Events in Virginia State Parks

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.

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.

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

This weekend only, step inside the Visitor Center for a vivid look into the lives of Civil War cavalrymen through their own words.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

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

Enjoy a winter birding adventure to discover duck species and habitats.  In less than a mile we will look for waterfowl from a shallow pond, tidal creek, and the river.  Bald eagles are also frequently found in the area.

Come join our Rangers on a guided hike through Long Pond Trail.

Join a ranger for a guided hike to look for winter birds.

Tundra Swans are known for their striking white plumage and long, graceful necks, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.

Join us for a guided Winter Discovery Hike along the Buck Lick Trail and experience the quiet beauty of the forest in its cold-weather stillness.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing State Park can you identify?

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.

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.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Discover the art of journaling in the wild with a ranger.

Get a head start on National Bird Day by joining park staff for a relaxed, family-friendly birding walk.  You’ll learn how to spot common forest birds, listen for songs and calls, and use simple tips and tools to identify what we see and hear along the trail.

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.

Join a Ranger for the inaugural hike of our Winter Hiking Series at Grayson Highlands State Park.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Let's walk back in time through the exhibits here at Occoneechee State Park and learn about the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.

Come get an in-depth look at the only star in our solar system, the Sun!

Westmoreland State Park is a special place known for the rare and common fossils, including the most desirable and sought after - shark teeth you can find along our shoreline.

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

Come celebrate national bird day with this fun Birding Bingo.

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

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

Join a ranger for a guided hike along one of the fingers of Fairy Stone Lake that leads to an abandoned iron mine.

Can you maintain ecosystem equilibrium?

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

Through trail, stone, and timber, the CCC carved a legacy that still shapes Douthat today.

“The Moon and stars are not above us; they are within us." --John Muir Come join our rangers on an evening hike through the Holly Marsh Trail to view the Full Moon rising above the Potomac River!

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

In honor of the Full Wolf Moon on January 3rd, we are holding a celebration 5:30-6:30 p.m. to watch it rise over the eastern treeline across Holliday Lake.

Come out for a howl at the Full Wolf Moon!

This trail begins on Iron Mine Trail and features an iron mine once used by Fayerdale residents, as well as an overlook of Fairy Stone Lake.

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

This weekend only, step inside the Visitor Center for a vivid look into the lives of Civil War cavalrymen through their own words.

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

Every January, during National Hobby Month, folks all over the United States try new hobbies and celebrate their old ones, and Pocahontas State Park is the perfect place to do both.

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.

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.

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

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Join us for a lesson in the unique adaptations that make animals well suited for surviving the colder winter months.

During the winter, deciduous trees make it difficult to tell them apart due to the lack of leaves.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

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

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

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

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.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R.

"As long as a live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing." -- John Muir Widewater State Park is pleased to offer Bird Walks from November 2025 thru March 2026!  Join an experienced birder on an exploration of our incredibly diverse park throughout the cooler months.

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

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

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.

Did you know Raccoons can remember solutions to tasks and have “hands” like ours?

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.

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Gather around the weapons display in the Visitor Center for an in depth look at the carbines carried by Union cavalry.

January is Cavalry Month at Sailor's Creek.

Event Registration is full!

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

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.