Leesylvania State Park

Photo Credit:Virginia Dept. Conservation & Recreation

Located in Prince William County in Northern Virginia, Leesylvania State Park is easy to get to for city and country dwellers alike.

From Washington, D.C., the park is a mere forty minute drive, making it a restful escape for residents in and surrounding the nation’s capital.

The park, located along the Potomac river, is rich with history. Captain John Smith is said to have visited this area in 1608, and the land was home to Native Americans for hundreds of years.

Leesylvania State Park is also the home of the Lee and Fairfax families.

Amenities

Fishing is ample at this state park. The Potomac river is supplied with a large amount of largemouth bass, catfish, and perch.

The park has a fishing pier stretching over 300 feet. A valid fishing license from Virginia or Maryland is required to fish.

Leesylvania State Park also has a boating ramp. Canoes, kayaks, and motorboats are all permitted along the river.

The park offers year round boat storage, across from the marina.

The park is equipped with four large picnic shelters. Each of the shelters are available for rent, and can be reserved by calling 1-800-933-PARK.

Shelters can be rented from 8:00 a.m until dark.

With permission from the park, weddings, worship services, and conferences can be held at the picnic shelters.

Amplification equipment is not permitted in the park shelters.

The park has a half mile of shoreline along the river, but swimming is not permitted due to boat traffic.

Walking and wading along the river are allowed.

For avid hikers, the park offers five trails. These trails educate hikers about both nature and the park’s history.

Many of the trails have overlooks, which offer scenic views of the Potomac. One overlook is located on the remains of a Civil War Confederate gun battery at Freestone Point.

Several of the trails are wheelchair accessible, including Bushey Point Trail.

From April to October, a park store is open and in operation. The store’s snack bar offers pizza, ice cream, sandwiches, and cold drinks. Souvenirs, t-shirts, groceries, and marine gasoline and oil are also available in the shop.

The park is also equipped with a visitor’s center. The center features natural and historical exhibits.

Guided canoe, kayak, and hiking tours are available for those wanting to learn more about the park’s rich history.

Overnight Accommodations

The park offers a tents-only primitive campground for overnight guests.

This campground is available only to groups. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-933-PARK.

The campground offers a firepit, picnic tables, and nearby restrooms.

Westmoreland State Park

Photo Credit: Virginia Dept. Conservation & Recreation

Westmoreland State Park, located near the Potomac River in the northern region of Virginia, is close enough to Richmond and Washington D.C. for a day trip, but beautiful and secluded enough to feel worlds away.

Visitors to the park will find plenty of opportunity to hike, fish, boat, camp, and take in the spectacular views of the Potomac River from the Horsehead Cliffs.

Westmoreland State Park is a place with something for everyone.

Location

Westmoreland State Park is six miles northwest of Montross, Virginia and just off of Route 3. It faces the Potomac River.

The address of the park is 145 Cliff Road, Montross, VA 22520.

The park is two hours from Washington, D.C., an hour and a half from Richmond, and five hours from Roanoke.

Activities

Fishing and boating in the Potomac River is permitted yearround. A valid fishing license is required.

Fishing supplies, such as ice, bait, and tackle, can be purchased in the park’s boathouse.

Powerboats are permitted in the Potomac River.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, kayaks and paddleboats can be rented in the park.

For kayakers, the park offers Kayak Interpretive Trips on weekends throughout the summer. These trips provide basic instruction, safety tips, and a guided tour along the shoreline of the river.

Participants can make a reservation for one of these trips by calling the Reservation Center at 800-933-7275.

In addition to fishing and boating, the park has seven hiking trails and one bicycle trail. These trails cover over six miles of land.

A picnic area, overlooking the Potomac, is equipped with tables, shelters, grills, and restrooms. These facilities can be reserved by calling 1-800-PARK.

Overnight Facilities

Westmoreland State Park offers a variety of accommodations for overnight guests.

Cabins can be rented for a week at a time. All cabins have a kitchen area, a living area, bedrooms, heat pumps, grills, and a picnic table.

Some cabins have a screened in porch.

The park has 133 campsites which come both with or without electric and water hookups. The park’s group campsite can accommodate up to 40 people.

All campsites have enough space for two vehicles, a fire ring, and a nearby bathhouse. Firewood is sold at the park, and guests are asked not to bring their own.

The Potomac River Retreat

This resort like facility faces the Potomac River, and accommodates up to 16 people.

This retreat house is perfect for reunions, family gatherings, and meetings. The house has a large common area, a large deck with a view of the river, patio tables, chaise lounges, and a charcoal grill.

Swimming is free for all overnight guests.

Westmoreland State Park has everything needed to be an escape into nature for capital city dwellers and country folk alike.

Caledon State Park

Caledon State Park, located in the northeast region of Virginia, has a dynamic and interesting history.

The property started as a plantation in 1659.

It also has a rich natural history – so rich, in fact, that Caledon State Park has been labeled as a National Natural Landmark.

Two key features qualify the park for that list.

The first is the impressive old-growth forests.

The other is what makes this park a favorite for birdwatchers from all over the east coast: the large population of American bald eagles that summer here.

For those who have always wanted the chance to glimpse one of these majestic birds then a visit to Caledon State Park might be their best bet.

In addition to the wonderful bird watching opportunities, visitors will also find lots of other activities to enjoy.

This 2579-acre park features 10 hiking trails of various lengths. One of the trails, the 2-mile long Boyd’s Hole Trail, ends at the Potomac River.

Boating is not allowed, but there are spots where visitors can fish and enjoy the lovely river views.

Caledon State Park offers several special programs for visitors of all ages. Whether visitors want to learn about the environment, the history of the park or just enjoy a fun night they will find a suitable program.

Examples of programs include eagle tours, guided night hikes, bonfires, story times, talks on astronomy, arts and crafts and, of course, bird watching.

During a visit to the park be sure to stop by the visitor’s center and enjoy the bald eagle exhibit and other educational exhibits. Visitors can also learn about the park’s history at the visitor’s center.

This park does not have overnight facilities, but group camping is allowed with advance notice.

Call the number listed below for more information on organizing an overnight group camping excursions in Caledon State Park.

Caledon State Park is a perfect place to enjoy natural beauty, spot some wildlife and enjoy the educational opportunities offered at this wonderful Virginia state park.

Caledon State Park Basics

Overnight: There are no overnight facilities in this park.
Handicap accessible: Some of the trails are wheelchair accessible. Some of the special programs are wheelchair accessible as well. If you have questions about which programs are wheelchair accessible call the number listed below.
Public bathrooms: Yes
Caledon State Park is located in King George County. For directions and more information call 540-663-3861.
Activities include hiking, bird watching, fishing and participating in the park’s special programs.

Camping in Northern Virginia

Though home to the nation’s capital, Northern Virginia’s national and state parks make this region of the state more than qualified for camping and experiencing nature.

Camping in Northern Virginia offers an opportunity to enjoy beautiful trails and scenic park, all conveniently close to the city of Washington, D.C.

National Parks

The most popular national park in Virginia is Shenandoah National Park, located in the central portion of the state and in the Shenandoah Valley. This park, also part of the Appalachian Trail, attracts thousands of visitors each year.

There are several national sites of interest in Northern Virginia that could be combined with a camping trip.

The Great Falls Park is a national park service site located in the eastern portion of the state. Though only 15 miles from Washington, D.C., the park feels a world away from the bustle of the city.

Sprawling over 800 acres, the Great Falls Park climaxes with the waterfalls located in McClean, Virginia. Three overlooks are provided to visitors for viewing the falls.

Several nearby campground accommodations are nearby, including the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Greenbelt National Park, and Prince Forest National Park.

The Prince Forest National Park, boasting thirty seven miles of trails offers a peaceful sanctuary for biking and hiking to city dwellers.

Equipped with one backcountry campground, three frontcountry campgrounds, and five cabin campgrounds, The Prince Forest National Park is suited to every camper’s personal preference.

The front country campgrounds offer grills, picnic tables, bathrooms, and drive in sites. Prince William Campground is equipped for RVs.

The Chopawamsic Backcountry Area is an 8 site, hike-in, hike-out campground for campers looking for a more secluded camping experience in the heart of nature. No campfires are allowed on these sites.

State Parks

In the Northern region of Virginia, there are several state parks with accommodations for camping. Among these are Sky Meadows State Park and the Shenandoah River Raymond R. “Andy” Guest, Jr. State Park.

The Sky Meadows State Park is not equipped with drive-in campsites, but it does offer year round primitive hike-in tent camping. The campsites are located one mile from the parking area.

Reservations are required for camping at this park. Fire rings are provided.

The Shenandoah River Raymond R. “Andy” Guest, Jr. State Park also offers year round camping.

Campers can choose from the park’s EW Campground Sites, equipped with electricity and water hookups, or the more primitive River Right Campground, a canoe-in or hike-in campground.

Groups may wish to camp in the Cottonwood Primitive Group Camp, located only 100 yards from the parking lot and accommodating up to thirty campers.