Exploring Virginia: Occoneechee State Park

As I started my journey to visit all of Virginia’s state parks, I started to realize how many Virginians absolutely love our parks. It seems everyone has their own list of favorite parks. Occoneechee State Park is one of the parks that I kept hearing about as a great spot for family activities and a camping get away. I was excited to finally check it out.

The park is located a mile from Clarksville, quite close to the North Carolina state line. I visited on a lovely fall morning and quickly understood what the hype was all about. First, the park is quite large. I spent several hours exploring and still feel like I only saw a small portion of the park. And second, Occoneechee State Park has something for everyone: nature, history, recreation, camping, a splash park, the list goes on and on.

Our favorite things to do at Occoneechee State Park

Learning about the indigenous history

Like many of Virginia’s state parks, Occoneechee is rich in indigenous history. The park is named after the Occoneechi Indians who lived in the area for hundreds of years. They primarily lived on an island on the Roanoke River near where it meets the Dan River. The island no longer exists but is near where the park is today.

Their strategic location made them major players in the fur trade up and down the east coast. Their prominence and presence in the area lasted until the late 1676 when conflict with European settlers decimated their population. The conflict is considered to be their first armed rebellion in the New World. These losses led the remaining Occoneechi people to move south to what is now Hillsboro, NC.

Eventually the area was converted to a plantation until it burned down on Christmas Eve in 1898. Remnants of the plantation can be seen in the park today on the interpretive Plantation Trail. About a half century later, the Army Corps of Engineers built the John H. Kerr Dam which created a reservoir, commonly known as Buggs Island Lake in Virginia and Kerr Lake in North Carolina. The dam and creation of the reservoir flooded the island where the Occoneechi once prospered.

In 1968, the state started leasing the land for recreation and the state park was established that year.

Hiking

The park has 22 miles of trails for hiking. Around 7 of those trails are multi use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. I hiked the Big Oak Nature Trail and the Old Plantation trails. I loved the Big Oak hike through the woods especially because we were able to spot some wildlife. As I was hiking in the woods, a hawk swooped down and flew by just feet from me. It was incredible to not only see but ultimately feel them passing so close.

Then as we were exiting the trail to check out another, I spotted two fawns and their mother crossing the road. One was nice enough to stop for a quick picture.Next time, I hope to check out the interpretive* Tutelo Birding Trail.

I also hiked the interpretive Old Planation trail where I learned a lot more about the human and natural history of the park. One thing I really appreciate about Virginia State Parks is how they integrate environmental education throughout the parks. On this trail, there was a lot of signage and information about native, naturalized and invasive plant species.

*Interpretive trails or areas are educationally driven areas in the parks.

Camping

Although I have not camped at this park, I have only heard amazing things. With so many activities right in the park, I can see why it would be the perfect family camping spot. The park has lodges, cabins and campsites. I walked past one of the campgrounds and the sites looked well maintained and surrounded by trees. From a couple of the sites, you had pretty incredible views of the water in the distance.

Water activities

Buggs Island Lake is known as a fishing hotspot in Virginia producing record setting catfish catches of over 100 lbs. A variety of bass can be found as well as many other types of freshwater fish.

The park and lake are open for boating year round. There is a marina, boat launches as well as a boat rental business on site where visitors can rent everything from a pontoon to a paddle board. The park has events for kayaking and other water sports featured on their event calendar.

The park does not have designated swimming area but there is a splash park open seasonally.

Funding Virginia’s great outdoors

Protecting Virginia’s special places means more nature for Virginians to enjoy and more nature for plants and animals to thrive. Our state parks and other protected lands are critically important to Virginians and the environment. We need to better protect and better fund our great outdoors.

We are visiting every state park in Virginia so check back as our adventure continues!