Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes | | | Picnicking | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Pocahontas State Forest
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Just 20 miles from downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Pocahontas State Park has been one of the more popular parks in the state park system. Swift Creek forms the nucleus of the park, which is centered in a wildlife management area. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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good trails, esp. for mountain bikes
park map is very inadequate and covers only central section; trails are erratically marked
Written by bigsig
21-Apr-2008
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| Trails: |
| Hiking, biking, bridle trails. Pocahontas State Park offers five miles of hiking trails around Beaver Lake, a five mile bicycle trail and a trail accessible for persons with disabilities. In addition, numerous trails accessible to hikers and bicyclists wind through the surrounding woodlands. There are also approximately nine miles of bridle trails (see above in Horse Rentals). The park also has single-track bicycle trails. |
| Picnicking: |
| The park's seven shelters are available for rent through the Reservations Center at 1-800-933-PARK. There are two sizes, large and small. Shelters 2, 3, 4 and 5 are large; shelters 1, 6, and 7 are small. Parking fees are not included in shelter rental. Shelters can be rented from 8 a.m. to dark (all day), or 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to dark (half day). Please note the hour in between for half day rental times.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee. |
| Swimming: |
| Pool and Aquatic Recreation Center open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. During summer months, enjoy one day of free swimming for each night of overnight camping for registered guests. However, it cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances. Group cabins and lodge guests do not recieve free swimming, although they do receive discounted swimming prices - please refer to the fees pages for details. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| During daylight hours only, enjoy fishing Swift Creek and Beaver Lake. Private boats may be used on Swift Creek Lake. Gas-powered boats are prohibited, but electric motors are allowed. A valid Virginia fishing license is required and must be purchased prior to arrival in the park. The park rents canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboats from Memorial Day through Labor Day at Swift Creek Lake. |
| History of the Area: |
| Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this was the first recreational park in the Richmond-Petersburg-Hopewell area. The National Park Service donated the facility to Virginia State Parks in 1946, making it the largest Virginia state parks with more than 7,600 acres and two small lakes. The area was renamed Pocahontas State Park and Pocahontas State Forest and was operated under a cooperative management arrangement with the Department of Forestry. In 1989 a new master plan, funded jointly by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Chesterfield County, called for expansion of park facilities to accommodate the large urban population surrounding the park. Today the entire area is operated as Pocahontas State Park. The park is undergoing massive renovation to expand and upgrade its facilities.
The park is named after Pocahontas, the famed daughter of Chief Powhatan, who was ruler over the tribes in the Powhatan Confederacy of the Algonquin Nation. Legend has it that Pocahontas saved Captain John Smith?s life when he was held captive by the Powhatan Confederacy. She later married John Rolfe and traveled with him to London where she died of smallpox. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Pocahontas State Park - ... a list of 2002's performances and festivals. Pocahontas State Park Park photos (about 45K each) Click ... from downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Pocahontas State Park has been one of the more ... | | Area Campgrounds | | Camptown Campground
22819 Camptown Dr
Petersburg, VA
(804) 469-4569
| Picture Lake Camp Ground
7818 Boydton Plank Rd
Petersburg, VA
(804) 861-0174
| KOA Campgrounds
2809 Courtland Rd
Petersburg, VA
(804) 732-8345
| Cozy Cove Campground
713 Sutherland Rd
Church Road, VA
(804) 265-9000
| Roadrunner Campground
13900 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Chester, VA
(804) 796-5160
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Brenda's Bait & Tackle
1119 McKenzie St
Petersburg, VA
(804) 732-2459
| Dance's Sporting Goods
570 Southpark Blvd
Colonial Heights, VA
(804) 526-8399
| Fin & Skin Taxidermy & Bait
2570 New Market Rd
Richmond, VA
(804) 795-5917
| Pope's Bait & Tackle
320 E Williamsburg Rd
Sandston, VA
(804) 737-7707
| Hatteras Outfitters
3619 Hawthorne Ave
Richmond, VA
(804) 329-8400
| Fly Fish the World
5705 Grove Ave
Richmond, VA
(804) 282-5527
| Harrison's Mill Pond Fishing
1740 Buckner St
Petersburg, VA
(804) 733-7093
| Castaway Sporting Goods
11600 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Chester, VA
(804) 706-9100
| Fishing Connection
2420 Buena Vista Blvd
Chester, VA
(804) 748-3197
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Fairfield Inn & Suites
3952 Courthouse Rd
Hopewell, VA
(804) 458-2600
| Antigua Village Resort
1910 Byrd Ave # 215
Richmond, VA
(804) 285-6201
| Sheraton Richmond West
6624 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA
(804) 285-2000
| Richmond Marriott
500 E Broad St
Richmond, VA
(804) 643-3400
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| Directions: |
| In Chesterfield County, about 20 miles from Richmond. From I-95, take Exit 61 and go west on Route 10 to Route 655 which is Beach Road; or take Exit 67, go north on Route 150 to Route 10; go east to Beach Road. The park is four miles on right; or take Route 288 from I-95 to Route 10 East and go one mile to Beach Road. Follow park signs from there. |
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