The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is pleased to present the 30th Annual Festival of Trees.

During the Festival of Trees, the Friends of Natural Bridge State Park asks local organizations to decorate a holiday tree to represent themselves in the community.

The Ursids meteor shower is a minor meteor shower producing 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak.

Help ensure years of great fishing at Claytor Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

Help ensure years of great fishing at Fairy Stone Lake by recycling your old holiday tree at the park.

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

From the small eastern screech owl to the great horned owl, eight species of owls call Virginia home part or all of the year.   Get a glimpse into the mysterious world of our elusive nocturnal raptors.

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.

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

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

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

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory Trail.

A beloved holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees celebrates its 30th year.

Hike through the forest after dark in search of sights and sounds from the owls who are hunting there.

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

Take advantage of our remote location far from city lights to see brilliant night skies over the lake.

Explore the crops that shaped the economy of the South before, during, and after the Civil War.

"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.

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Take a guided walk with a ranger in the winter woods to find out who is out and about. For some species, Virginia is their southern winter retreat, while others stay here year-round.

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.

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

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Meet Rangers at Narrows Beach for a guided bird-watching experience through our tidal marshlands.

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.

Mason Neck is home to more than twenty species of waterfowl during the winter.  Meet Rangers at the Visitor Center for an introduction to our visiting waterfowl, then join us as we look out over Belmont Bay for the many ducks, geese, and coots in the park.

Have you ever wanted to identify the different birds in your yard or even start bird watching as a hobby?  If so, this program is for you.  We'll go over the basics of finding and identifying birds, the basic equipment you might need, as well as some tips to help you make the most of your birding adventures!

Winter’s snow-covered trails are full of mysteries—each footprint a clue left behind by the animals that call this place home.

Our animal ambassadors Hisstopher and Harrold want to meet you!

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

Stand in the shade of one of the most 'poplar' trees in the park as you learn about Swift Creek, native wildlife, and more about the park's history. The trail is hard packed earth with some challenging elevation changes on this easy-moderate 0.7-mile loop from the Visitor Center. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, pack water/snacks, and dress for the weather.

Ever wonder what stories a tree can tell?

Let your creativity flow at our Creation Station, where you can create your favorite animal mask, opossum puppet, turkey, butterfly, or batteau craft.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

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.

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.

This special craft program involves making fun edible ornaments that will serve winter birds as a dependable food source during the cold winter months.  Participants will make a natural bird feeder using pine cones, peanut butter, string, and birdseed.  Shortening is available for guess with peanut allergies.  While creating your bird feeder, learn about some of our common Virginia backyard winter birds.

Join a ranger for a cozy conversation about our cliffs, erosion, and how to preserve the scenery of a landscape that is constantly changing while enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa!

Take a walk among the forest's still and silent giants: trees!

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

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.

Can you start fire with a steel wool?

Dozens of birds and other animals migrate to and away from Mason Neck each year, while others hibernate to escape the cold.

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

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

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

A beloved holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees celebrates its 30th year.

Experience Natural Bridge State Park like never before, with festive lighting and roaring fires; the park is awash in the holiday spirit this December.

Grab a Bald Cypress Scavenger Hunt from the Trail Center and hit the trail!

Explore the crops that shaped the economy of the South before, during, and after the Civil War.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

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

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.

Humans aren't the only ones who build amazing structures.  Insects, birds, and mammals are among the many animals who create complex homes for themselves.  Let's take a look into the world of these master builders of the animal kingdom.

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

Join us for "Turtle Time" at Holliday Lake State Park and meet our beloved turtle, Harrold Holliday!

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

Explore the trails of Sweet Run and learn about how the season of winter impacted the inhabitants, both human and animal.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the remarkable abilities of bats and the importance of preserving their habitats.

Join us for a cozy afternoon of holiday cheer!

Peak into the microscope to view the tiny cells that make up your favorite plants and animals.

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

“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.

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.

Nature Journals are great way to practice intentional observation of your surroundings.

End the year right by bundling up to explore the wonders of winter at our fun-filled day camp for young nature lovers!

End the year right by bundling up to explore the wonders of winter at our fun-filled day camp for young nature lovers!

A new discovery awaits your family with Sky Meadows' Discovery Backpacks.

The Visitor Center at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park offers a museum filled with treasured artifacts discovered over the years where the last major fight of the American Civil War in Virginia occurred on April 6, 1865.

Tours of the Hillsman House, a National Historic Landmark, are available to the public by request.

A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Sailor's Creek Battlefield is available to visitors year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield offers six, self-guided Hiking Trails with historic markers for the public to explore year round during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

Join us on a real or virtual hike through Claytor Lake State Park as we take a closer look at some of the beautiful native trees.

Stop by the fishing area behind Howe House to check out our EnChroma color blind scenic viewer.

Earn your junior ranger patch through a variety of programs and fun family activities.  Visit the park office, gift shop, or contact station for a copy of our Junior Ranger booklet, or you can download it from the link below.

Request a ranger to give your family or group a chance to engage in activities not otherwise available in our park.

Did you know that Haven Howe was an early advocate for environmental reform in Virginia? Participate in person or virtually as we examine the fine craftsmanship of the Howe House and learn of its builder, inhabitants, and history.

Contribute to citizen science by helping us create a time lapse of this mysterious site.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

Take a hike back in time by visiting our tour points located at the same location as our collection of photos and videos from past years at Claytor Lake State Park and Claytor Lake.

Find out what it takes to be a ranger at Sky Meadows State Park.

Experience geocaching at Sky Meadows State Park with three park-themed caches.

Put on your boots and take your class outdoors with our new teacher-led Outdoor Educator Backpack.

Help us keep our trails beautiful.

Belle Isle State Park has some great activities that you can do on your own schedule.

Belle Isle State Park is looking for the next generation of ranger, are you ready to give it a try?

Discover the different habitats Sky Meadows has to offer on our Kids in Park's TRACK Trail!

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

No matter your role—teacher, homeschool instructor, club sponsor, or beyond—we invite you to plan your group’s next field trip to Twin Lakes State Park.

To arrange a ranger-led field trip for your school, homeschool group, youth organization or daycare; complete and submit a Field Trip Registration Form.

Be you a teacher, camp counselor, homeschool instructor, or troop leader, you are invited to schedule your group's next field trip or educational program with Widewater State Park!

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

Get your mid-week boost with a walk among the trees, meadows, with fellow nature lovers!

Make York River State Park your destination for field education and outdoor discoveries.  We offer hikes and netting programs that highlight fresh water and estuarine ecosystems as well as coastal woodlands to enhance Standards of Learning requirements.  Canoe and kayak trips are available from May until the end of September, weather conditions apply.  Contact our Park Interpreters at (757)566-8523 or email john.gresham@dcr.virginia.gov or zach.robertson@dcr.virginia.gov to help plan your trip.

Are you looking for a great activity for the kids that is both fun and educational?

James River State Park is teeming with hidden gems, from plants and animals to minerals and historic artifacts.

Are you curious about that songbird flitting through the bushes outside your cabin?

Geocaching combines GPS technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters like you all over the world!