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!

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

On the first Sunday of every month, our Self-care Sunday Series invites you to join in on various activities specially created to help us engage with the beautiful surroundings of Powhatan State Park.

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

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

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our Visitor Center.

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to begin your exploration and story time at your own pace.

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

Join the Rangers on a guided hike through our most popular trail!

Turtle shells and feathers and fur oh my! You may have seen the turtles, foxes, deer, and other animals that live at the park, but have you ever felt their fur, or shells? Join a ranger to touch animal pelts, shells, feathers and learn about predator-prey relationships and the adaptations each species uses to survive.

Join us for a guided hike through Goodwin Lake Trail as we explore the trees that make up our local ecosystem.

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.

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

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

With plenty of summer flowers and plants to feed on, butterflies are a plenty here at Mason Neck.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

What is a seed bomb?

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Have you ever thought about where the railroad at Natural Tunnel goes and what it has been used for through the years?

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

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

Is your little one interested in becoming an official Seven Bends State Park Junior Ranger?

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 1 is Wetlands! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

The brackish waters of the York River has a unique variety of fish and shellfish.  Follow the Woodstock Pond Trail to the river access point past shelter #3 to the left of the pond, Rangers will be using 2-man seine and other nets to discover what is in the water.

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

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.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Do you enjoy coffee, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables?

Are you trying to secure the tarp over your tent, or interested in how to keep your boat or canoe tied up so that it won't float away?

Every Monday evening from May to the first week of September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 1 is Wetlands! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Are all snakes venomous?

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

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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.

Animals may be shy, but they leave plenty of clues behind.

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

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

Ever wondered how you stack up against some of the largest birds in the sky?

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

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

Have you ever wanted to enjoy the wonders of fossil beach after dark?

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

Yes, you too can canoe!

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 1 is Wetlands! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the American Civil War.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a part of First Landing State Park you may have never visited: the Narrows Beach!

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

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

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

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

“What does the fox say?” Did you know that there are two different foxes found in Virginia, the red fox and the grey fox?

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

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun! .

Right now in Fairy Stone Lake, giant gelatinous blobs resembling brains can be found attached to stationary objects in the water, using their tentacles to feed.

Trees are so important to our environment. They give us air to breathe, homes for animals, wood to build our homes and help control erosion.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Whether you're fascinated or a little rattled, snakes are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, and they’re not as scary as they seem.

Meet us on South Beach to help clean up trash and search for treasures.

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

Hop on over for a hands-on adventure into the world of frogs. Join park staff as we search for some of Virginia’s native frog species and their tadpoles.

Experience an enjoyable ride on the lake while we watch the sun slip below the horizon.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Want to learn how to play the outdoorsman’s version of BINGO? Each guest will be given a Virginia State Parks Bingo Card with a picture or a word in each box. If you find five objects in a row on your card, then you get BINGO. Let's set out on the trail and see what kind of natural wonders we can find. Along the way we might also be able to observe the Staunton River and learn about the history of the Park.

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

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

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Join the Rangers on a guided hike through our most popular trail!

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat 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 beauty of nature has inspired artists for thousands of years.

This program is all about learning how to identify wild animals by the tracks that they leave behind.

Calling all budding detectives.

This field-based game is a fun and safe way to examine the remarkable abilities of bats and the importance of preserving their habitats.

The batteau was a historically significant boat used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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

Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies with a park ranger.

Trees are some of the most crucial organisms on the planet.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

We all love the great outdoors and enjoy nature. Sometimes we are in a hurry and miss out on all the little things nature has to offer. The James River and its lush landscapes have always been a source of life and inspiration. So, let's take that inspiration and have a “brush” with nature while we paint what we see and talk about what we are painting.

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

Hop on over to learn about this ancient insect eater, and discover how you can help preserve its habitat.

Join us for a refreshing blend of learning and outdoor fun that promotes environmental awareness and sparks a sense of wonder about the tiny worlds hidden in plain sight, right by the pool.