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Virginia State Parks

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Powhatan State Park
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Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fall 2014. zar
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sue Leon Travel WriterJune 2 eNewsdhb
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Take 2015 by zarUsed on social media.
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks staff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Powhatan Canoe and Kayak Launch. ZR
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Powhatan Primitive Campground
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks staff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Powhatan SP sign
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks staff / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Powhatan James River Float. ZR
Powhatan State Park © Virginia State Parks / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Powhatan Shelter 2
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POWHATAN STATE PARK
POWHATAN STATE PARK
4616 Powhatan State Park Road
Powhatan, Virginia   23139
(lat:37.664 lon:-77.9232) map location

Phone: 804-598-7148
Powhatan State Park is located in the northwest corner of Powhatan County on the historic James River. The park has three car-top boat slides accessing the river as well as diverse wildlife habitat, from open fields to upland hardwood forests. Other amenities include a full-service campground, a primitive canoe-in/hike-in campground, a group campground, multi-use trails, wildlife observation areas, picnic shelters and a playground.
History of the Area
Powhatan State Park was the vision of many in the Powhatan County community and several members of the general assembly. In 2003, 1,565 acres were transferred from the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the development of a park. It is meant to fill a need in central Virginia for a state park with access to the James River and with day-use and overnight facilities.
Cabins
Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, they're a cross between a tent and a cabin. The park has three yurts in the main campground. Each yurt has a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table and a fire-ring with cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed.
Camping
River Bend Campground has 29 campsites with electric 20/30/50 amp and water hookups for various equipment tents, popups and RVs up to 60 feet long. The campground offers no river views. All sites are available for site-specific reservations. The campground is open from the first Friday in March to the first Monday in December. The campground has a bathhouse with restrooms with hot showers. Sites have fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders.

Primitive - A canoe-in or hike-in campground, accessible by the James River, has nine primitive sites no electricity or water and is open year-round. Those sites can be reserved by calling 800-933-7275. Some are held for walk-in or canoe-in only park staff cannot guarantee the availability of those sites prior to your arrival. Up to six guests and two camping units are allowed per site. Sites have one 12 x 12 pad with a picnic table and grill and one 16 X 16 pad with a lantern hanger. The campground has a composting toilet but no bathhouse. There's also a parking lot .2 miles away campers may hike with gear to the campground.

Group Camp - The park has a four-campsite campground for tents only. It's for clubs, scout troops and large family events and accommodates up to 24 campers total. There's a restroom without running water, but there are two water spigots in the area. The River Bend Campground bathhouse is about .5 miles away. Call the park at 804-598-7148 before making a reservation to ensure that this campground is suitable.


Location
Powhatan State Park is located near Henrico, Midlothian and Powhatan

Horse Area
The park has about 9 miles of bridle trails. Horse trailer parking is available 0.5 miles past the playground area in the equestrian trailhead parking lot. Come prepared to clean up after your horses in the parking area and pack it out with you. Also, state law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report for each horse.
Picnicking
The park has three large picnic shelters. Each has picnic tables and a large charcoal grill. None has electricity or water. Parking fees are not included with the shelter rental fees and must be paid upon entering the park. The shelters have no electricity, and generators are not permitted. As throughout the park, alcohol is allowed only in private areas e.g., in a cabin or camping unit and areas covered by permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Shelter 1 is surrounded by grass and woods in an upland area of the park, more than a mile from the river. It is about 100 feet from a restroom and an accessible playground, and 40 feet from a parking lot. The land around the shelter is flat, and a gravel path leads from the parking lot sidewalk.

Shelter 2 is surrounded by grass and woods in the upland area of the park, more than a mile from the river. It is about 75 feet from a restroom and an accessible playground, and 40 feet from a parking lot. The land around the shelter is flat, and a gravel path leads from the parking lot sidewalk.

Shelter 3 is next to the river near the boat slide launch. The shelter is within 300 feet of a restroom no water and small parking area. There is additional parking 500 feet away. The area around the shelter is flat and wooded. A gravel path leads from the parking area to the shelter.

Picnic shelters are available by reservation by calling the Customer Service Center at 800-933-PARK.
Trails
The park has about 12 miles of multi-use trails through various habitats, including field edge, upland pine forest and mature hardwoods. The trails provide excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife.

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Area Campgrounds
Cozy Acres Family Campground
2177 Ridge Road
Powhatan, VA
804-598-2470
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