Virginia State Parks

Congratulations to Tim Morris who completed Trail Quest in just 98 days! 😮 Tim started on June 5, 2024 at Pocahontas and finished at Wilderness Road on Sept. 11, 2024. He accepted his Master Hiker certificate at Powhatan for completing the quest from Chief Ranger Visitor Experience Hilda Lestrange. Sign up for Trail Quest or learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gQN99sw

This past week, John Fury, park manager and law enforcement ranger at James River State Park, deployed to Western North Carolina as part of a Search and Rescue Strike Force. The team, organized by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, included 14 highly trained search and rescue personnel and 4 specialized K9s. Together, they tackled some of the hardest-hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Helene, including Fairview, Bat Cave, Buncombe County and Henderson County. Working alongside an extraordinary group of partners—Virginia State Police, Black Diamond Search and Rescue, K9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs, GARD K9 Search and Rescue, Blue and Gray Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Tracking Institute and Botetourt Fire and Rescue Special Operations—the team provided critical aid to communities devastated by the storm. This deployment showcases the versatility and dedication of DCR's Virginia State Parks staff, who, whether maintaining our beautiful parks or responding to disasters, are always ready to lend a hand in times of need.

Congrats new Master Hikers Susan & John Lipps for completing Trail Quest this summer. 👏 They began in the summer of 2021 at Smith Mountain Lake & finished this summer at Occoneechee, receiving their certificates close to home at Pocahontas. 🥾 Trail Quest info: https://lnkd.in/gQN99sw

Sweet Run State Park has been part of the Virginia State Parks system for one year! 💚 This could be your office, in northern Virginia along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now hiring for a Maintenance Ranger Supervisor: https://lnkd.in/e9XgSr3G Photos from Oct. 5, 2023.

Your input could help Virginia State Parks! [En español ⬇️] Share your opinions and experiences at Lake Anna State Park or Leesylvania State Park. Please take a few minutes to complete our visitor survey about one or both of these parks, if you've visited in the last 10 years. It will help park staff better understand and manage visitors and keep the park safe and enjoyable for your next visit. ❓ Survey [encuesta]: https://lnkd.in/enA9tUUF ¡Ayude a los parques estatales de Virginia! Comparta sus opiniones y experiencias en el Lake Anna State Park o el Leesylvania State Park (en la foto). Tómese unos minutos para completar nuestra encuesta para visitantes sobre uno o ambos parques, si ha visitado alguno de estos parques en los últimos 10 años. Esto ayudará al personal del parque a comprender y gestionar mejor a los visitantes y a mantener el parque seguro y agradable para su próxima visita.

Know before you go! ⚠️ Due to Hurricane Helene, numerous Virginia State Parks are closed or partially closed as of today. Please find the most up to date information here: https://lnkd.in/eYmBgWce For your safety as well as the safety of park staff and emergency response workers, please do not attempt to access areas or parks that have been closed.

📣 All-terrain wheelchairs are now available at 6 Virginia State Parks, with one in each region. 🆕 Yesterday we debuted this new amenity to expand outdoor recreation accessibility to guests who are wheelchair users or have limited mobility. Mason Neck State Park hosted the celebration of this new pilot program, since the efforts of the Friends of Mason Neck State Park and local officials such as Delegate Kathy Tran made this possible. And thank you to everyone who has ever purchased a Virginia State Parks license plate, as sales contributed to the purchase of these chairs. 🚗 In addition to Mason Neck, these all-terrain, electric powered wheelchairs are now available for use on designated trails within the following state parks: 🦼 Claytor Lake State Park 🦼 Powhatan State Park 🦼 Shenandoah River State Park 🦼 Wilderness Road State Park 🦼 York River State Park Kris Gulden, Accessibility Advisor for Friends of Mason Neck and frequent guest, pictured demonstrating use of the chair, said "This is a total game changer. It makes parts of this park that were perfectly inaccessible, totally accessible. I mean it just opens up things I never even knew existed here." 🗺️ To help us best serve our guests, we kindly ask that you make a reservation request for all-terrain wheelchairs at least 48 hours in advance. Find the reservation form and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eQdeMCJ5

Happy Trail Quest Tuesday to Meredith Martz and her son Austin! 🥾 They received their Master Hiker certificates at York River State Park from Ranger John Gresham last month. 👏 Since they started Trail Quest in April of 2018, they recounted many fond memories over their journey, such as hiking Grayson Highlands and seeing bats at Hungry Mother (they helped rescue one from a cabin, read about that here: https://lnkd.in/ewAht7ay). ⛰️ Of all the parks they've visited, they listed York River and Grayson Highlands as two of their favorites. 🌊 Your turn to take on Trail Quest: https://lnkd.in/gQN99sw

If you care, be there on National Public Lands Day (Sept. 28) at one of your 43 Virginia State Parks – that total 80k acres. On this nationwide day of service, support and appreciate your public lands. Here are 5️⃣ ways to get involved: https://lnkd.in/ekCPQqXt

As we approach National Public Lands Day (9/28), a day to volunteer for public lands, we thank and acknowledge volunteers who regularly give back to public lands. For example, Virginia Master Naturalists whose service is invaluable to Virginia Natural Area Preserves and Virginia State Parks. 👏 Learn about their service in this article: https://lnkd.in/esrmCr_z If you're inspired to volunteer, join us on #NationalPublicLandsDay! How to get involved: https://lnkd.in/ekCPQqXt