Powhatan State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Powhatan State Park |
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James River at Powhatan State Park
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 Powhatan State Park
Location in Virginia
Powhatan State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Powhatan county, Virginia, USA |
| Nearest city | Powhatan, Virginia |
| Area | 1,565 acres (6 km2) |
| Established | July 6, 2013 |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Powhatan State Park is a fun place to visit in Virginia. It's a state park right along the James River in Powhatan County. The park is super big, covering about 1,565 acres, and has 2 miles of riverfront!
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How Powhatan State Park Started
Powhatan State Park opened in 2013. But its story began earlier! In 2003, a large piece of land, about 1,565 acres, was given to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. This department helps protect natural places. The idea was to create a new state park in central Virginia.
The main goal was to give people a great place to enjoy nature. They wanted to build spots for both day trips and overnight stays. All of this was planned right on the beautiful James River.
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Things to Do at Powhatan State Park
There are many exciting activities waiting for you at Powhatan State Park!
Explore the Park Trails
The park has five trails that are open for visitors. These trails cover about 7.3 miles in total. You can use them for hiking, biking, or even horse riding! The trails go through different types of natural areas. You might see open fields, pine forests, or old hardwood trees. These diverse habitats are perfect for spotting local wildlife.
If you love horses, you're in luck! The park has special parking for horses. Horses are welcome on several of the park's trails.
Boating and Fishing Adventures
Powhatan State Park has about 2.5 miles of riverfront along the James River. You can get to the river using a special canoe slide launch. This makes it easy to put your canoe or kayak in the water.
Fishing from the river bank can be a bit tricky because of tall bluffs. But the park is working to make it easier to reach the water for fishing. If you want to fish, you'll need a fishing license. You can get these from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
After launching your boat, you can enjoy a fun 5-mile trip down the river. This journey ends at the Maidens boat launch.
Camping Under the Stars
The park offers different ways to camp. One unique option is the canoe-in campground. You can only reach these campsites by boat from the James River. This campground has six simple camping spots. They don't have electricity or water, but there are restrooms available.
Powhatan State Park also has a newer, full-service campground. It opened in November 2016. These sites have electricity and water, making camping more comfortable. Some sites are even designed for easy access. You can reserve specific spots if you like. This new campground also has a bathhouse with showers. If you have an RV or camper, there's a dump station nearby.
Picnic Fun for Everyone
The park has three large picnic shelters. Each shelter comes with picnic tables and a charcoal grill for cooking. Please note that these shelters do not have electricity or water. Two of the picnic areas also have fun playground areas that are easy to access. All picnic areas have restroom facilities for your convenience.
