Events in Virginia State Parks

Leaves are changing quickly this month.

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

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

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

Have you ever been walking along a trail and come across a pile of "meatballs"?

With fall comes fungi!

The leaves are changing, and the nights are growing cold, it's the perfect time for a hayride!

Whoooo’s calling in the night!?

Join a ranger around the fire for a taste of outdoor tradition.

Enjoy a cool fall evening with a short, moderate hike to the highest point in the park, Little Pinnacle, to witness one of the most stunning sunsets in Virginia.

'Whoooo' goes there?

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park are hosting a wonderful night.

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

Explore the sky with the NASA Skywatchers to learn about the moon, planets and stars.

It's October!

Dive into the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians during our Fall BioBlitz event!

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

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

Come along on a one mile hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park.

A long summer has given way to autumn.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Enjoy a leisurely paddle around the lake to enjoy the vibrant fall colors up close and personal.

There are bugs everywhere in the park- cicadas in the trees, ants in the grass, crickets in the caves, and even the macro invertebrates in the creek!

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

How do you keep the 'Sunday Scaries' at bay?

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail (0.81mi.).

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes State Park through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

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

Find the Rangers at the Virginia Museum Of Contemporary Art 69th Annual Boardwalk Art Show for a day of art festivities.

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

Did you know that 11-3 million years ago Chippokes State Park, the James River, and most of the Tidewater area of Virginia was all under water and at the bottom of the Claremont Manor Sea? Join an interpretive ranger on an adventure through the Fossil Beds of Chippokes to see what we can find.

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

Our Junior Ranger program is a self-guided, self-paced set of activities geared towards kids of all ages.

Over the hills and through the fields we go!  Climb aboard our open-air hay wagon, outfitted with wooden benches and a cozy layer of hay for a classic fall adventure.

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

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

Come out to picnic shelter #2 and get inspired by the great outdoors.

"Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History" is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history.  Explore the roots of Virginia’s agricultural legacy in this immersive program highlighting the cash crops that shaped the Commonwealth’s economy and culture during the 19th century.

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

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 more about archery while having fun?

Enjoy a pleasant wagon ride through the park as we look for signs of fall. Relax in the splendor of the woods as migrations commence and leaves begin to change.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

You don't have to go to the mountains to enjoy the stunning fall colors that Virginia has to offer!  At Powhatan State Park, the forests abound with warm red, orange, gold, and yellow from a wonderful variety of native trees. Bask in the autumn beauty on this ranger-led hike, where you'll practice tree identification using leaf shape, color, bark, and nuts.  The walk will be about 2-3 miles at a relaxed pace on a mostly flat trail with a few moderate inclines.

Let's "shell-abrate" our favorite wildlife here at the park.

Join us for a guided Mushroom Identification Hike and discover the fascinating world of fungi right beneath your feet!

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

Have you ever seen a squirrel fly?

Team up with a Virginia Museum of Natural History expert as we hike the Oak Hickory Trail and find out more about the park's native amphibians.

Celebrate the season at our River Bend Discovery Center with crisp air, colorful leaves, and hands-on fun for all ages!

Look up and learn about tree diversity in the park!

Enjoy the stunning views of the awe-inspiring mountains as the leaves begin to change from a deep green to vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues.

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

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

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

Want to learn how to bird as a beginner, brush up on your skills as a seasoned birder, or simply explore the birds around the lake?

Trees are vital to our environment.

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

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. .

"What can be more curious than that the hand of a man...and the wing of the bat, should be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions." - Charles Darwin This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

This Indigenous People's Day, visit a Virginia State Park, and dive into the rich history and culture of the Commonwealth.  The Patawomeck Indian Tribe is a state-recognized Indigenous Tribe centered in White Oak in southern Stratford County and Passapatanzy in King George County.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?  The Tyke Hike is the perfect fit for little legs.  The hikes are less than a mile and mostly stroller friendly.  The ranger will help your little one discover neat things in nature in this one hour adventure.

Make Tuesday your Trail Day.

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

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.

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

Get your mid-week boost with a walk among the trees, meadows, with fellow nature lovers!  You don't have to read the countless 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.

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!

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

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.

"What can be more curious than that the hand of a man...and the wing of the bat, should be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions." - Charles Darwin This October, homeschoolers will delve into the world of shadows and mystery, unveiling the truth behind some of nature's spookier subjects.

With fall comes fungi!

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

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

Everyone loves a relaxing evening especially out on Hungry Mother Lake.

This is a unique opportunity to experience a different perspective on camping.

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

The Senior Ranger series is geared towards senior citizens who are interested in learning more about nature.

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

'Coddiwomple' with us through the forest and along the creeks that feed into Bear Creek Lake.

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.

Slither and splash into the world of reptiles.

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

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the fall semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

The waters around False Cape State Park provide some of the most breathtaking views in Virginia Beach.

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

Slip on your closed-toe shoes and get ready to explore the creek.

Step into the quiet, mysterious woods of Douthat State Park after dark for an unforgettable experience.

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.

Calling all homeschoolers!

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

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

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 do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

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.

Have you ever fished the Chesapeake Bay?

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

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