find. Will you be the first to find them all? If so, then you may receive a prize at the end of the program. Everyone will meet at the Visitor Center and the hunt will start from there.

We all love the great outdoors and enjoy nature. Sometimes we are in a hurry and miss out on all the little things nature has to offer. The James River and its lush landscapes have always been a source of life and inspiration. So, let's take that inspiration and have a “brush” with nature while we paint what we see and talk about what we are painting.

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

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

Join us along the New River for a FREE hour-long guided yoga flow session, led by a Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor.

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

This program is perfect for anyone new to fishing or looking to brush up on their skills in a fun, supportive environment! This program will cover basic fishing skills such as casting, reeling, dragging, hook tying, rigging, and hopefully, catching your first fish in the New River.

The Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, leaving ties to the English crown in ruin and the North American colonies in an open state of rebellion.

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunting on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 hours. This program has limited spots available.

You can learn a lot about the health of a stream by seeing what lives beneath its surface.

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

The Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, leaving ties to the English crown in ruin and the North American colonies in an open state of rebellion.

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.  Participants must be ages 10 and over.

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Harrold Holliday!

Get creative and discover the magic of upcycling! Join us in repurposing glass bottles that were headed to the landfill by painting your own vase.

Join our rangers for a Fourth of July campfire.

Enjoy the sounds of local musicians as you take in our beautiful park.

Come join the party!

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

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

Join our Park Rangers as they discuss the history, ecology, and culture of the Widewater Peninsula.

Get knee-deep in the Shenandoah during Fly Fishing 101!  During this program, our fly-fishing instructor will go over all the basics to get you catching your first fish on a fly!

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the trail around High Bridge with interesting historical items from the park.

Join us on the first Saturday of the month to experience the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

Archery programs are some of the best recreational activities that State Parks have to offer.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

From May to August, the Overton-Hillsman House will be open to the public on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The historic home was a witness to war, a battlefield hospital, and the birthplace of one of the nation’s foremost Black educators.

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.

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

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

Have you ever seen a tree grow out of a rock?

Join our staff for a guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father. Mulberry Hill was also a working tobacco farm owned by the McPhails during the American Civil War.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

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

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

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

Hoot have thought reconstructing skeletons could be so cool? Learn about some of our native owl species while you dissect a Great Horned Owl pellet.

The natural world around us is like a game of Jenga, and when species are removed, the balance becomes increasingly unstable.

Come out to Chestnut Creek, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater.

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

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

How well do you know our native Virginia snakes?

Come rock and roll with local band "Candy Machine" live as they perform music from the 1950s through the 1980s on the water's edge at the beach amphitheater.

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