Summertime brings fun things to do – especially outdoors!
There’s skipping rocks, catching fireflies, bird watching, leaf and tree bark rubbings, nature journaling, counting wildlife and their signs, listening to animal calls, playing at the playgrounds, picnic lunches, enjoying a sunrise or sunset, looking at the stars and constellations, outdoor photography, nature and history scavenger hunts, playing games, enjoying a campfire – and that is just to name a few. Here is a list of additional fun things to do at Pocahontas State Park:
Plenty of things to see on one of the many trails like this split rock on Forest Exploration Trail
Explore the Trails
Pocahontas State Park has almost 80 miles of diverse trails. Many are multi-purpose including hiking, biking, and equestrian (dogs on a leash are welcome). There are great lake views and wetlands offering great bird watching opportunities. Trails range from easy to moderate to difficult.
- Park Naturalists will lead free guided hikes every Sunday at 6 p.m. throughout the season. Sunday guided hikes meet at the Nature Center.
- Also, beat the summer heat by joining a park naturalist for a guided night hike offered on Thursday, July 5 and Thursday, July 26, and Thursday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m. Parking fees are $4/car Monday through Friday, and $5/car Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
- Click here to learn about Virginia State Parks Trail Quest.
Become a Junior Ranger
Discovering Virginia’s natural, cultural and historical resources together can create unforgettable memories for you and your family. Pocahontas State Park’s Junior Ranger activities are designed to assist youth and their families in becoming more familiar with plants and animals of Pocahontas State Park and the local Piedmont region of Virginia. There is so much to discover.
- Jr. Ranger Activity Books for kids ages 5-12 — the books are available online, and is free to participate.
- There are Jr. Ranger Programs offered every Friday during the summer season at 6 p.m. in the nature center. There is a small fee of $3 for some programs to cover materials and supplies for this special program for kids ages 5-12.
- The nature center also offers Jr. Ranger packs loan out to visitors to explore the park and complete highlighted Jr. Ranger activities based on the Junior Ranger Activity Book. The packs are free to use and are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Packs should be turned in at the nature center by 6 p.m.
- Adventurers Camp will be held during the week of Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for kids ages 8-12. The cost for the day camp is $110/child.
Earn a Jr. Ranger patch by participating in one of the Jr. Ranger Programs
Discover the Nature Center
There are live snakes, turtles and even a lizard! Inside this environmental education “gem” are mounts, skins, skulls and “signs” of wildlife just waiting to be looked at, touched and discovered. The Nature Center is open Friday 1-6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day with free programs including Reptile programs, live animal feedings, nature games, wildlife encounters, and much more! For a listing of the programs, click here.
Hannah Weatherford enjoys a wildlife encounter at the Nature Center
The park is located in Chesterfield County, about 20 miles from Richmond. It's easily accessible from Interstate 95, Route 288 and Route 360. See below for detailed directions.
Drive Time:Northern Virginia, two hours; Richmond, half an hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two hours; Roanoke, three hours.