The primary mission of the Virginia Department of Forestry is to manage state-owned forest land for a steady supply of timber and to conduct forest research.  These forest services are self-supporting through the sale of forest products, and portions of some forests are timbered at regular intervals.  However, the forestry service also manages the land to support recreational activities and wildlife habitats.  Since many of the sites have large tracts of forest land with numerous trails and forest roads, they can be very good places to take a quiet nature walk.

It should be noted that hiking in state forests does pose several challenges.  Some trails in these forests may not be well-maintained, and may become overgrown or disappear altogether over time.  If you happen to visit a forest that has been recently timbered, you may pass through areas that are clear-cut and devoid of most wildlife.  In addition, state forests tend to have limited parking areas and you may have to pull off on the side of a road to access some trails.  Finally, some state forests allow hunting and you will need to check hunting schedules (see the links below).  For these reasons, it would be wise to check with the Virginia Forestry Office (434-977-6555) before visiting and to have a second, nearby hike on your smartphone to use as a backup walk in case your first choice does not pan out.

Despite these challenges, you should still consider visiting these places for their tremendous wildlife viewing opportunities and their solitude.  To learn more about Virginia’s state forests, visit the Forestry Web site.    You can view a list of the forests state-wide on this page.  A summary of the trail systems and other recreational activities in each forest is available here.  Notice that the majority of the trails use gated roads – be sure to use the forest map to stay off the ungated roads with vehicular traffic. State Forests do not charge fees for hiking or boating, but an access fee ($16 annually in 2019) is required for biking and horseback riding – go here for more information.  This page shows the state forests that allow hunting, along with any special regulations that apply to specific forests.  Check with the Forestry Office for hunting schedules for a forest you plan to visit.