Hungry Mother State Park

Hungry Mother State Park, situated in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, holds a special place in my heart. Not only is this park one of the original six Virginia State Parks, and the place I stayed in a yurt for the first time, and the lake I paddle-boarded on for the first time, but this is also the spot where my husband and I got engaged.

This took place back in 2018, when my kids and I camped in a yurt, my now-husband camped in a hammock on the yurt deck, my parents stayed in a nearby AirBnB, and my dad’s cousins camped across the street in their A-frame pop-up. It was a unique and magical summer weekend. A weekend of which I have many wonderful memories, but very few notes, unfortunately. 

I do remember great ranger-guided activities for the kids, a fabulous lake and beach area, a wonderful buffet-style meal at the restaurant (which no longer exists), and the hike to Molly’s Knob where my husband proposed. Tip: If you’re looking for a great proposal spot, I highly recommend one of the two benches atop Molly’s Knob, overlooking incredible mountains like Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. The experience will be breathtaking in many ways.

This park is at the top of our list to revisit sometime soon, that’s for sure.

Fast Facts (and Opinions)

Location: Hungry Mother State Park - Marion, VA

Equipment: Yurt

Date: July 2018

Weather: Sunny and hot

Kid-Friendly: Yes (ours were ages 6 and 4)

Dog-Friendly: Yes - but dogs are not allowed in the yurts (we did not have a dog then)

Site: Burson Yurt 1

• Water/Electric (on site - not inside yurt)

• Deck

• Gravel

• Not shaded 

Bathhouse:

• No notes on bathhouse

Cell Service: Unknown

Park Highlights:

• Lake

  • Seasonal guarded swimming

  • Beach

  • Bathhouse and concessions

  • Fishing

  • Boat rentals

  • Boat launch for non-gas-powered boats

• Ranger-led activities

  • We made hiking sticks - kids painted theirs

• Restaurant

  • The restaurant is now part of Lakeview Event Facility and no longer open to public dining

  • The event facility and Hemlock Haven Conference Center offer great private event rental options

• Amphitheater with live music

Area Highlights:

• None that we explored

Park Hikes:

• Molly's Knob - 3.5-mile out-and-back

  • Moderately difficult

  • Steep climb to summit

  • Iconic two benches at summit

  • Amazing views

• We hiked several other trails but I did not take notes - great trails at this park

Area Hikes:

• None that we explored

Other Campsites:

• The campground, Burson, where we stayed is open year-round

• Royal Oak and Creekside are open seasonally

• Other options: cabins (some built in the 1930s by the CCC), lodges, yurts

Things to Do Next Visit (Because There's Just Never Enough Time!):

• Take better notes!

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