Some may think that there isn’t much to see at state parks in Virginia during the winter. My recent trip to James River State Park would suggest otherwise. Granted you will not see much green during the winter, it is replaced with other sights you might not be able to see in the spring and summer. Once the leaves are back on the trees, your views can become limited.
I had the pleasure of staying in cabin 14 at James River earlier this week. There are no waterview cabins at James River, but to my surprise, I could see the water from my cabin (since there were no leaves blocking my view). Granted it wasn’t close, it added to the beautiful views that this cabin already possessed. The bare trees and the sandy grass really created some excellent picture opportunities.
It wasn’t just the park views that were breathtaking, the views on the way to the park were just as magnificent. James River is located away from it all, so there were combinations of farmland, rolling hills and the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains in the background. I even caught a glimpse of some geese swimming in the James River on my way to the park.
On Tuesday, I got up a little early so I could walk the Cabell Trail to the Tye River Overlook. These are just two of the many trails in Virginia’s parks. It wasn’t a short hike, but it was well worth the couple of miles in 20 degree weather. I managed to get a couple good shots of this must-see attraction and suggest no one miss this trail on their trip to James River.
Not as many people are in the park during the winter. This gives you a great opportunity to have some time to yourself and basically gives you free reign to take some excellent pictures without having people in the background. The parks are really two different places in the winter and the summer. I suggest visiting your favorite parks at both times of the year to give you a full appreciation of all the beauty that state parks in Virginia have to offer.
For an idea of what other Virginia State Parks are like during the winter, don’t miss these posts: