Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Join a Ranger at Leesylvania State Park to learn about the animals and organisms that are found here.

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

Explore the rich natural history of trees guided by a Virginia Master Naturalist.

Join an interpretive ranger on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

Identifying trees in the winter can be a difficult task.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

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

If you ever wanted to see a shooting star, come join our biggest meteor shower watch of the year! Join park rangers for an exploration of our night sky at this International Dark Sky Park.

Join an interpretive ranger on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

During this one-mile trek, a ranger will guide you through this journey through time on Goodwin Lake Trail. Although rated easy, this trail may not be suitable for those with strollers or severe mobility issues.

The tranquility of the winter woods offers a perfect chance to reflect and connect with nature amidst the beauty of the season. Hike with an interpreter as we take in the stunning winter scenery throughout the park.

Join a ranger-led hike to catch glimpses of the full moon.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Do you want to look for your favorite winter animals and enjoy the beautiful scenery Hungry Mother has to offer?

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Make the most of the shortest day of the year and ring in the winter season with a series of ranger-led hikes.

Make the most of the shortest day of the year and ring in the winter season with a series of ranger-led hikes.

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

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Join Rangers on a guided bird-watching experience!

Make the most of the shortest day of the year and ring in the winter season with a series of ranger-led hikes.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Make the most of the shortest day of the year and ring in the winter season with a series of ranger-led hikes.

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Join us for "Tree Topia" as we uncover the magical realm of trees and their incredible role as habitats!

Winter Trams at False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offer the unique opportunity to observe and experience the incredible migration of waterfowl.

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

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

Look back on the year and plan for the next on this hike around Big Poplar Trail.

Join a park ranger on a hike to the waterfall and back.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Take a hike back in time by visiting our tour points located at the same location as our collection of photos and videos from past years at Claytor Lake State Park and Claytor Lake.

Discover the different habitats Sky Meadows has to offer on our Kids in Park's TRACK Trail!

Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a copy of a self-guided brochure on the "22 Trees of Virginia Tour." This one-mile hike will take you on an adventure to awe-inspiring overlooks while identifying some of the common trees you may find in your backyard.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

Request a ranger to give your family or group a chance to engage in activities not otherwise available in our park.

Forgo the fireworks and crowded festivities and accompany a ranger on this guided hike through the quiet woods with the moon and stars lighting the way.

The New Year's Eve Night Hike is full.

Go on a hiking adventure with Track Trails!

While Americans traditionally ring in the New Year at midnight on New Year's Eve, other cultures welcome it with the first sunrise of New Year's Day. Join rangers for this unique experience, witnessing the sky transition from dark to light as a new day and a new year dawns. While on top of the Piedmont Overlook, we will have ample time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

Greet the sun along Beaver Lake trail to start the new year off right.

Come join our Ranger on a sunrise hike through the Holly Marsh Trail! With sunrise at 7:30am over the Potomac River, the hike will begin at 7:00am sharp. Registration is required and you can register here.

Immerse yourself in the serene wooded landscape just after sunrise on New Year's Day, where the soft light filters through the trees and the sounds of nature come alive.

We are looking forward to starting off 2024 on the right foot with our series of First Day Hikes: December 31, 2024 New Year's Eve Night Hike (11 p.m. - 1 a.m.): Hike in the new year.

While jumping into the new year, join some guided hikes or take in the beauty of nature on your own.

Ring in the New Year with a self-guided hike at Kiptopeke. This scavenger hunt will take you all over the park and show you spots you never knew existed.  Copies of the Kiptopeke Scavenger Hunt will be available at the brochure holders at the contact station, park office and trail head.  You can also download and print it yourself.   .

Drop by the kiosk at the Spillway, pick up a special brochure, and get ready to get dirty with our seasonal scavenger hunt for kids.

Start a healthy New Year's resolution by taking up or resuming your state park hiking journey.

Start the new year with a photo scavenger hunt at Powhatan State Park.

Join us at Occoneechee State Park for a ranger-led First Day Hike.

Get your heart pumping in the New Year, on this ranger-led hike along Purchase Ridge.

Download and print the interpretive trail guide to discover the hidden meanings behind the elements of the interpretive area as you guide yourself through the park.  We strive to make our programming and special event opportunities accessible and inclusive to all.

Start off the New Year with an invigorating winter hike in one of Virginia's most unique state parks.

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

Here at Sailor's Creek Battlefield, greet the New Year at your own pace with a self-guided hike down any one of our trails.

Start off the New Year on the right, or left, foot.

Step into the new year by joining Machicomoco's rangers on a hike through history at our interpretive area.

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

Come on out to Chippokes State Park and discover what is left of a forgotten historic roadway on this ranger-led First Day Hike. Learn about historic transportation routes, the area's first inhabitants, speculation and myths of the road, and natural history.  This trail takes visitors from rolling farm fields into canopied woodlands, up and down inclines, and to a worthwhile scenic view of the beautiful salt marshes of Chippokes.  Parking is available at the Chipoax Trail Trailhead along Chippokes Farm Road.

Sweet Run’s 11 miles of hiking trails will be open for you to enjoy on your own or with us on one of our two naturalist-led hikes.

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

Join our rangers on the first day of the New Year with some fun hikes or blaze your own trail.

Ring in the New Year with a guided hike led by Leesylvania State Park Rangers.  Guided Discovery Hike 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  - Lee's Woods Trail  Follow a Ranger on this guided hike to learn about the history and wildlife that make Leesylvania State Park unique.

Join us for our kick off to 2025 with one of two great hikes.  Take a two mile journey to our living shoreline with a grand view of the York River (the hike to the hill overlooking the shoreline is meant to be ability-inclusive and will have an all-terrain wheelchair available for reservation).  Or go on a four mile adventure to the Pamunkey Trail and gaze at the river from a secluded viewing platform.  Both hikes will begin at 10:00 am from the amphitheater.  .

Since hiking is a healthy activity and a great way to connect with nature, doing it more often is a perfect New Year's resolution.

Ring in the New Year by joining us on a ranger-led hike on the River Bank Trail. Is your New Year's resolution to get in better shape, spend more time with friends and family, or to be in nature more? This is the perfect opportunity to jump start those initiatives. The hike will be about two miles with a difficulty level of easy to moderate. We will have multiple opportunities to observe the Staunton River, Dan River, and the largest lake in Virginia: John H.

Grab your hiking boots and step into the rich history and vibrant landscapes of Sky Meadows State Park, once known as the Mount Bleak Farm.

Join the Ranger on Railroad Ford Trail for a leisurely 1.5 mile hike to start the year on the right foot! The terrain is generally flat with minimal elevation, but some areas have many roots.

Start the New Year off on a good foot with a ranger-led hike through winter woods, along banks of the James River, and by frosty golden meadows.

Start 2025 by joining park rangers for our annual First Day Hike. This year we will be admiring the Blue Ridge Mountains and beautiful panoramic views from Skyline Trail, which is a 1.6-mile, easy to moderate hike.

Whether you're a seasoned birding expert or a curious newbie, this hike is a great way to explore the park’s diverse habitats and spot some feathered friends along the way.

2025 is going to be a walk in the park!

Celebrate the New Year by going back in time to the historic village of Foster Falls.

You are welcome to hike on your own or join us for one of our four guided hikes throughout the day.

Welcome 2025!!

Our Little Tyke Hike, designed for families with children ages 6 and under (but suitable for all ages), is perfect for letting your little one(s) discover the park and the natural world in their own special way and at their own pace.

Join us in the New Year in exploring the future Mayo River State Park!

What better way to kick off the new year than a guided nature hike observing local wildlife.  Join Friends of Kiptopeke State Park for a guided nature hike.

There is no better way to celebrate the new year than with a hike!

As our modern-day fades, journey through the history of southwest Virginia on your first day hike.

Start your new year with constructive and invigorating action by joining us for a First Day Hike.

Start the new year of 2025 outdoors with a Virginia Master Naturalist and Chippokes Collaboration for First Day Hikes.  The Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Southside Chapter will be hosting a guided hike and workshop experience for all to attend and enjoy.  Spend time exploring and observing with Master Naturalists in the field.

What can we see, hear, smell, and possibly touch?

Turn a new leaf this year by joining Machicomoco's rangers on a woodland hike.

Start the year off on the right foot, and what better place to do it then James River State Park.

Celebrate the new year with a retirement party!

This ranger-led hike, designed for friends, families, and well-behaved pets on leashes, will bring you on all or portions of Co-op, Hawkins, and Forest Exploration Trails.

Hike along the shoreline of Fairy Stone Lake and discover how the Civilian Conservation Corps created the lake and other park features as they helped to bring our country out of the Great Depression.