Events in Virginia State Parks

Calling all homeschoolers!

There's nothing like fall in the Shenandoah Valley.  Join a ranger for a relaxing hike on Red Tail Ridge as we identify the trees by their fall colors!

Join us for our nature photography series!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

Calling all homeschoolers!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

Decorate a pumpkin for Halloween!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Fishers, Flying Squirrels, Owls - oh my!  Are nocturnal animals as spooky as they seem?

Amateur Radio operators will set up a Parks on the Air demonstration station in Shenandoah River State Park!  Parks on the Air, simply known as POTA, is an amateur radio activity in which Ham Radio operators travel to various park entities and public lands in different states or countries to set up their radio equipment to contact other Hams. Locations can range from sprawling National Parks or National Forests to smaller state parks or wildlife areas. The activity comprises two groups: hunters and activators.

Fall isn't over yet!  Come create your own unique light-catching fall leaf to hang and dazzle in your window!

Fall isn't over yet!  Come create your own unique light-catching fall leaf to hang and dazzle in your window!

Fall isn't over yet!  Come create your own unique light-catching fall leaf to hang and dazzle in your window!

Fall isn't over yet!  Come create your own unique light-catching fall leaf to hang and dazzle in your window!

Join us at the library for a wild time!  We'll dive into the world of wildlife.

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail, River Trail, and the picnic area.

Did you know that you can make a lasting impact on the watershed that you live in?  Join our intern as she discusses the importance of a clean watershed and how one can become easily polluted by everyday occurrences.

November is National Native American Heritage Month!

November is National Native American Heritage Month!

Join our ranger on a nice stroll along our River Trail for National Take a Hike Day!  We will hike about one mile on easy, mostly flat terrain.

National Take a Hike Day is upon us!

Nothing could make the Christmas season more merry and bright than being in the great outdoors!

Gather along the Shenandoah River to watch the Geminids Meteor Shower!  Visitors can expect to see as many as 100 meteors per hour!

Create your own unique light-catching snowflake or snowman to hang and dazzle in your window all winter long!

Create your own unique light-catching snowflake or snowman to hang and dazzle in your window all winter long!

Make a first-day keepsake!  Join us at the River Bend Discovery Center to make your first craft of the new year.

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

Ring in the new year with a stroll along the river!  Join us for a nice stroll along our River Trail.

January is National Hobby Month!

January is National Hobby Month!

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

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail, River Trail, and the picnic area.

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail, River Trail, and the picnic area.

How many influential people of Appalachia can you name?

How many influential people of Appalachia can you name?

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

How many snakes of Virginia can you name?

Discover a unique wolf species that once called these lands home.

What’s better than Valentine’s Day?

Love is in the air!

February 15th is National Susan B.

February 15th is National Susan B.

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

Make your outdoor experience more memorable with a private program for your group or family at Shenandoah River State Park!

Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools. These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

Celebrate St.

What better way to celebrate St.

Celebrate St.

What better way to celebrate St.

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

 Deep in the forest lies the perfect amphibian retreat - vernal pools.  These special pools fill up each winter to provide a safe habitat for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more!

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

Before leaves return to trees, the sun reaches the forest floor to give early spring flowers energy to pop up!

Celebrate the beauty of spring at Shenandoah River State Park!  Each spring, Virginia Bluebells blossom along our winding riverbank, creating a beautiful carpet of blue and purple hues.

It's the most beautiful time of year!  Join us for a ranger-led hike down Bluebell Trail!

Join us for a geocaching adventure at Shenandoah River!

It's the most beautiful time of year!  Join us for a ranger-led hike down Bluebell Trail!

No, you can't pick the Bluebells, but you can make one to take home with you!  The Bluebells that grow along our riverbank are Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), but several species of Bluebells bloom across the world!

Join us for our spring Nature Photography Series!  April 19 - Wildflowers and Wildlife  May 17 - Bird ID and Photography  June 21 - Wildlife Photography and Scavenger Hunt  On April 19, we'll meet outside the visitor center to review tips for photographing spring flowers and wildlife.  After meeting at the visitor center, we will explore selected areas of the park.  Be prepared to encounter muddy areas!  All types of cameras, from smartphones to professional cameras, and levels of photographers are welcomed.

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

This is one small step for you, and one giant step for planet Earth!

Native biodiversity is crucial for a healthy environment.  During this program, a ranger will discuss the importance of native plants.

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!

Did you know Eastern Box Turtles can live to be 100 years old?

Did you know Eastern Box Turtles can live to be 100 years old?

Flowers are a traditional Mother’s Day gift, but they only last so long! Why not join us in making some flowers that are a bit more permanent?

Did you know mommy opossums carry their young on their backs for three to five months?

Flowers are a traditional Mother’s Day gift, but they only last so long! Why not join us in making some flowers that are a bit more permanent?

Did you know mommy opossums carry their young on their backs for three to five months?

Master plans are updated every 10 years and help guide park development and conservation.

Make the outdoors your classroom!  Schedule a field trip at Shenandoah River State Park!

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!

Join us for our nature photography series!  April 19 - Wildflowers and Wildlife  May 17 - Bird ID and Photography  June 21 - Wildlife Photography and Scavenger Hunt  On May 17, we will meet at the visitor center to review bird identification and tips for photographing birds.  After the meeting at the visitor center, we will explore habitats that birds frequent to observe them and photograph these flying wonders.

On February 19, 2019, one of our beloved rangers, Anna, left us too soon.

What better way to spend time with your friends than fishing?  On National Kids to Parks Day, join a ranger and bring a friend to fish along the Shenandoah River.

This installment of our Nights in Nature Series will be a sunset hike!

Celebrate Memorial Day with us by making your very own Bald Eagle for you to keep!

Nature has a wide variety of different colors and patterns for us to look at.

As you soak up the sun on Memorial Day, it is important to stay cool.

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

Join us for an evening exploring the diversity of Virginia's native nocturnal wildlife.  Erin Shibley, Program Coordinator with the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, will present an interactive program about the behavior and ecological benefits of bats and other nocturnal animals.

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Our wildlife ambassadors are taking a field trip to the library!  Join us at Samuels Public Library for our interactive program Toads, Turtles, and Snakes.

June 7th is National Clean the Bay Day!

Do you want to get outdoors more, but are new to hiking?

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Join us Saturday, June 14th, for a guided kayaking program with Latino Outdoors DMV and Shenandoah River State Park.

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!