There is more to cooking than a fire and a pan.

Adults, grab your partner, pack a picnic dinner, and join us for an evening of sensory park adventures!

Join us on a night hike on one of Westmoreland's trails with only the light of lanterns to guide us.  Learn about the nocturnal animals while you quietly listen for them around us while we walk through the woods.

Join us for an evening of spooky Appalachian storytelling at Natural Tunnel State Park.

A near century long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Celebrate the spookiest season by daring to walk the park's haunted trail.

Photographing the heavens is not as hard as it might seem.

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories.

Join us for some fun and camaraderie on Saturday evening during our "Welcome Campfire".

Join us for some spooky stories around a campfire.  Sit back and get ready for your hair to stand up on the back of your neck as you hear about some gruesome real stories.

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories.

Ever wonder what kind of animals are out and about during the night? Our wetlands serve multiple purposes, but they are excellent hunting grounds for many of our nocturnal animals. We will show you how they use these skills with some hands-on activities. Wear some comfortable closed-toe shoes for this evening tour through our wetlands.

Walk among the 'ghosts' and 'goblins' of Fairy Stone State Park and hear some scary stories.

Get outside and explore!  Our park has a vast range of resources to enjoy, and sometimes the best way to enjoy them is on your own.

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

It's Bat Week, so stop by the Visitor Center to celebrate these nocturnal animals by creating an Origami Bat Bookmark.

Check out the changing colors of Caledon and breathe in the fresh fall air of the forest.

Boulder in the scenic mountains and boulder fields of Grayson Highlands State Park.

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

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Pop-Up StoryWalks are part of a national trend encouraging movement and reading.

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

Slither on down to the Visitor Center to weave a web of knowledge on the spookier side of nature.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our visitor center.

Stop by the shot tower for a Halloween treat and tour!

This ranger-led activity involves the creation of a special clay craft.  Learn more about the history, purpose, popularity, and design of dugout canoes.

Time to polish your beginner or advanced identification skills for the local fauna of Virginia.

Come as a family, with friends, or as a team of one to compete in a quest for all ages.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over and join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

Join a ranger as we take a look at basic outdoor survival skills such as fire starting, shelter building, safety, and more!

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.

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.

Join a ranger in a shell moving game and master the art of safely guiding turtles across bustling roads, explore crucial road safety skills and conservation awareness in a fun and interactive way.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Interested in learning more about archery while having fun?

Nature has so much wisdom to share.

🎃🐍 "SPOOKY SUNDAYS: CREEPY CRAWLERS & COOL CRITTERS CONSERVATION" at Widewater State Park 🕷️🦎 This Halloween season, join us every Sunday for a thrilling exploration into the world of unloved creatures!

You think "spidey senses" are cool?

What does a mushroom sit on...a toadstool!

Fall is here and the leaves are changing.

Have you ever wondered what plants and animals in the forest need to live and grow?

Of all the mammals, opossums are the most misunderstood. They are fascinating creatures with very unique characteristics.

Learn about the animal inhabitants of First Landing through their bones!

Join an interpreter to learn about the fairies that used to live at Fairy Stone State Park.

Test your courage with this terrifying night hike at First Landing State Park.

Join our Reading with a Ranger program at Widewater state park, a perfect opportunity for kids under 6 to engage with nature!

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 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.

Every Monday you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, eggs, honey, jams and jellies, bread, 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.

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 travel to the site.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

On Halloween night, we’re calling all trick-or-treaters to take a break from your candy gathering and visit the museum for some ghoulish fun and games.

There are many educational opportunities to be had at Bear Creek Lake State Park.

Explore our Dark Sky park on your own! On Tuesday nights from dusk to 11 p.m. (beginning April 4th and ending on October 31st), you’re invited to come experience the night sky at your own leisure at Skyline Trail.

Take a closer look at Bear Creek Lake.

The park offers one of the few 3D archery ranges in the Central Virginia region.

Bear Creek Lake State Park hosts many different bird species throughout the seasons, whether they choose to make their homes in the park or they are just stopping in for a visit. We invite anyone from beginners to full-fledged ornithologists and everyone in-between to discover various bird here at the park.

This year Claytor Lake State Park is celebrating 75 years of making memories. 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.

Within the trail system lies the Troop 244 5K Cross Country Trail.

Kiptopeke State Park invites visitors ages 4+ to become a Junior Ranger.  By completing the Junior Ranger Booklet kids will take the Junior Ranger Pledge to preserve and protect our parks, and earn their Junior Ranger badge!

Ever wonder what that old motel sign is doing in the park, or why there are concrete ships off the fishing pier?

Help us keep our trails beautiful.

If you are interested in placing an order for Seven Bends State Park merchandise, please email the park at sevenbends@dcr.virginia.gov to get the conversation started.

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

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

Experience geocaching at Sky Meadows State Park with three brand new caches.

Our Junior Ranger brochure allow kids the option of achieving a badge on their own through supervised self-guided activities, or by attending a few park activities, such as nature programs, when scheduled. The brochures are available at the park office during office hours.

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?

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

Biking is a wonderful activity to do here in the park.

Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect location for fishing.

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

Discover the secrets of the park through geocaching.

The park has over 12 miles of beautiful hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

Witness the amphibian life cycle and see aquatic invertebrates up-close when you join us in this partnership program with our local Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists (CPVMN).

The Staunton River Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided program that you can enjoy with family and friends.

Pick up the Staunton River State Park bird identification list in the Visitor Center for this self-guided program.

Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Pick up this Ranger Quest guide at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Throughout the year various constellations appear in the night sky.

Drop by the kiosk at the Spillway, pick up a special brochure, and get ready to get dirty with our seasonal scavenger hunts for kids.

If you're interested in learning about trees while you hike, this self-guided program is for you.

Stop by the Discovery Center and go inside to grab a booklet that will take you and your kids on adventure through time in Hungry Mother State Park.

Find the special Track Trail kiosk at the corner of Parking Lot 6 to pick up a brochure with fun activities for kids to enjoy around the park.

If you're excited to learn more about our native plants and animals, then you're in the right place.