Events in Virginia State Parks

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

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

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

What track is that?

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

Journey back in time on Lee's Woods Trail to discover hundreds of years of human history.

Step onto the trail and journey through layers of history as you explore a landscape shaped by land, labor, and legacy.

Trek the path many settlers walked and discover what life was like back when the legend was formed.

Take a guided hike through a wide variety of habitats where pollinators roam: riverside forest, native meadow, upland hardwood forests, and the "edge habitat" in between!

Get ready to hit the trails and embark on an adventure like no other as we celebrate National Trails Day at Holliday Lake State Park!

Explore the hidden hamlet of Wash Woods and see the various coastal habitats of False Cape.

A lot of us get pleasure from short strolls along the lakeside or in a wooded area, be it a quick vigorous exercise or meditative meander.

Join a gentle, welcoming walk for women who want to reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.

Celebrate National Trails Day by tagging along with a ranger for a tree-tastic identification walk.

Calling all young explorers and adventurers!

Join a Park Ranger on National Trails Day for a guided hike along one of America's most iconic trails, The Appalachian Trail!

Celebrate National Trails Day at Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park.

Join us for National Trails Day!

Commemorate National Trails Day with a more secluded walk in the woods.  Named for a native, non-venomous snake, the Hognose Trail has a hiking only section that rewards guests with a spectacular view of the York and access to Fossil Beach and the Living Shoreline.

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced morning walk from Foster Falls to the Shot Tower.

Celebrate National Trails Day by becoming a Trail Hero!

Join a ranger for National Trails Day for a guided hike along the Wheaton Trail to explore the opening moments of the Battle of Sailor’s Creek.

Unpack a story hundreds of years old as told by the trees along Buck Hill trail for National Trails Day.  The forest has changed over time through human activity and natural forces; how has the forest changed, and will it ever be the same again?

Celebrate National Trails Day with a guided journey through the hidden world of James River State Park’s grasslands and the beauty of its riverfront.

Celebrate National Trails Day with a journey through time at James River State Park.

Don’t just start summer, launch into it!

Our trails are what guide us to beautiful destinations, join a ranger for a hike on National Trails Day.

Hike with a ranger on Big Poplar Trail to learn the basics of birding.

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

Join us in opening our newest trail for National Trails Day, followed by the first guided hike on the trail!

Animals and plants come in all kinds of colors, but why the variety?

Help us celebrate National Trails Day with breathtaking views!  Join a park ranger for a 1.5 mile hike along Eagle's Rest Trail at Hayfields State Park.

Join a park ranger for a 1.5 mile hike along Eagle's Rest Trail at Hayfields State Park.

Get ready to explore some of the littlest life in our park at Bugs and Beyond!

Celebrate National Trails Day at Natural Tunnel State Park by taking your walking stick to the next level.

The woods are a magical place anytime of the year.

Teens and adults are invited to slow down, step outside, and discover how nature journaling can change the way you notice the world around you.

Celebrate National Trails day with a guided tree trek at Chippokes State Park!

What can you find today?

Ready to explore the forest in its full summer glory?

Do you like to hike?

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir Join our rangers on a guided hike and learn about our native species, park history, and wetland habitat.

Join us for a geocaching adventure at Shenandoah River!

Join our rangers as we hike to the Claytor Lake Overlook for beautiful views of rolling hills and the lake.

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Who cooks for you?

National Trails Day is a great opportunity to meet new people in your area and share a fun experience on a local trail.

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

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

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

Start your day with birdsong and discovery by joining a park ranger for a bird-watching walk.

What's this trash doing here?

Celebrate Virginia’s Free Fishing Days at Gordon Pond!

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.

Join a ranger for a guided hike through Laurel Loop and explore the native and invasive trees to Hayfields State Park.

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

With warmer wetter weather comes springtime fungi!

Learn about the long, rich history of Virginia’s tobacco production on a short hike around Smith Mountain Lake State Park’s tobacco barn.

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

This trail begins on Iron Mine Trail and features an iron mine once used by Fayerdale residents, as well as an overlook of Fairy Stone Lake.

Use your detective skills to piece together the stories that animals, including humans, have left behind.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

Calling all bird lovers, do you know how to identify a bird by its song?

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Lakeshore Trail (0.81mi.).

Take a fascinating hike and discover the rich history of James River State Park, from ancient fossils to the American Civil War and beyond.

Step into the quiet, mysterious woods of Douthat State Park after dark for an unforgettable experience.

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

Meet with a ranger and go on a one-mile guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail, rated as a moderate hike.

Explore the park’s different ecosystems that provide habitats for an array of unique mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds.

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

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

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

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.

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners from decades gone by.

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

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.

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

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.  .

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

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

The Seven Bends State Park property has an extensive history.

Who built Staunton River State Park?

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

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

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.

Did you know that Westmoreland is one of the original State Parks in Virginia?

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

Explore the history of the Occoneechee Plantation on this guided, one mile hike around the Plantation Trail.

Join us on the park's first historical hike to the park's cabin ruins on Cabin Trail! Using recently uncovered historical insights, your park ranger guide will share the story of the park's land and how the historic stone and brick cabin foundation fits into its fascinating history.

Join a guided hike with Beth Sastre - a horticulturist with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Loudoun through our historic and newly planted orchard to learn about fruit-bearing trees and bushes and their important role in supporting people, wildlife, and the ecosystem.

Combine hiking and history at Hayfields State Park!

Who cooks for you?

See the stars and explore our night sky with park rangers at this International Dark Sky Park!

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.