Fairy Stone State Park
Virginia State Parks are truly one of the treasures of the state of VA and we are blessed to have access to so many wonderfully preserved nature areas, trails, and lakes. That being said out of the 36 VA State Parks I have only visited 4. Shame on me! I know I need to explore my own backyard more! Luckily our travels took us west this summer and we decided to camp at Fairy Stone State Park. Wow! Here are some highlights from our trip!
Fairy Stone State Park Highlights
Fairy Stones – Fairy Stone State Park is named after the unique stone crystals that can be found there. The stones are actually a mineral called staurolite. Staurolite is a combination of iron, aluminum, and silicate that forms hexagonal crystals that often intersect to form several cross formations.
You can hunt for your own fairy stones while you are visiting Fairy Stone State Park. They are relatively easy to find and it is a rewarding and educational experience to spark the interest of young (and old, ahem) scientific minds.
Beach and Swimming Area – Voted best lake beech and swimming area by my family! EVER! There is a small fee ($3/person) for beech access but it is well worth it. This lake is perfect for families with children of all ages. Right on the sandy beech you will find a play ground at the waters edge. In the water where it is shallow there are water slides and floating play structures that the kids can climb on. Perfect for parents to keep an eye on the more adventurous young ones while also staying close to the kiddos that really enjoy playing in the sand.
If your children are good swimmers they can swim out to a platform in the middle of the lake. From the platform they can jump off a diving board, jump off the side, or enjoy a trip down the sliding board that ends with a plunge into the lake. In addition to swimming, you can also go fishing and kayaking in the lake.
Campground – The tent camping at Fairy Stone State Park is great. Tent sites have a flat level sandy tenting platform. If you have ever pitched a tent on slight incline than you know just how nice it is to have a flat spot to set up your tent. The fire ring was a nice size and the sites also had picnic tables. We were a short walk away from the bath house. The campground was clan and the other campers respected quiet time hours.
Note: Don’t plan on biking at this campground. We always bring bikes when we go camping but the terrain and roads at this campground are steep everywhere and there really is not a good place to ride bikes.
We loved our weekend at Fairy Stone State Park! Have you been to many VA State Parks? Which ones? Have a favorite? Do you have a favorite state park in your state? Please share!