VDOF manages 26 State Forest totaling 74,286 acres. Most Virginia state forests are accessible to the public. Virginia’s state forests offer abundant passive recreational activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing.
Permissible uses vary among individual forests, so visit the web page for each state forest to find out what is allowed and available.
While you won’t find amenities like cabins, campgrounds, or even restrooms at most state forests, you will find unique opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and observe wildlife and forestry practices in action. A State Forest Use Permit is required for hunting, trapping, fishing, mountain biking, and horseback riding; other appropriate licenses may be additionally required for certain activities (i.e., hunting, trapping, fishing).
Visitors asked to adopt a “leave-no-trace” ethic when visiting the forest, as there are generally no restrooms or trash cans on the forests themselves.
Visitors are expected to observe all signs and state forest regulations. VDOF recommends that all forest visitors wear blaze orange or pink during hunting seasons.
Camping
While camping, either temporary or permanent is not permitted on state forests, the state forest manager may issue special Camping Permits for organized groups or special events, such as Boy or Girl Scout Troops. Contact the state forest headquarters about group Camping Permits.
Hunting
A number of state forests allow hunting. Some state forests offer limited hunting, such as a lottery permit. It is essential that hunters visit the appropriate state forest webpage for information specific to the state forest.
Hunters must obey all signs, respect no hunting safe zones, follow all state hunting regulations, obtain a state forest use permit in addition to required hunting licenses.
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2022: Sunday hunting is allowed on:
- Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest in Appomattox and Buckingham counties
- Big Woods State Forest in Sussex County
- Browne State Forest in Essex County
- Channels State Forest in Washington and Russell counties
- Charlotte State Forest (waterfowl hunting limited to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday)
- Chilton Woods State Forest in Lancaster County (archery and black powder only)
- Cumberland State Forest in Cumberland County
- Devil’s Backbone State Forest in Shenandoah County (archery and black powder only)
- Dragon Run State Forest in King and Queen County
- First Mountain State Forest in Rockingham County (archery and black powder only)
- Lesesne State Forest in Nelson County (archery and black powder only)
- Moore’s Creek State Forest in Rockbridge County (must be accessed by hiking across George Washington and Jefferson National Forest)
- Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest in Prince Edward County
Hunting will be allowed on Matthews State Forest in Grayson County (archery only in designated areas) and Sandy Point State Forest in King William County, however these state forests will remain closed to Sunday hunting. Conway Robinson State Forest in Prince William County and Whitney State Forest in Fauquier County will remain lottery permit only hunts.
Hunting NOT Allowed
Hunting is not allowed on 9 State Forests – some with deed restrictions such as Crawfords State Forest, Niday Place State Forest, and Bourassa State Forest, and others with access limitations for the public such as South Quay State Forest, Old Flat State Forest, and Hawks State Forest, and some with such high public use that safety is a concern such as Zoar State Forest, Chesterfield State Forest, and Paul State Forest.
Before You Visit
To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest Recreation and Trails Map | P00171 | Map introduces recreation and trails, including trail segments, descriptions and distances, located on the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest in Appomattox and Buckingham counties. | Publication | View | state-forests | publication |
 | Big Woods State Forest – General Map | General map of Big Woods State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Big Woods State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Big Woods State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Big Woods State Forest Hunting Seasons Brief | This information sheet provides a brief summary about hunting season in Big Woods State Forest, including various hunting seasons, dates and times. | Document | View | state-forests | document | |
 | Browne State Forest – General Map | General map of Browne State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Browne State Forest – Hunters Map | Hunting map of Browne State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Charlotte State Forest – General Map | General map of Charlotte State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Charlotte State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Charlotte State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Chesterfield State Forest – General Map | General map of Chesterfield State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Chilton Woods State Forest – General Map | General map of Chilton Woods State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Chilton Woods State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Chilton Woods State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Crawfords State Forest – General Map | General map of Crawfords State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Cumberland State Forest Recreation and Trails Map | P00170 | Map introduces recreation and trails, including trail segments, descriptions and distances, located on the Cumberland State Forest in Cumberland County. | Publication | View | state-forests | publication |
 | Devil’s Backbone State Forest – General Map | General map of Devil’s Backbone State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
| Devil’s Backbone State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Devil’s Backbone State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Dragon Run State Forest – General Map | General map of Dragon Run State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Dragon Run State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Dragon Run State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | First Mountain State Forest – General Map | General map of First Mountain State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | First Mountain State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of First Mountain State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Hunter Protocol for Conway Robinson State Forest Lottery Hunt | Document provides the detailed protocol, requirement, important dates related to lottery permit hunting at Conway Robinson State Forest. All requirements and protocols must be met to participate in the lottery hunt. | Document | View | state-forests | document | |
 | Lesesne State Forest – General Map | General map of Lesesne State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
| Lesesne State Forest – Hunting Map | Hunting map of Lesesne State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Sandy Point State Forest – General Map | General map of Sandy Point State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Sandy Point State Forest Hunting Seasons Brief | This information sheet provides a brief summary about hunting season in Sandy Point State Forest, including various hunting seasons, dates and times. | Document | View | state-forests | document | |
 | South Quay State Forest – General Map | General map of South Quay State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map | |
 | Zoar State Forest – General Map | General map of Zoar State Forest. To ensure your safety and enjoyment, please read Before You Visit when planning your trip to a state forest. Download or print this state forest map – many state forests are remote with limited cell phone service. These maps will work with Avenza Maps™, a mobile map app that allows you to track your movements offline on your iOS and Android device without the need for cell service or internet connection. A free version of this app can be downloaded to your device through your app store. | Map | View | state-forests | map |
Contact Us
For more information or questions, e-mail us with “state forest name” in the subject line for specific state forest inquiries or use our contact form.