Events in Virginia State Parks

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

Join our rangers in exploring the wildlife along our central trails.

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

Stop by and explore the variety of flora and fauna found here at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Create your own up-cycled Nature Journal!

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.

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

"Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History" is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.

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.

What is a seed bomb?

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

Find the hidden creatures of the Shenandoah River.  Collect macroinvertebrates from the shallows near the canoe launch and discover how these creatures indicate water quality.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Practice your casting and reeling in the grass.

Have you ever heard the sound of a pack of coyotes howling in the middle of the night?

The Ranger Station is the place to bring your questions or curiosity about the park, its inhabitants, to find a suitable trail, or to chat with a park ranger.

Plants are far more than just part of the park's scenery; many plants have a wide variety of uses for humans.

Want to go on a scavenger hunt in the wilderness? Let’s go on a hike on the Captain Staunton Trail and try to find some of nature’s hidden treasures. All guests will be provided with a list of items to find while we are out on the trail. The first person to find them all will get a prize.   All materials will be provided by the park. There is no fee for this program, but the standard parking fee is required unless you are a cabin or campground guest.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

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

"Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History" is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.

Join a park ranger for a ride to the park's historic cemetery and a guided walking tour.

Ready, set, crawl on down to the Visitors Center to meet our woodland box turtle, General Raphael!

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

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

What's that big net used for?

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.

What helps keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and safe for everyone to enjoy?

What is a gundalow?  Gundalows were long wooden flatboats that were used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

Come enjoy an afternoon with guitar legend and world-famous builder Wayne C.

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish.

Step back in time and test your skills with an atlatl!  An atlatl (spear thrower) was a tool used by some Indigenous tribes during the Paleoindian culture and Archaic period.

The Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival is a celebration of Appalachian music.

End the weekend with a scenic trip on the York River (or Taskinas Creek depending on water conditions) in the evening.  Discover the birds and creatures that are active in the gentle light of sunset.  Cost.

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

We invite you to come out to the Apiary located to the left of the area behind the Discovery Center and observe us in the apiary.

During the 18th century, master craftsmen taught skills and labor through apprenticeships.

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.

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

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

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety: how to store food, what to do when you come across a bear hiking, camping in bear country, and more.

Don't be afraid to mix it up.

Join a park interpreter on a scavenger hunt along one of our less explored trails to find all of the colors, shapes, and sizes that are found in nature.

The York River was home to four manned lighthouses: Bells Rock, Pages Rock, Tue Marshes, and York Spit.  Bells Rock was the uppermost, just two miles below West Point.  Pages Rock was the only other light above the Coleman (Rt.

During the 18th century, master craftsmen taught skills and labor through apprenticeships.

Do you know the difference between toads and frogs?

What will we scoop up this time?

Explore the life cycle of butterflies and learn what makes the monarch butterfly so special.

Are you a crafty critter?

Focus on wildlife while in the park and elsewhere using a nature journal.

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the interactions between a predator population of coyotes and a prey population of deer in a forest. This program is suitable for all ages.

Join us as we build a beaver and find out if its teeth and other body parts are useful (or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature).

As you make your way to the shoreline, stop and visit the live creature displays of fish & shellfish that were recently captured in the York River and Woodstock Pond.  The ranger on duty will share about these creatures and their role in the ecosystem.

Let’s go on a fun "History Hike" at Staunton River State Park. Our interpretive ranger will lead the hike on River Bank Trail and talk about the exciting history of the Staunton River and our beautiful 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.

Take some time to get out of the hot sun and join our park nature interpreter under the tent for some fun crafts. Create your own butterfly, make a picture using the sun, or "scratch-up" some art.

Holliday Lake State Park is buzzing with life this time of year.

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

Trees are life-givers and sources of inspiration for many art forms.

Look for the interpretive ranger on the sidewalk between the pavilion and the sand at the swimming beach to have some fun making bubbles.

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.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

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.

Visit a ranger at Massie Gap to learn about the different creatures that live within the park.

Want to save the bees, butterflies, birds, and more? Just plant native! Even the smallest pollinator-friendly patch will make a difference. Come to our pollinator garden workshop and learn everything you need to know to get started.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

Right now in Fairy Stone Lake, giant gelatinous blobs resembling brains can be found attached to stationary objects in the water, using their tentacles to feed.

Enjoy amazing views of Horsehead Cliffs, watch Ospreys and Bald Eagles fly overhead, and look for fossils on this guided paddle tour of the Potomac River at Westmoreland State Park.

Get your mid-week boost with a walk among the trees, meadows, with fellow nature lovers!  You don't have to read scientific studies to know that being in nature and getting exercise in the fresh air is good for your body and your mind. So let's get together, make friends, and enjoy the outdoors while improving our health!  Each week will feature a different trail, each with a distance of about 2-2.5 miles.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail.

Spend time paddling down the Clinch River and enjoy viewing a variety of aquatic life, from longnose gar to freshwater mussels.

Join us at Douthat State Park for Homeschool Naturalists, a monthly outdoor education series designed for homeschool students of all ages.

Let nature spark your creativity!

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.

Help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!

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

Do you want to learn the history of the land where Kiptopeke State Park is today?

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

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

Step into the garden and relax by the waterfall for a creative and eco-friendly art experience!

Have you ever heard of a pawpaw?

Everyone loves a relaxing evening.

Take a float as day turns into twilight, and the creatures of the night arise.

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

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

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.

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.

Are all snakes venomous?

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone State Park’s black bears at our ranger-led program. Learn about their characteristics, habits, how to avoid conflicts, and much more.

Frogs, crawdads, and children - oh my!

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

Whoooo’s calling in the night!?