What a tranquil place. I really needed to get out of the house, was feeling in a bit of a funk,…read morefound this place close by and decided let's get in a walk. So this place is great for walking and biking and being outdoors - however if you're disabled or handicap this probably wouldn't be ideal for you. As far as difficulty is concerned I'd put it on about a 1 or 2 out of 5, there's some mild inclines and rough terrain but nothing most people can't handle. I don't get to walk the whole refuge but I walked on the outside perimeter and it puts you right next to the water which is great. Also there's some benches along the way so if you need to just sit and be quiet there's spaces for that

Visitor center rdor stamps are open Thursday -Saturday 10am-4pm. Located near the city but tucked…read moreaway makes you feel secluded. Great walking trailer. I was not impressed with the auto tour today but I am sure it's the time of the season. The visitor center had an excellent educational area for large groups. Was able to get three stamps here today so I am a happy gal. The diverse upland and wetland habitats of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge support a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife, including over 200 species of birds, 79 species of butterflies, and 77 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies. A must visit.

If I were rating the parking situation I might take a star off, as there is a lot on one and…read moreprobably both ends of the trail, but it was packed, even on a cloudy night. There is another park with a historic house up the hill where no one was parked, perhaps because signs stated it closed after dark and this is a destination in the waning hours. However, the gate did automatically open for me to exit when I returned to my car, thankfully. The boardwalk is an impressive sight. People often say that DC is a swamp, which is not entirely true, but the wetlands in some areas offer a remarkable diversion from city life. There is a platform to get down close to the water, and the boardwalk is well maintained and wide, albeit still not wide enough for the array of colorful characters out for a stroll. My encounters included someone who seemed to be asking me how I was doing in English for the first time, someone balancing a water bottle on their head, and someone carrying a Tibetan singing bowl. It is free, and a worthwhile place to visit for those wanting to hear the sounds of the wetland without going too far from the city.

I love a good greenway! As a Carolina dweller, I tend to thrive in open spaces and this was no…read moredifferent. The trail has 3 different types of paths and leads to hikes too. The gravel and planks were so different and rustic. I was able to see the marsh and walk in the trees. Definitely a great walk. Kid friendly spaced with open airy walks. Multiple directions and connected to other trails too!

Beautiful and well kept state park with picturesque walking trails. Perfect for enjoying the…read moreoutdoors, nature, picnics, and water outdoor activities. We went to a 2024 Eagle Festival and had a very wonderful & educational time. The entrance to the park was free on the day of the festival and free transportation from the parking area to the festival location was free. We saw beautiful birds: falcon and owls and snakes. The staff and the organizations at the events were very informative, professional, and fun. They gave a lot of free gifts, educational opportunities, information about wildlife & the environment, and photography moments with the birds. I can not fully express how impressed I was about the Eagle festival in Mason Neck in this review. I strongly suggest you visit next year festival event in Mason Neck or just visit it.

Started 2026 off with a 1st Day Hike, decided to go to Mason Neck. Free entrance (1st Day),…read morefriendly Ranger at check-in and he provided info, 1st Day Sticker. Very nice Visitor Center, staffed with more friendly & helpful Rangers/Staff. Informative displays, gift shop and clean restrooms. Plenty of trails with a nice view of the water, a boardwalk, and the woods. They were hosting a Winter-Fest which was nice, and full of great information, events especially for kids.

Westmoreland state park is a true hidden gem located in Westmoreland past King George VA. It is…read moreclose to the George Washington Birthplace. Parking cost about $10 at the entrance. When I was driving in I noticed campgrounds but unsure if there are cabins. They have a nice playground and bathrooms close by. Near the visitor center there is also a Discovery Center however we did not stop by. The ranger let us know that they have more things to look at. We came to check out the Fossil Beach and found a small shark tooth. The rangers were very helpful and kept my kids very engaged while sharing all about the cool things this park has to offer. Inside the visitor center you can find snacks, water fountains, restrooms, air conditioning, a neat gift shop, turtles, and snakes. Ask about their Jr. Ranger program/booklet. It is very kid friendly even for older toddlers. Definitely make a day trip out of this park. In addition to shark teeth hunting you can also swim in the river. Many people were here with umbrellas and towels. It is about a 0.5 mile hike to get to Fossil beach.

We arrived a day early and with the exception of the totally clueless young girl staffing the main…read moreentrance booth the staff at the visitors center were kind, knowledgeable and super efficient. They quickly assigned us pull through hook up site A06. Our site and fire pit were super clean as were the bathroom facilities which even had a nice laundry room. The view from the visitor center is breathtaking and the surrounding trails well manicured. Fossils Beach was a high point with an easy hiking level. Our camp host in A1 was very friendly and cleaned every site as it was vacated. I'd highly recommend this State Park gem while visiting VA.

This is lovely reservoir park along River Road (northwest of downtown Fredericksburg, but on the…read moresouth bank of the Rappahanock River). It's only a 7 minute drive from the Wegmans in the Carl D. Silver Parkway megaplex. As you enter on the left side, continue past the mini-parking lot along a gravel road. At the end, there's a larger parking lot (upper lot) and the smaller parking area (lower lot). On a Sunday morning in late September, it was calm and peaceful on the reservoir. On weekends from 12pm-5pm, the nature center is open for kids. This is a great place for boating (they have kayak and canoe rentals) and easy hiking. Not so ideal for running because the trails are narrow and full of tree branches (hazardous if you're not watching your step). A river path is a good option for walking (but not ideal for jogging). Across River Road at the "bottom of the hill", there's a public boat ramp that's worth a quick peek for a view of the river. At the far left, walk toward the open space and path along the river. After a short walk of 200 feet, you'll get a clear view of how rocky and shallow the river is - as well as bowls in the ground which may been cannon redouts (used during the Civil War). It's amazing to see both the Union and Confederate forces built cannon redoubts on both sides to prevent people from crossing the river at this shallow and relatively calm area. Enjoy!

Pros: Beautiful, calm lake, with chances to see wildlife and public restrooms are available…read more Cons: Driving down the dirt hill toward the water can be treacherous due to long, wide, deep trenches. Also, this lake allows remote controlled boats, so if someone is using it to speed around the water, we kayakers have to steer clear. Noisy and annoying. Finally, we used our own kayaks and PDFs and the cost was $10.

What a great spot! Plenty to do. Wasn't busy at all. Great hiking trails and fishing piers. I took…read moremy 8 year old daughter fishing and we caught 13 fish. We just used nightcrawlers with bobbers, and we caught several little bluegill. Be careful though... several of the spots we fished from had branches in the water or overhead so we got snagged and snapped our lines 3-4 times.

Very friendly helpful staff…read more Reasonable boat rental rates 2 mile hike around the lake Beautiful beaver dam at far end of the park's lake

This is the 11-acre riverfront park is located at the fall line of the Rappahannock River. This…read morepark is accessible via River Road, adjacent to the Falmouth Bridge. Most visitors to this park do so for river access for fishing. This park site is historically know as the spot where John Washington, a Fredericksburg slave who escaped to freedom behind Union lines. This site is known locally now for the amounts of drownings that originate from this river access spot. Seems that no matter how many signs you put up in every language known to man there will still be people that don't use common sense and respect the river. Unfortunately we live in a time where the acts of a few will force the hand of the city to close off all access. Yea I'm sure that'll be the solution. Me ~

great lake for paddling or fishing…read more lots of smaller largemouth bass, but a developing population of larger ones. no gas motors are allowed. concrete boat ramp with a small floating dock and attached canoe/kayak launch. even when the parking area is crowded, I've never seen it full. & the lake looks empty even when the parking is full. limited shore fishing. some picnic tables & such. there are restrooms on the hill above the boat ramp. only flaws are a population of wasps at the dock that repeated complaints to the County have not resolved, and a tendency for all-about-me folks to park along the ramp (which is NOT a parking area, except for the small handicap area) or leave their vehicles there for extended periods.

Lake Mooney is technically a reservoir but it definitely has that lake feel and is perfect for…read morefishing or kayaking. Gas motor boats are not allowed; only electric motors are permitted on the lake. There's a boat ramp that is easy to get to. A few benches also line the shore. This is a great place for a picnic. I personally enjoy visiting late in the afternoon, as you can watch the sun set.