Recreation on Virginia's State Forests
The State Forests provide exceptional recreational opportunities. All of the forests in their beauty and splendor are available free to passive recreational activities throughout the year. There are hundreds of miles of forest trails available for non-motorized use such as hiking, cross-country skiing or observing nature. Cable-suspended footbridges offer unique experiences crossing the Willis River on the Cumberland State Forest. Lakes provide opportunities for fishing, and rivers located within the forest provide fishing and canoeing opportunities. There are shelters within the forest that offer picnicking while enjoying the beauty of nature.
Biking, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding and hunting are available on many of the state forests. A State Forest Use Permit is required for some activities, in addition to appropriate licenses. You can also find geocaches on some of the forests.
Hunting continues to be one of the major recreational uses of the forests during the late fall or early winter. A State Forest Use Permit is required, in addition to valid licenses.
State Forest | County | Acres | Trails (miles) |
Vehicle Roads (miles) |
Gated Vehicle Trails (miles) |
Ponds / Lakes | Hunting/ Fishing/ Trapping |
Picnic Shelter | Biking | Horse Riding |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appomattox-Buckingham Trail Map |
Appomattox & Buckingham |
19,808 | 20.4 | 22 | 92.5 | 2 | yes | 2 | yes | yes | |
Big Woods | Sussex | 2,220 | 0 | 3.8 | 5.9 | 0 | yes | 0 | yes | yes | |
Bourassa | Bedford | 288 | 0 | 0 | .6 | 1 | no | 0 | no | no | |
Browne | Essex | 128 | 0 | 0 | .5 | 0 | yes | 0 | yes | no | No parking. |
Channels | Washington & Russell | 4,836 | 0 | 0 | 38.8 | 0 | yes | 0 | yes | yes | Hiking trails; no parking. |
Chilton Woods | Lancaster | 397 | 0 | 0 | .5 | 0 | no | 0 | yes | no | |
Conway Robinson | Prince William | 444 | 4 | .2 | 1.4 | 0 | no | 1 | yes | yes | |
Crawfords | New Kent | 258 | 0 | 0 | .8 | 0 | no | 0 | yes | no | |
Cumberland Trail Map |
Cumberland | 16,222 | 30.5 | 24.8 | 74.8 | 4 | yes | 1 | yes | yes | |
Devils Back Bone | Shenandoah | 517 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | no | 0 | no | no | Not open to the public. |
Dragon Run | King & Queen | 9,563 | 0 | 17.8 | 21 | 2 | yes | 0 | yes | yes | No parking. |
Hawks | Carroll | 121 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | no | 0 | no | no | No parking. |
Lesesne | Nelson | 422 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | no | 0 | no | no | No parking. |
Matthews | Grayson | 566 | 1.3 | 0 | 4.5 | 2 | yes | 0 | yes | yes | Hunting – Archery Only |
Moore's Creek | Rockbridge | 2,353 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | yes | 0 | no | no | |
Niday Place | Craig | 254 | 0 | 0 | .4 | 0 | no | 0 | no | no | No parking. |
Old Flat | Grayson | 320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | no | 0 | no | no | No parking. |
Paul | Rockingham | 173 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 0 | no | 0 | yes | yes | |
Prince Edward – Gallion | Prince Edward | 6,461 | 8.4 | 11.9 | 28 | 0 | yes | 0 | yes | yes | |
Sandy Point | King William | 2,043 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | yes | 1 | yes | yes | |
Whitney | Fauquier | 148 | 5.8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | no | 0 | yes | yes | |
Zoar | King William | 378 | 1.5 | .2 | .6 | 1 | no | 0 | yes | no |
Last modified: Tuesday, 02-Aug-2016 12:48:29 EDT