Douthat State Park

05/14/2026

Green Pastures is now open for the season! It is perfect timing to explore the new interpretive trail! This short, self‑guided walk features seven signs sharing the park's powerful history and memories from community members who grew up visiting this special place.

Take a peaceful stroll and connect with the legacy of Green Pastures. The trail is under a half‑mile with a natural, uneven surface.

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-04-30-13-48-36-403357-tpa

05/13/2026

We're just one month away from celebrating Douthat State Park's 90th Anniversary!

🗓️ June 13
🕙 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Step back in time and spend the day living like a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose hard work helped shape the park we enjoy today.

While supplies last, guests can "enlist" by picking up a CCC passport. As you visit activity stations, information booths, and demonstrations, you'll collect stamps along the way. Fill your passport, get "discharged," and receive a small prize for completing your service!

We can't wait to celebrate nine decades of history, community, and outdoor adventure with you!

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2025-11-10-11-06-28-629405-uyh

05/12/2026

🌳 Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day with us! We're hosting a variety of ranger-led programs to help our younger visitors connect with nature and discover the joys of being outside.

🗓️ Saturday, May 16
🕛 10 a.m. Scales and Tales
🕛 11:30 a.m. Insect Detectives
🕛 1 p.m. Fish Printing
🕛 3 p.m. Frog Slog

Come enjoy a day filled with fun, learning and fresh air!

Learn more: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/kids-to-parks-day

05/08/2026

We're looking for an interpretive assistant to join our Visitor Experience team. This person will work alongside our chief ranger of visitor experience to help create engaging, memorable programs for park visitors of all ages. 💚

🔥 From campfires and nature crafts to guided hikes, canoe tours, outdoor skills and environmental education, you’ll play a key role in connecting people with our park's natural, historic and cultural resources.

Apply today!

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

05/06/2026

Ready to plan your next adventure at Douthat? 🥾 Our latest blog post breaks down 5 must‑do activities that show off some of the very best we have to offer.

🌄 Whether you love hiking, paddling or soaking in mountain views, we have something for everyone.

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/blog/must-do-activities-at-douthat-state-park

05/04/2026

Looking for a way to give back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors? Join us for our Monthly Volunteer Workday!

📅 When: Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

✨ What to Expect:
✅ Trail maintenance and improvement projects
✅ Help preserve the legacy of our historic CCC-built trails (since the 1930s!)
✅ Make a positive impact on the park and its visitors
No experience needed—all tools and supplies are provided!
Let’s work together to keep Douthat State Park beautiful and welcoming for everyone! 🌲

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-01-15-18-19-36-223381-n59

05/01/2026

Join us for Homeschool Naturalists, a monthly outdoor education series designed for homeschool students of all ages. Each session explores a different nature-based topic through hands-on activities, guided discovery, and time in the great outdoors.

🗓️ May 6
🕥 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

This session of Homeschool Naturalist is Vernal Pool Explorers. We’ll visit a real vernal pool to search for signs of amphibian life, including frog and salamander eggs, tadpoles, and larvae. Along the way, we’ll learn why vernal pools are so important, what makes them different from other wetlands, and how they support unique species during a short window each year.

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2025-08-06-16-41-46-832137-hio

04/30/2026

Join us for Clean the Bay Day on May 2, an annual event dedicated to protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Volunteer clean-up along the creek and lake
1 p.m.: Going-In-Seine: Discover macroinvertebrates and what they tell us about water quality.
3 p.m.: Watershed Exploration: See how pollution travels and learn simple ways to protect our streams and the Chesapeake Bay using an Enviroscape® model.

Learn more: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/clean-bay-day

04/19/2026

Last call to join us for our Spring Guided Hike series! 🥾

We are ending this series with a "bloom" 💮 with a Wildflower Walk!
🗓️ April 25
🕙 10 - 11 a.m.

Blink and you might miss them, spring's wildflowers don't stick around for long! Join us for a Wildflower Walk as the forest and meadows awaken from winter and burst into color. We'll explore the trails in search of delicate spring ephemerals like trillium, bloodroot and trout lilies while learning about the fascinating life cycles of these fleeting blooms, their role in the ecosystem and the pollinators that depend on them. 🌻

🔗 https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-02-17-10-49-00-385364-n6j

04/16/2026

🚗 If you’re visiting Douthat State Park, you’re only about an hour away from a brand‑new adventure!

Hayfields State Park and the Friends of Hayfields are hosting their first-ever Star Party, and you’re invited to be part of it. 🌠

📅 Saturday, April 18
🕛 8-10 p.m.
📍 524 Hayfields Lane, McDowell, VA 24458
ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-03-29-09-38-44-573780-3vb

🔭 Roam around to look through different types of telescopes. Chat with the friends and rangers about the stars, constellations and planets visible in the night sky. You may also bring your own telescope or binoculars to get assistance from experienced astronomers.

📞 If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] or call 540-396-4489.