National Public Lands Day

Location of Claytor Lake State Park in Virginia

Where

Program Location: Claytor Lake State Park
Main Park Address: Claytor Lake State Park, 6620 Ben H. Bolen Dr., Dublin, VA 24084.

When

Sept. 26, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Visit our park on National Public Lands Day with special programming. This is a free parking day for all!

11 a.m. Shoreline Cleanup @ the Beach
Help our rangers by volunteering our time to clean up our park's shoreline. All supplies will be provided by the park.

4 p.m. Tree Identification Hike @ the Howe House
How do you tell trees apart? Join us for a scenic hike from the Howe House to the beach as we learn how to identify some of our common native trees.

6:30 p.m. Edible and Medicinal Plants @ the Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Have you ever picked wild blackberries or collected wild herbs for a recipe? Congratulations, you are a forager! Join our rangers as we take a short guided hike down Poplar Leaf Trail searching for wild edible plants and trees while connecting with the natural world and learning more about where exactly food comes from.

About National Public Lands Day

Virginia State Parks celebrates National Public Lands Day each September by inviting volunteers and visitors to take part in the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the country. Join in preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the state’s public lands through a variety of hands-on activities, including trail maintenance, tree plantings, invasive species removal, litter clean-ups and educational programs on the importance of conservation. Parking fees are waived at most Virginia State Parks for National Public Lands Day (excludes Grayson Highlands and the admission fee at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum).

Other details

Standard parking or admission fee applies: No.
Extra fee: No.
Registration required: No.
Children welcome: Yes.
Phone: 540-643-2500
Email Address: ClaytorLake@dcr.virginia.gov