Summer is finally here, which means it’s time to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors. Our Virginia adoption agents believe that it’s extremely important to make sure your kids get enough time outside, especially in a time where it’s far too easy to waste a day in front of various screens. In Virginia, there are plenty of options for fun outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. Northwest River Park and Campground is one of our favorite places to spend summer days with our families. Some reasons why we return here so often include:

Camping

There’s no better way to connect with nature than an old-fashioned camping trip. Northwest River Park and Campground has an excellent camping section, with 66 sites for family camping and six group sites for organizations. They also provide facilities for making your camping trip easier, including hot showers, laundry, RV pump out, and fresh water. Camp sites are $21 per night for non-electric and $26 per night for electric.

The campground also has cabins available for rent, if you’d rather enjoy some sheltered and climate-controlled camping. There are two cabins available to rent by the week or the weekend. They come with sinks, microwave ovens, refrigerators, rustic log furniture, queen-sized beds, full-size sleeper futon sofas, and heating and air conditioning. These cabins are $75 per night.

Fishing

Fishing is one of our favorite ways to relax in the outdoors and bond with our families. Teaching your kids to fish is always a rewarding experience, and easily becomes a lifelong hobby. At Northwest River Park, fish are stocked in the lake – including bass, blue gill, crappie, and catfish. If you hike to the pier on the Northwest River, you can find Yellow Perch and winter Stripers.

Hiking

Northwest River Park has several trails for hiking and getting up close with nature. These trails include:

  • Indian Creek Trail – This 2.5-mile trail was named for the creek bordering the western side of the park. It leads under an arched hickory tree with resurrection fern.
  • Molly Mitchell Trail – This 2-mile trail begins in Molly Mitchell Meadow, named for the land owners who lived in the place where the picnic shelter now stands. This trail includes Scenic Slough, which is a tributary of a creek and a wildlife habitat for wood ducks, otters, squirrels, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • Otter Point Trail – While hiking on this 1-mile trail, it’s common to spot otters. The trail also features a large bald cypress tree and plow marks and furrows from Great Depression-era farming.
  • Shuttle Trail – Shuttle Trail is a 1.25-mile hiking and biking trail running parallel to the Northwest River Park’s lake. It connects the park’s entrance at the Northern Terminal to the Southern Terminal on the Northwest River.
  • Deer Island Trail – This short 0.75-mile trail is great for hiking or biking and runs from the campground road through deer island, connecting with the shuttle trail.