Belle Isle State Park

Belle Isle State Park is a beautiful park located along the Rappahanock River, a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, in Lancaster, VA. As with a lot of parks and preserves within the Mid-Atlantic, Belle Isle has also been affected by climate change and severe storms. Recently, Belle Isle created a Living Shoreline as a prevention to severe erosion and protection to the shoreline.

Beautiful State Park with friendly rangers and lots of trails and wildlife. We walk the park almost daily all year long. You can see Eagles, osprey, deer, rabbits, turtles, bluebirds ect. They also hold concerts and educational activities. Nice picnic pavilions.

Super friendly cop/ranger at the visitor center to assist us in our first visit there. Gave me some great tips on trails to take and bug tips (ticks are prevalent so check although he hadn't seen any...glad I asked and he said he talked to someone who had found one on themselves because I found 3 on me and was able to diligently check the hubby and the puppy and thankfully none found on them)...although ticks abound, beautiful park!!! Trails are well marked and easy (flat). Beautiful, new looking visitor center. Totally recommend, just double check for ticks!!!

Nice enough facility but was really disappointed by the park employee in the visitors center. Kept her eyes on her computer monitor the whole time when I asked a historical question about the park and was clearly not interested in being interrupted. In these situations please at least pretend to be paying attention to what I'm asking you. Her lack of professionalism (she was a uniformed ranger) was the only thing that prevents me from giving this place five stars.

Great place for a socially distant hike! We walked about 3 miles on several trails, most of which were along the edge of wooded areas. Not the most entertaining hike, but nice and flat - a great way to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Bathrooms were well stocked and clean.

A little bit of everything. Hiking swimming picnic, tot lot play ground, kayak or boat, campsites, visitor- history center. Most handicapped accessible, too. Lots of parking and only $5 per car day use fee.

So, what good is another 5 star review of a great park?

I'll say this: we checked availability for a last minute July 4 weekend camping trip, and booked our visit thinking INCORRECTLY this was Belle Island in Richmond. It's NOT. However, after reading the rave reviews on this park, we decided we should keep the reservations and check out the park. We did, and we are very glad we did.

As noted in the other reviews, very nice & clean restrooms. Actually, I would say "well thought out and designed" restrooms. The difference is that they've moved the showers out of the male/female toilet facilities, and created a cluster of five LARGE individual shower rooms on the end of the building with a very large changing area. I am advanced in years, and often use my wife's assistance in getting dressed. Small cramped showers with miniscule dressing areas are a curse to me. These large "family" shower rooms were wonderful.

One other nice feature is that you pass by George Washington's birthplace ( as well as RE Lee's Stratford hall) on the way there. These are great places to visit, but somewhat out of the way. We had our 1st grader grandson and decided to give him a visual connection to George Washington, so as he learned about George in school, he'd have a mental picture of his birthplace. We gave Jeremiah a pre-test: "Do you know who George Washington was?"
Answer 1: He got sick and died
Answer 2: He was a fighter

Speaking of our grandson, they offer excellent activities for kids.

There was no mention of him being our first president, but we did decide both his answers were correct.

Thanks for letting us share!

and remember:
there is NO camping at Belle Island in Richmond.
there is EXCELLENT camping at Bell Isle State Park in Colonial Beach

Just spent a full weekend at Belle Isle - everything from the facilities to the park rangers and staff to the activities are fantastic. Friendly camp hosts, huge private camp sites, and very clean restrooms (with free showers!).

This was our first time at this park and it will not be our last. The rentals are inexpensive, the canoeing and biking is great, and the park is absolutely beautiful.

The quiet hours are definitely enforced (which I'm comfortable with... I wouldn't want a nearby site keeping me awake at night). As long as you're respectful of the rules you won't have any problems.

Beautiful - lovely. Nice sites and Amenities. Lots of Mosquitos. I will take mosquito nets next time, since bug spray wasn't helping enough at night. Otherwise, very nice.

I didn't know this place existed. Then I went for the day and now it might be my favorite State Park in Virginia. Not too far away, super clean and very well taken care of, animal life, marine life, boat access, swimming, beach, waves, kayaking and paddle board rentals for the lowest price I have ever seen, friendly staff, CLEAN bathrooms. A+.

Only suggestion for the head park ranger? Your restroom doors have about 30 sharp, dangerous, exposed screws sticking out of the entrance doors (interior side) - lots of people push open the whole door vs. just the metal panel where a knob would be. Since you "push" your hand into the door to open the door, it really hurts! I stabbed myself several times with painful regrets. I worry about others - especially kids who might not be able to reach that panel and recommend that something needs to be done about this immediately.