A Few of My Favorite Parks

I am often asked which of the 44 Virginia State Parks is my favorite. My answer is usually a very wordy, run-on sentence with ellipses to include all the parks I want to add to the list. In short, I can’t pick just one. I love them all. 

But. 

I can categorize my favorites into a list of IF this, THEN this!

IF you want to sleep in a tent next to a rushing river and also bike a former railbed and kayak said river, THEN New River Trail State Park.

IF you live near Virginia’s capital, like I do, and don’t want to drive far for great trails to run or mountain bike, THEN Pocahontas State Park.

IF you want to unplug from cell service in the mountains while RV or tent camping by a lake, or year-round camping by a creek, or cabining in a renovated historic log cabin, THEN Douthat State Park. 

IF you want great mountain hiking with lake views and great lake paddling with mountain views, and a campground that stays open year-round, THEN Hungry Mother State Park. 

IF you want a fun waterpark, epic hiking that requires poles, river paddling with or without rapids, full hookups for your camper, and a restaurant, THEN Breaks Interstate Park.

IF you want to play in a beautiful, clear, rocky-bottom winding river while camping anytime of the year and also visiting the adorable town of Front Royal and nearby Seven Bends State Park, THEN Shenandoah River State Park. 

IF you want to tube or kayak 3 miles from one launch to another, cross the river on a suspension bridge, and play on a cool playground, THEN Seven Bends State Park.

IF you want a cabin with a view of the prettiest lake in Virginia and a great swimming beach, THEN Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

IF you want to ride a chairlift down to an amazing natural tunnel that a train runs through or hike through the river into said tunnel with a ranger, THEN Natural Tunnel State Park.

IF you want a family-friendly backpacking trip to a primitive campsite, stargaze a designated Dark Sky, hike on the AT, and explore a historic farmstead complete with goats, THEN Sky Meadows State Park.

IF you want to hunt for fossilized shark teeth on a secluded beach with cliffs that make you feel like you’re on Prince Edward Island, THEN Westmoreland State Park.

IF you want to hike the AT through the Scottish Highlands without flying to Scotland, plus visit the nearby Trail Town of Damascus and bike the Creeper Trail, THEN Grayson Highlands State Park.

IF you want to dig for staurolite cross-shaped crystals, hike to a waterfall, stay in a renovated historic cabin right on the lake, and visit the cute town of Floyd, THEN Fairy Stone State Park.

IF you want to be super adventurous and hike or bike 7 miles to a primitive, shaded campsite on an undeveloped, uncrowded, incredible beach just north of the Outer Banks, THEN False Cape State Park.

IF you want to experience the 1775 frontier and see buffalo, while camping at Natural Tunnel or staying in Big Stone Gap, where you can watch the outdoor drama, Trail of the Lonesome Pine, and visit the Southwest Virginia Museum, which is also a state park, THEN Wilderness Road State Park. 

But seriously, IF you want a great outdoor experience, THEN any Virginia State Park.

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