For the first time in the park's history, camp out by the Natural Bridge and spend the night on Cedar Creek Trail.

Grab your binoculars and get outside.  Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will lead these monthly hikes to discover and identify birds at Sweet Run State Park. We will explore parts of this beautiful 900-acre preserve to see what lives in it and visit its diverse habitats.

Paddle through the Catlett Islands on a Ranger led kayak tour which explores the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and history of the park.

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

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 a ranger for a hike up to the vernal pool we have here at the park.

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunting on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 hours. This program has limited spots available.

Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be considered a vulgar brawl.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

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.

From antlions to zebra swallowtails, amazing insects are everywhere!

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

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

Can you hear the park talking?  There are many tales and tails throughout Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some are tactile, most don’t use words, so how does the park share its stories?  Park Interpreters will help you discover the park through hands-on activities, artifacts, and even some stories.

Hear the tale of star-crossed lovers that the trail is named after and view the tunnel from above.

The trash and litter we leave behind can damage the environment.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Can you spot a bald eagle?

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

Owls, bats, and bugs, oh my!

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what that shell is on the beach?

Plan on hiking the Rhododendron Trail to see the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park?

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Come explore aquatic life in the James River!

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.

Not all-aquatic wildlife has fins or scales!

Feel our fuzzy forest friends’ furs as you learn about the mammals found in our forests.

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep.

Get ready to go buggy with Master Naturalist Judy McCord!

Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be considered a vulgar brawl.

In our park's nature center, you can see many different native animals of Virginia.

Step back in time and experience the power and precision of Civil War-era firepower during this ranger-led musket demonstration, held within the historic grounds of Camp Paradise.

Your annual family favorite camping experience is back!

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.

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

Kayak season is here!

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 Shelter 4 for a short talk about fairy stones before heading to the Hunt Site to pick up litter and remove any invasive plants that we find along the way. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean the Hunt Site for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Paddle the lower Potomac River on a fossil finding adventure! Millions of years ago, Virginia was covered in a shallow sea that was teeming with life, leaving behind prolific fossil beds.

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.

Is the Chesapeake Bay healthy?

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Want to learn how to go geocaching? Join one of our rangers on a guided program on how to start your geocache adventure. Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure.

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.

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

Slime is survival.

Check out our lake check-up!

Southwest Virginia is home to only two venomous snakes.

To collect is as old as humankind.

Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be considered a vulgar brawl.

Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

Come celebrate national bird day with this fun Birding Bingo.

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

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

Join our volunteer on a short stroll and tour of the historic Howe House.

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

Virginia is home to a healthy population of black bears; do you know what to do if you encounter one?

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions!

Come say hello to Ranger Shelly, our red-eared slider and local shellebrity. Join us at the beach as she enjoys some sunshine and enrichment time.

The natural world around us is like a game of Jenga, and when species are removed, the balance becomes increasingly unstable.

Join a ranger to learn about meteorological vs.

Express yourself on the trail with a stylish and unique hiking stick you designed and decorated yourself.

Come out to South Beach to learn how to use different types of nets to discover what animals are hiding offshore.

Practice your casting and reeling in the grass.

Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be considered a vulgar brawl.

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

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Join us as we build a beaver to find out if the beaver's teeth, and other body parts, are useful or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature.

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

You are cordially invited to this laid-back 'pickin' session by local musicians.

Join our friends from Whitetop Yoga to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our standup paddleboards out in the lake.

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk all about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Who-who's there?

Come listen to local band "Crimson River" live as they perform southern and country gospel music on the water's edge at the beach amphitheater. Crimson River” is made up of Howard Nicely, Doug Shires, Tony Kimberlin, Angie Kimberlin, Luke Bradley, and Tanner Seay. Evening Showcases are free of charge of standard parking fees apply.

Join us by the campfire for a relaxing evening as we welcome you back to the park.

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

Come gather around the campfire and immerse yourself in a night of cultural storytelling, where we share remarkable ancient tales passed through generations. As you listen to these captivating stories, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some delicious s'mores next to the campfire with friends and family.

A nearly 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.

Bring the whole family for foot-stomping' music with "The Friday Nite Band". The band will be accompanied by the "Old Dominion Cloggers" dance group, comprised of young and old from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Join us for an original play highlighting the moonshining activity in our local area.

Enjoy a summer 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.

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

Ever wondered what it’s like to paddle under a sky full of stars?

Each night when the sun goes down, the owls of First Landing come out to hunt!

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

Join us after dark to observe moths and other insects of the night. Entomologists Dr.

A light glows beneath the surface of Holliday Lake.

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

We let the dogs out!