Archive for the ‘State Parks’ Category
Breaks Interstate Park - Southwest Virginia
Posted by Chris | Filed under Southwest Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
You can’t go much more Southwest then Breaks Interstate Park! called the Grand Canyon of the South, Breaks Interstate Park is one of two interstate parks in America and encompasses 4,500 acres of woodland.
The Breaks Interstate Park is one of two interstate parks in America and encompasses 4,500 acres of woodland. The Breaks, home of the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, also rises to lofty heights where golden eagles make their home. The Towers and other rock formations, caves, flora and wildlife make the Breaks Park a unique tourist destination. History, legend and lore combine with the scenic beauty of the Park which was the reported destination of several trips by Daniel Boone. It is the home of Pow Wow Cave, used by the Shawnee Indians and those who love mystery and adventure can search for the buried silver treasure of John Swift. For active visitors, the park also offers hiking, bike and driving trails, picnic and recreation areas, a lake with pedal boats, a swimming pool, horseback riding and an amphitheater. A rustic lodge, cottages and a large campground are available for extended visits. The Breaks Park also has a modern conference center, restaurant, gift shop and visitor’s center. The folks in Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia welcome you to the Breaks Interstate Park! Having been many times, this is incredibly true!
The park offers so many different activities and things to see/do, including more than 10 hiking trails, that I do not want to bore you with listing them all here. So instead, check out the Breaks Interstate Park website and you can get all the details there.
The park is an amazing place to go if you are in that area and well worth it. On any summer day, expect it to be busy and for crowds to be at the pool!
Belle Isle State Park - Lancaster, VA
Posted by Chris | Filed under Eastern Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster, VA
Located in the rural Northern Neck of Virginia, Belle Isle is the first state park to be purchased with funds from the $95 million 1992 Parks and Recreational Facilities Bond Referendum. The 733-acre site is a window to the beautiful lower Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. Waterfront in the area has been developed extensively by private landowners with little public recreational access. This fact made the lower Rappahannock a priority for purchasing land for a new state park. The park has seven miles of frontage on the north shore of the Rappahannock, and it borders Deep and Mulberry creeks. It features diverse tidal and nontidal wetlands, lowland marshes, tidal coves and upland forests.
Location:
Lancaster County on the Rappahannock River. From Warsaw, take State Route 3 East to SR 354. Turn right and follow for three miles. Turn right onto SR 683 near Litwalton to the park entrance. From Kilmarnock, take Route 3 West to Lively, then left on SR 201 for three miles, then right on SR 354 for three miles and left onto 683 to the park entrance.
Belle Isle has a lot to offer to visitors including camping, fishing, boat access, and much much more. For full information on all of its services and fees, take a look at the Belle Isle State Park website.
Sky Meadows State Park - Delaplane, VA
Posted by Chris | Filed under Appalachian Trail, Northern Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA
Just an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., Sky Meadows State Park in Clarke and Fauquier counties, offers a peaceful getaway on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With rolling pastures and woodlands, the park boasts beautiful vistas of the foothills and access to the Appalachian Trail. Its rich history is shaped by the development of agriculture and the impact of the Civil War. Activities include hiking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, primitive camping, and nature and history programs.
Location: The park is less than two miles south of Paris, Va., via U.S. Route 50 to Route 17 South; or seven miles north of I-66, Exit 23 on Route 17 North. The park entrance is on State Route 710.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 45 minutes to one hour; D.C., over one hour; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/ Norfolk/ Virginia Beach, three hours; Roanoke, two and a half hours
Trails: The park has more than 12 miles of hiking trails ranging in difficulty from moderate to hard. In addition, the park offers access to the Appalachian Trail. The park is a three-day hike from Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., and two days from Shenandoah National Park. To protect our wildlife, all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Vehicles and bicycles are permitted only on paved park roads. Horses are not permitted on hiking trails.
The park also has bridle trails; bring your own horse to enjoy more than six miles of challenging, scenic riding on two loop trails.
Here is a little history of the park/area…
Settlement of the area can be attributed to nearby Ashby’s Gap, which gave settlers access to the Shenandoah Valley.
In 1731, Lord Fairfax sold a 7,883-acre tract of land just south of Ashby’s Gap to James Ball. Ball died in 1754, and his land was divided among his daughter and five grandsons. One grandson sold his land to John Edmonds in 1780. Edmonds died eight years later, and his land was divided among his five children.
Isaac Settle of nearby Paris bought land from two of those children and in 1812 built a large brick house called “Belle Grove.” In 1842, he sold Belle Grove farm to his son in-law, Lewis Edmonds, who shortly thereafter sold 148 acres to Settle’s son, Abner, who built Mount Bleak House.
Mount Bleak in 1868 became the property of George M. Slater, who had been in Mosby’s Rangers during the Civil War. Slater and his son lived there for 55 years.
The property changed owners several times in the 1900s. In 1975, Paul Mellon of Upperville, Va., donated a 1,132-acre tract to the Commonwealth for the development of a state park. Another 248 acres were acquired in 1987, thus providing a corridor to the Appalachian Trail. In 1991, Mr. Mellon donated another 248 acres, designated the Lost Mountain Bridle Trail Area.
The name Sky Meadows comes from former owner Robert Hadow, who named the property “Skye Farm” after an island in Scotland.
For more information about the park including camping information and park fees, visit the park’s website.
Kiptopeke State Park
Posted by Chris | Filed under Eastern Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
Located near Cape Charles, three miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, this 590-acre park has several short trails along the beach and through maritime forest. Sunken, concrete-filled ships form a protected area for swimming in the Chesapeake Bay, and a 1,000-foot pier offers some good fishing opportunities. Stroll along the 1.5-mile Baywoods Trail and connect with the southern beach via a series of interconnected boardwalks that thread through the dunes.
Since 1963, Kiptopeke has been the site of bird population studies. Sponsored by the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory and licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, volunteers capture, examine, weigh, band and release resident and migratory birds each year from mid-August through November. In the raptor research area, hawks, kestrels, osprey and other birds of prey are observed and banded from September through November. Kiptopeke’s hawk observatory is among the top 15 nationwide.
Hiking/bicycle trails - More than four miles of trails. Stroll through upland hardwood forest along Baywoods Trail and look for tracks of foxes, deer and many birds. In the fall, you can visit the Kiptopeke Bird Banding Station and watch the ongoing research. The southern beach also is perfect for a hike. The upland Baywoods Trail and southern beach are connected by extensive boardwalks so that visitors may explore Kiptopeke’s dune formation. When hiking on the southern beach, please observe signs designating the special habitat area that is closed to visitors. Bicycle trails are available along the park’s entrance road and the Raptor, Songbird, Chickadee and Mockingbird trails.
Guided hikes, fishing clinics, canoe programs (fee), beach bonfire programs, waterfront activities, hayride (fee); weekly birding programs in the fall. Clean the Bay Day, mid-June. Bird-banding, mid-August - late November. Eastern Shore Birding Festival, September. Hayrides, late October.
Kiptopeke State Park,
3540 Kiptopeke Drive
Cape Charles, VA 23310
Phone: (757) 331-2267
Comer’s Creek Falls Trail, Mt. Rogers NRA
Posted by Chris | Filed under Southwest Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
The main attraction of this short trail is the small Comers Creek waterfall, as well as the beautiful forested area. While you are on Homestead Road, look for signs of where the old homesteads used to be. Clues include stone foundations and “old timey” plants such as lilac, forsythia, roses and apple trees.
Length: 0.3 mile each way
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: 3,350′ to 3,450′
Blazes: Blue
Uses: Foot only
How to Get There: From I-81 (Interchange 45), take VA 16 south. At 16.5 miles (the top of Iron Mountain), take VA 741 (Homestead Road) to the right. In about half-a-mile, you will spot a small pull-off on the right side of the road for a couple of vehicles.
Beartree Lake Trail, Mt. Rogers NRA
Posted by Chris | Filed under Southwest Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
This leisurely trail winds around Beartree Lake, a popular area for fishing, swimming and other relaxing activities. This trail receives moderate to heavy use. About half of the trail is paved and suitable for wheelchairs. It gives access to two wheelchair accessible fishing docks. The lake is well-stocked with trout. All state fishing regulations and license requirements apply.
Length: 0.8 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 3,000′
Blazes: None
Uses: Foot, wheelchairs only, no bikes
How to Get There: The Beartree Recreation Area is north of U.S. 58, 8.2 miles east of Damascus. From U.S. 58, turn north (left) onto FS 837. Watch for the Anglers Parking Lot on you right. Or you may continue on, pay a small fee per car and drive to a parking lot near the beach and bath house.
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Posted by Chris | Filed under Roanoke/New River Valley, State Parks, Trail Information
This 224 acre national monument in the southern Virginia piedmont honors the life and accomplishments of Booker T. Washington (1856 - 1915), who rose from humble beginnings as a slave to be known ultimately as America’s leading black educator. The monument protects and interprets the historic James Burroughs tobacco farm, where Washington was born and spent his childhood. At age 23, he became a teacher at the Hampton Institute, from which he graduated with honors. Two years later, he was named the principal of Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.
The visitors center provides interpretive exhibits, an audiovisual program, and publications. The Plantation Trail leads visitors to a number of reconstructed farm buildings, and a picnic area is available. The monument is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Access from I-81 is by the way of I-581 through Roanoke to U.S. Route 220, then south 16 miles to Rocky Mount, and north through Burnt Chimney on State Route 122 to the monument entrance.
Address:
12130 B.T. Washington Highway
Hardy, VA 24101-9688
703-721-2094
Website:
http://www.nps.gov/bowa/
Colonial National Historical Park
Posted by Chris | Filed under Central Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
This 9,352 acre park in the Tidewater are of eastern Virginia protects and interprets two sites: part of the site of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 on Jamestown Island in the James River; and the site of the decisive American-French victory over British forces in 1781 in th Battle of Yorktown at the mouth of the York River. The two park units are connected by the 23-mile Colonial Parkway.
Jamestown
Hardships beset the budding community from the outset. A fever that was likely typhoid claimed many lives; the island’s brackish water was undrinkable; perishable food spoiled; was virtually unbreathable; prolific mosquitoes and other insects made life miserable; and in the first cold, damp winter, more than 60 settlers perished from illness and starvation. Two winters later, the death toll reached 500, leaving a mere 60; but 1610, a large group of new settlers arrived from England just in time to save Jamestown from almost certain abandonment. From the beginning, there had been almost constant conflict between the settlers and the native Indians, who were alarmed by the rapid takeover of their traditional ands, especially with the settlers’ clearing of land on which to grow tobacco. In 1622, the Powhatan Indians finally retaliated: close to 350 settlers were killed (about one-third of the population), and nearly all outlying settlements were destroyed.
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Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Posted by Chris | Filed under Northern Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
This 28 acre memorial, located in Arlington, Virginia protects and interprets the elegant antebellum home known known as Arlington House, which was completed in 1817 and owned by the Curtis and Lee families. Robert E. Lee lived in this house for 30 years, before the outbreak of the Civil War. On April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union; on April 20, Lee resigned from the U.S. Army; on April 22, he was appointed commander of the state’s military forces; and in May, Virginia and Lee’s forces joined the Confederacy. On April 1865, the war ended when Lee surrendered his army’s weapons to Union Commander, Ulysses S. Grant, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. In 1955, Arlington House was designated as a memorial to Robert E. Lee, a man who had gained respect of Americans in both the North and South.
Visitors touring Arlington House enter by the impressive marbled-columned, front portico and continue through rooms on the first and second floors. The house, which is located adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, is open daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day. Access from Washington D.C. is a short walk or drive across the Potomac River by way of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, to the Arlington Memorial Cemetery visitor center parking area, and a short walk up the hill to the mansion. From within Virginia, the area is reached by the George Washington Memorial Parkway. A shuttle service and the Metro subway’s Blue Line stop at Arlington Cemetery.
Address:
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Turkey Run Park
McClean, VA 22101-0001
703-557-0613
Website:
http://www.nps.gov/arho/
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Posted by Chris | Filed under Central Virginia, State Parks, Trail Information
The 1,775 acre national historical park, at the village of Appomattox Court House in central Virginia, protects and interprets the Civil War site where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his 35,000 man Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865. It was there also that Confederate weapons were surrendered, on April 12 - four years to the day after the way began.
The visitor center in the reconstructed county court house provides interpretive exhibits, audiovisual programs, and publications. Living history programs are presented during the summer, and a walking tour of the reconstructed buildings is offered. Access is by the way of the Appomattox exit of U.S. Route 460 (about 20 miles east of Lynchburg), and just north of State Route 24.
Address:
PO Box 218
Appomattox, VA 24522-0218
Website:
http://www.nps.gov/apco/
