B.A.R.K. in the Park

Celebrate our furry friends at Sky Meadows' B.A.R.K. in the Park event! Virginia State Parks love our four-legged visitors and encourage pets in parks as long as they follow B.A.R.K. principles: Bag your pet's waste, Always leash your pet, Respect wildlife, Know where you can go. 

On September 26, we encourage visitors to bring their four-legged canine companions to enjoy a hike on our trails while living and learning B.A.R.K. values. Rangers have designed a day of fun for pups and people alike. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the historic area will be showcasing event partners, including local humane societies, and food vendors will be slinging delicious scents and food for sale. Plus, stop by our Ranger table to learn more about responsible pets in parks etiquette. Visitors are encouraged to bring donation items such as food, toys, and more for local animal shelters.  

Please note: The 26th is also National Public Lands Day, so our standard parking fee is waived! Pet owners must clean up after their pets. Leashed dogs are required to give adequate space to working dogs, adoptable dogs, and service animals. 

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). 

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