Events in Virginia State Parks

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

Explore how birds, bats, bees, and other pollinators aid in the life cycle of plants and flowers with a fun game inspired by green light, red light.  Parks are for everyone.

Set out on a relaxing ranger-guided tubing adventure as you float from Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing along the scenic James River! This approximately 2-mile trip generally takes around two hours, depending on river flow.

Discover what the tiny creatures living beneath the water’s surface can tell us about the health of a stream.

Have you ever wondered what owls look like, what they eat, or where they live?

Meet Natural Tunnel's wildlife ambassador, Popcorn the corn snake.

Join our rangers for a look at the skins and skulls of fauna you can find at Hayfields State Park.

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.

The rangers will have a variety of craft materials available so you can let your creativity flow like Swift Creek. This program encourages artistic expression, enhances fine motor skills and encourages teamwork.

Visit a Ranger at Massie Gap and learn about bear safety, including how to store food, what to do when you come across a bear hiking, camping in bear country, and more.

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like, or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

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

Have you ever wondered what swims in the shallows at Kiptopeke?

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

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

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

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

Dive into the history of the Occaneechi Tribe that once called Occoneechee State Park home.

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.

First Landing is home to many creatures both large and small.

Attract the local pollinator friends with these seed bombs for your garden!

Past and present, friends and families have enjoyed getting together for some friendly competition.

Do you know the rich history of Virginia's Eastern Shore?

Join the rangers for a fun tree craft!

Happy 100 years to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation!

Celebrate DCR’s 100th anniversary around the campfire with s’mores and trivia!   .

End your week with a relaxing paddle along Swift Creek Lake.

As the sun begins to set and the wildlife start to come out of their hiding places, join the interpretive rangers for a relaxing and fun evening canoe drift on the lake.

The blue crab is one of the most iconic species of the Chesapeake Bay.

Enjoy a canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!

Keep an eye out around the campgrounds before the welcome campfire for a ranger carrying a fascinating historical or natural item from the park.

Spending the weekend camping at Lake Anna State Park?

Enjoy the beautiful park setting as you are entertained by some of our very own local musicians.

Welcome to Fairy Stone State Park!

High Bridge Trail State Park invites you to witness the spectacular sight of nature's fireflies by the thousands in the treetops below the historic High Bridge.

Come join the party!

Do you enjoy roasting a marshmallow?

What do you know about our scaly friends?

Start off your weekend off right with s’mores and more!

Join your fellow campers to hear about all of the different trails and activities the park has to offer and discover the history of the park. This is a great chance to ask questions about the park, local activities in the area, and future events at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Join our rangers for a bit of fun around the campfire as we welcome you to the park.

As the sun dips low and the night draws near, we humans usually turn in for the night...but this is show-time for bats!

Join us for a movie night under the stars and bring your chairs, blankets, and snacks.

Join us at the Community Fire Ring to relax, enjoy a roasted marshmallow, and get to know your camping neighbors.

Welcome to Staunton River State Park!

As dusk draws near, lightning bugs appear!

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

"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson With the use of a Celestron telescope, view the astral bodies up close and learn about the history of the stars.

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

We all know that hiker who likes to stop every few steps to point out some cool fungi, or stop to examine a freshly fallen feather.

Get knee-deep in the Shenandoah during Fly Fishing 101!  Join us for an introductory fly-fishing program designed to teach you all the basics you need to start catching fish on a fly.

Step back in time and watch stone come to life during a flint knapping demonstration by local artisan Gene Blevins.

Watch history come to life during this traditional hand crafts live demonstration with John Alexander, featuring basket weaving, broom making, and toy making.

Join us at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park for our “Birding in the Gap” series, held on the second Saturday of each month during the months of February, April, June and November.

This place, this land, is as old as time itself.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

Tucked away in a shady grove of forest, the park's historic cemetery holds the graves of an estimated 70 people...what do we know about their lives, and what remains a mystery? While most of the graves are unmarked, three headstones show the names of loved ones longs since passed: Alpheus Hudson, Reverend Samuel Jasper, and Toney Funn.  Park rangers will be at the cemetery from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., offering guided tours every 30 minutes and sharing information that has been uncovered through ongoing research.

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

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

Hop on for a fun and informative wagon ride that brings history to life!

Embark on a trip to this remote area of the park and explore the Panhandle Multi-Use Trail, which boasts a rich history. We will work our way down the Panhandle Peninsula trail aboard the park’s wagon pulled by our trusty tractor.

Join Rangers for a morning of family fun, fishing and learning about the Potomac River.

Experience the James River like never before on this ranger-guided canoe float between Bent Creek and Canoe Landing!

National Get Outdoors Day is the perfect invitation to step outside, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the natural world.

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

Join us in supporting our parks ecosystem by helping remove unwanted weeds from our pollinator garden and more!

This program will train guests to focus on the present moment, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and enhance their awareness of the mind-body connection.

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

Save the date for the annual Claytor Lake Festival.

Join us as we celebrate 90 years of Douthat State Park and honor the Civilian Conservation Corps—the men whose hard work and dedication built the foundation of the park we enjoy today.

Join the rangers to give back a bit of your time and help maintain the beauty of York River.

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

During the 18th century, master craftsmen taught skills and labor through apprenticeships.

Journey to Martin’s Station and find yourself immersed in Virginia’s frontier history.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, join Wilderness Road State Park for a day of enjoyment and education.

Have you ever walked by the Timberneck house and wondered what it looks like from the inside and its restoration process?

Ever wondered what early inhabitant's lives were like in the Highlands?

Join a ranger aboard our Time Traveler Wagon to learn about three important historic events that took place here in our Commonwealth; the American Revolution 250 years ago, the Department of Conservation and Recreation 100 years ago and 90 years ago, Virginia opening the first six state parks.

Join park staff and volunteers for presentations relating to our special exhibit A Century of Care: A Legacy of Parks Step back in time and experience the incredible story of how the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has worked for a century to protect the Commonwealth’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Join us for History and Culture Day, explore the historical settlement atop Sugar Hill and uncover the intriguing history of the house that once stood there.

From the Native American nations to our modern military bases, the history of the York River has been intertwined with our nation.  Join us for a special hike, or spend some time browsing our Visitor Center displays commemorating highlights of the past.  .

How did Pocahontas State Park come to be? What are the "Original 6" State Parks?

Step back in time and discover the rich history of Virginia's Eastern Shore and Kiptopeke State Park.

Celebrate Virginia history and culture with a tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine at Lake Anna! Follow the journey of prospector Stampmill Sam as we explore the lives of Virginia gold miners and the lasting legacy of the Virginia Gold Rush on the Lake Anna area. Dive deeper into the ancient history of our landscape and learn how forces of nature brought gold to the surface of Earth. Then, we’ll pan for gold in the same stream where prospectors once hunted for this elusive mineral.   Please arrive at the Visitor Center 10 minutes before the start time of your tour. Guests will be collected from the Visitor Center for a 5-10 minute drive to the mine site. The tour will last 1 hour and includes 0.5 miles of hiking over hilly terrain with frequent stops.  Wear sturdy walking shoes that can get wet.

Explore the park's artifact collection, see photos from the past, and listen to tales of days gone by under the Natural Bridge itself.  Stop by the visitor center's Base Camp to see artifacts from the park's past on display for today only, and check out photographs dating back to the late 1800s showing what was once here.  At 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m., a ranger will give a talk at the Natural Bridge about its the first American owner and our first park ranger - Thomas Jefferson and freeman Patrick Henry.

Celebrate Virginia State Parks History & Culture Weekend with a journey through time at James River State Park.

PROGRAM CHANGE: "Old Time Games on the Lawn" has been changed to our interactive "Civil War Camp Life" program.

The Seven Bends State Park property has an extensive history.

Who built Staunton River State Park?

Ready to hit the water with confidence?

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Join a Ranger for History and Culture Day on a hike to the French Historical Settlement on Sugar Hill.

This archery session offers instruction for beginners and shooting time for the more experienced. It begins with a talk on archery equipment, technique, and safety.

Discover how the many trees in the park play a purpose in supporting the inhabitants - past and present - of the park.

Explore the shoreline of the Potomac by kayak! Enjoy a daytime paddle on the lower Potomac River as we look and listen for bald eagles.

Hike with a ranger along Big Poplar Trail (0.7 mile loop) and meet some of the oldest living park inhabitants.

Stroll down to the Spillway and get a glimpse of what life was like in the past.

Take a journey to Wilburn Ridge and discover the marvelous world of the Mountain Laurel and the Catawba Rhododendron. Learn about the different species within the park, why they grow where they grow, and hear the lore of these amazing plants.

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore one of the oldest dwellings on property.