Burn restrictions in effect through April 30
Virginia State Parks will reopen its campgrounds for the season on Friday, March 6. Campsites are available for booking online through www.reservevaparks.com.
Campers who make reservations should be aware that the 4 PM Burning Law is in effect from Feb. 15 through April 30. This law bans open fires, including charcoal and wood fires, between midnight and 4 p.m.
This restriction applies to all areas of a park, including picnic and cabin areas with grills or fire rings.
During the burn restriction period, gas grills and propane stoves are allowed; however, some parks have personal grill restrictions, so visitors should contact the park before making plans to bring one.
An exception to the 4 PM Burning Law is campgrounds that have an on-duty camp host. In those situations, signage will indicate that open fires are allowed before 4 p.m. if they are maintained within a designated campfire ring or circle. The fire must be under constant supervision until it is completely extinguished. All flammable material should be cleared from a 20-foot area around the fire, and campers must have ready access to water, rake and shovel.
To check the camp host status, contact the park directly. Primitive campgrounds do not have hosts. For more information about campgrounds, please go to www.virginiastateparks.gov. Visit the Virginia Department of Forestry website for more information about Virginia’s burn ban law https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law/.
Managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia State Parks offers more than 1,800 campsites, with options ranging from primitive camping to RV sites with electric and water hookups.
Full-service campgrounds with bathhouses are open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, with the exception of Douthat, Hungry Mother, Pocahontas and Shenandoah River state parks, which have full-service campgrounds open year-round.
Visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/camping for more details about reservations, cancelations and severe weather procedures. If you are traveling with horses, be sure to go to www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/horse-camping-trails for the policies dealing with horses while camping.
Reservations can be made at www.reservevaparks.com or by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275) and choosing option 5. You can make lodging reservations up to 11 months in advance and for camping, as late as 2 p.m. on the day of arrival.
