Not able to attend a ranger-led program?

Enjoy a self-guided tour as you walk down to see the Natural Tunnel.

As you explore the Wilderness Road Blockhouse and the surrounding area, discover what makes this building so unique as well as what was commonly used on the frontier for survival during the 18th Century.

Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a copy of a self-guided brochure on the “Common Trees of Virginia,” or download it online.

Introduced by the National Parks, B.A.R.K.

The park has over 12 miles of beautiful hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

REGISTRATION HAS ENDED.

Ring in the New Year on a Midnight Hike at Lake Anna State Park!

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.

'Bigfoot' is on the roam in Occoneechee State Park.

Whether you are a teacher, homeschool instructor, club sponsor, or anything in between, we are inviting you to plan you groups' next field trip to Douthat State Park.

Start the New Year Outdoors at Sky Meadows State Park!

Kick off the New Year with a Sunrise Hike at Lake Anna!

First Day Hikes have been a tradition within state parks for years and we are happy to offer multiple hikes this year to fit with any schedule or hiking ability.

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.

Bundle up and celebrate the wonder of the season!

We are looking forward to starting off 2026 on the right foot with our series of First Day Hikes: December 31, 2025 New Year's Eve Night Hike (11 p.m. - 1 a.m.): Hike in the new year.

Join us for a guided hike through the diverse wetland ecosystems of First Landing State Park, where five unique trails come together to showcase nature’s own “trail mix.” This immersive journey will take you through a variety of wetland habitats- including cypress swamps, salt marshes, and maritime forests.

Stop by the Park Office and pick up a nature trail guide brochure and discover the different flora and fauna that can be found in the winter.

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

Come ring in the New Year with a fresh start on the Clyburn Ridge Trail!

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

Hike into 2026 at Leesylvania State Park.

Get your heart pumping as you hike into the new year at Natural Tunnel!

Kick off the new year at Caledon!

Start 2025 by joining park rangers for our annual First Day Hike. This year we will be admiring the forests and beautiful panoramic views from Buck Hill Trail, which is a 2-mile, easy to moderate hike.  The guided hike will take about 1.5 hours as we journey through the park's forests and meadows in winter.

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

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.

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.

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 2 miles with a difficulty level of easy/moderate.  We will have multiple opportunities to observe the Staunton River, Dan River and the largest lake in Virginia, the John H.

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

Start the New Year off on a good foot with a ranger-led hike through a rich variety of landscapes: winter woods, the tranquil James River, and frosty golden meadows.

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

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

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.  10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hike to Gordon Pond This moderately-paced hike will be approximately 5 miles on a variety of beautiful trails with varied terrain.

Start the new year with a refreshing walk through the quiet beauty of Douthat’s winter woods.

Step into the new year surrounded by the beauty and history of Wilderness Road State Park.

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

Have you ever wondered how flora and fauna survive in a winter wonderland?

Kick off 2026 with one of two amazing hikes!

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 First Day Hike.

Before or after your First Day Hike, stop by the Camp Douthat Picnic Shelter for some cozy fun hosted by the Friends of Douthat State Park.

Stretch your wings on this First Day Hike all about the birds that call Chippokes State park their nest!  Join a Ranger led excursion along College Run Trail to the shoreline of the James River.

Need a refreshing start to kick off your new year?

Kick off the New Year with a wheel-friendly hike at Lake Anna!

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

Kick off the new year by learning about Indigenous history! In Virginia, a lot of pre-contact Indigenous history was obscured by colonization.

Start off 2026 with a walk among friends.

Explore the diverse habitats of Machicomoco State Park while learning about what makes them all unique!

Our First Day Hike will begin near our new Visitor Center, known as High Bridge Station, and will continue along the trail to High Bridge.

Turn over a new leaf and start your year off on the right foot on this guided hike along Lakeshore Trail.

Fido's First Day Hike is for people who want to share the first day of the new year on the trail with their best canine friend.

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

Ring in the New Year at New River Trail with a first day hike!  This hike will be a guided tour of the town of Fries and it's unique history as a mill town.  The hike will be about 1 mile with a difficulty level of easy/moderate on uneven sidewalks.  Meeting place will be at the Green Gazebo at Fries parking lot.  This is a perfect opportunity to take first day hike photos with your family and friends.  It's also the perfect time to start your Trail Quest!  Visitors will receive a commemorative sticker while supplies last.  Please be safe on your adventure and enjoy free parking*!

Start the new year of 2026 outdoors with a Virginia Master Naturalist!  The Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Southside Chapter will be hosting a Chapter Meet & Greet for all hikers to attend and enjoy.  Spend time exploring and observing nature with Master Naturalists in the field.

Step into the new year with your hiking boots laced!

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

It’s time to get creative!

Rock Spring Tree Trek: 11AM, Rock Spring Pond Trailhead Step into the forest on a guided hike at Westmoreland State Park that shows how trees are everything but still, even in the winter!

Discover the heart of First Landing State Park on this unique guided hike that blends camping culture with coastal beauty.

Does your pup have what it takes to be a B.A.R.K Ranger? B.A.R.K.

Start the new year with a gentle adventure designed especially for young explorers and their families.

Kick off the new year by learning about Indigenous history! In Virginia, a lot of pre-contact Indigenous history was obscured by colonization.

Explore the diverse habitats of Machicomoco State Park while learning about what makes them all unique!

Start the new year with purpose and peace, and step into history.

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

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.

Ring in the New Year at New River Trail with a first day hike!  This hike will be a guided tour of our village area at Foster Falls.  The hike will be about 1 mile with a difficulty level of easy/moderate.  Meeting place will be at the Caboose.  This is a perfect opportunity to take first day hike photos with your family and friends.  It's also the perfect time to start your Trail Quest!  Visitors will receive a commemorative sticker while supplies last.  Please be safe on your adventure and enjoy free parking*!

Kick start the new year with a hike at James River State Park!

Offering scenic overviews of the north side of Swift Creek Lake, Co-op trail highlights the biodiversity of our park.

Ring in the New Year with a refreshing First Day Hike in the high country.

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

Start your year with a scenic and invigorating hike on the Tobacco House Ridge Trail at Douthat State Park.

Kick off the new year with the park's First Day Hike.

Wash off 2025 and begin taking in 2026 on this guided hike along Clyburn Ridge Trail on the first day of the year!

Join us for a tail-wagging adventure along the scenic Bluebell Trail of Shenandoah River State Park!

Need a refreshing start to kick off your new year?

It's not hard to capture the beauty of Belle Isle State Park and we have a challenge for you.

Join a ranger for a guided hike down the Edgewood Trail here at Staunton River Battlefield State Park!

Time once again to shiver your timbers at the fourth annual Cumberland Plunge.

Kick off the new year at Caledon!

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

If you're curious about trees, satisfy your curiosity on this Arbor Adventure!  Join a ranger on Chippoax Trace Trail to identify Chippokes trees on this first day hike!  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.

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

Explore what hiking is all about with a ranger.

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.  10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hike to Gordon Pond This moderately-paced hike will be approximately 5 miles on a variety of beautiful trails with varied terrain.

Come join our Rangers on a guided hike through Long Pond Trail, a 1-mile looped hike around the Visitor Center that goes along the Aquia Creek.

Help us ring in the New Year with breathtaking views!  Join a park ranger for a 1.5 mile hike along Eagle's Rest Trail at Hayfields State Park.

Bundle up for a seasonal adventure into the salt marshes of First Landing State Park!

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.

Kick off the new year with a new hobby.

Step into the past and start the new year with a leisurely stroll along the YCC Trail, a half-mile, easy-rated hike that hugs the scenic shoreline of Douthat Lake.

Ring in the New Year with a stroll along the river!

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

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

End your New Years Day celebration with a sunset walk on our most popular hiking trail!

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

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.

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.