Lake Anna State Park

Lake Anna State Park is in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, encompassing 3,127 acres of land with 10 miles of lake frontage. Lake Anna, which is a man-made lake and the center of attraction at the park, is among the largest freshwater inland reservoirs in Virginia and covers a total area of 13,000 acres. The site of the park was once home to the Goodwin Gold Mine in an area called Gold Hill. Gold was discovered there in 1829 and reached its peak by the 1880's. Creation of the park started in 1972 and it opened in 1983.

Lake Anna State Park is adjacent to Route 601 which is off Route 208. There are several ways to get to the park. If you are traveling from North Virginia or Richmond, it will take you one hour of driving time to get there. From Norfolk, Tidewater, or Virginia Beach it will take you three hours while from Roanoke it will take you four hours. In the summer, day-use near picnic areas and around the beach are both quite popular. These areas quickly get crowded and as such, the park management is sometimes forced to close the entrance to the park until around 4 p.m. or until there is available parking space.

The main activities at the park include lake-shore picnics, hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing. There is a food concession stand in the area as well as a children’s playground and a bathhouse. The park also has three shelters available for rent for those that want to stay over at the park. If you have a furry friend, then you can definitely bring them along for the fun because pets are allowed in all Virginia State Parks including Lake Anna State Park.

That said, you must keep your pooch away from designated swim areas, and public facilities like visitor centers, restaurants, bathhouses and park offices. You must also always supervise your dog and keep them on a leash not longer than 6 feet long. Cleaning up after your dog is a must and it is a clever idea to come with your own dog waste bags. Additionally, you may be asked to provide proof of your dog’s current rabies vaccination so be sure to have it with you to avoid inconvenience.