List of Virginia state forests facts for kids
The Virginia state forest system is a group of 26 special forests in Virginia. These forests cover a huge area, about 74,969 acres (which is about 117 square miles or 303 square kilometers)! The Virginia Department of Forestry takes care of them.
These forests are managed for many important reasons. They help protect wildlife, grow trees for timber (wood), and offer places for people to have fun outdoors. They also help keep our water clean and make the landscape beautiful. The best part is that these forests don't use taxpayer money. They support themselves by selling wood products from the trees they grow.
Most of Virginia's state forests are open for everyone to visit. You can do activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing in some of them. What you can do might be different at each forest. If you are 16 or older, some activities might need a "State Forest Use Permit."
Virginia's State Forests: A Closer Look
Virginia has 26 state forests. Here is a list of them as of 2023.
| Name | City, county, or counties | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest | Appomattox and Buckingham | 19,513 acres (78.97 km2) | |
| Big Woods State Forest | Sussex | 2,403 acres (9.72 km2) | |
| Bourassa State Forest | Bedford | 288 acres (1.17 km2) | |
| Browne State Forest | Essex | 128 acres (0.52 km2) | |
| Channels State Forest | Washington and Russell | 4,836 acres (19.57 km2) | |
| Charlotte State Forest | Charlotte | 5,688 acres (23.02 km2) | Hunting was not allowed during the 2021 Season. |
| Chesterfield State Forest | Chesterfield | 440 acres (1.8 km2) | |
| Chilton Woods State Forest | Lancaster | 397 acres (1.61 km2) | |
| Conway-Robinson Memorial State Forest | Prince William | 444 acres (1.80 km2) | |
| Crawfords State Forest | New Kent County | 258 acres (1.04 km2) | |
| Cumberland State Forest | Cumberland | 16,222 acres (65.65 km2) | |
| Devil's Backbone State Forest | Shenandoah | 517 acres (2.09 km2) | People are not allowed to visit this forest. |
| Dragon Run State Forest | King and Queen | 9,563 acres (38.70 km2) | |
| First Mountain State Forest | Rockingham | 573 acres (2.32 km2) | |
| Hawks State Forest | Carroll | 121 acres (0.49 km2) | |
| Lesesne State Forest | Nelson | 422 acres (1.71 km2) | |
| Matthews State Forest | Grayson | 566 acres (2.29 km2) | |
| Moore's Creek State Forest | Rockbridge | 2,353 acres (9.52 km2) | |
| Niday Place State Forest | Craig | 254 acres (1.03 km2) | |
| Old Flat State Forest | Grayson | 320 acres (1.3 km2) | |
| Paul State Forest | Rockingham | 173 acres (0.70 km2) | |
| Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest | Prince Edward | 6,461 acres (26.15 km2) | |
| Sandy Point State Forest | King William | 2,043 acres (8.27 km2) | |
| South Quay State Forest | Suffolk | 266 acres (1.08 km2) | |
| Whitney State Forest | Fauquier | 148 acres (0.60 km2) | |
| Zoar State Forest | King William | 378 acres (1.53 km2) |
More Places to Explore
- List of U.S. National Forests
- List of Virginia state parks
- List of Virginia Natural Area Preserves
- List of Virginia Wildlife Management Areas
