Home of the legendary fairy stones, this park is also well known for its 168-acre lake adjoining Philpott Reservoir.
The park is just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and has days of outdoor activities waiting for you! Pitch your tent under the stars or cozy up in a cabin or yurt. Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboat and cruise the lake. Unleash the kids on the swimming beach where they’ll have hours of fun in this playground on the water. Hike a different trail each day, and don’t miss the waterfall! Bring your horses and camp right beside them after a day of exploring all the equestrian trails. Enjoy one of the many programs and guided excursions led by park interpreters. Bring your mountain bike for exciting rides through the forest.
Try your luck at hunting fairy stones! Staurolite crystals (aka “fairy stones”) are naturally occurring crystals found only in a few places on earth. Fairy Stone State Park is one of those special places! Just down the road from the main entrance of the park, you will find the “Fairy Stone Hunt Site,” which is the most abundant place to look. Anyone can find a fairy stone. It just takes a little patience and a good eye. Be sure to visit the Fairy Stone State Park Visitors Center to learn all about the various formations of the stone and its local lore.
Fairy Stones
Staurolite crystals, aka “fairy stones” are rare, cross-shaped stones found only in certain places around the globe. Historic superstitions held that possessing one of these rare stones would protect its owner from illness, accidents, and even warding off a witch’s curse. Locally, these stones were said to be the tears of ancient mountain fairies, hence their local nickname. In truth, they are brown staurolite crystal, a combination of silica, iron, and aluminum. Together these minerals crystallize in twin form creating a cross-shaped formation. They are found only in rocks that have been subject to great heat and pressure such as was found millions of years ago in the geological history of the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.
These stones can be found throughout the park, but the most abundant source is a few minutes down the road from the park, called the “Fairy Stone Hunt Site.” With patience and a good eye, anyone can find one!
Camping & Other Lodging
The Fairy Stone State Park offers traditional tent camping, RV camping, cabin rentals, lodge rentals, and even yurts!
Campsites have a fire ring with grill, picnic table, 12′ x 14′ sand pad, and parking for two cars (not including camping unit). Leashed pets are allowed. Most sites have electric and water hook-ups, but no sewer. All sites are shaded. Bathhouses and dumpsites are located nearby. You can even rent a campsite next to your horse at the park’s equestrian campground which includes stables.
Cabins and Lodge offer all the comforts of home with a rustic feel while you explore the park including A/C, bedrooms, full bathrooms and kitchens, living areas, porches, private parking, fireplaces, and great views. Pets allowed.
Try out a Yurt! These sturdy shelters are a cross between a tent and a cabin. Each yurt sleeps three and has a large wooden deck, a picnic table, a fire ring with cooking grate, and one queen-sized & one twin-sized trundle pull-out bed. Like a tent, yurts have no electricity or water, but water is available at the adjacent bathhouse. No pets allowed in the yurt.
Hiking
Fairy Stone State Park has eleven trails, many of which are multi-use. Spend all day exploring the tail systems with your bike, your horse, or your own two feet!
Fairy Stone Lake
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Fairy Stone Lake is open to swimming and paddling! Enjoy fun in the sun the water playground, diving dock with slide, lifeguards at the ready, concession stands, picnic shelters, sandy beach, shade trees, locker rooms, and boat rentals!
Fishing
Ample pan-fish are just waiting to be caught, so it’s the perfect place to teach the kids fishing skills. For more serious anglers, the lake offers some good largemouth bass. Bluegill, crappie, catfish, and October-stocked trout round out the park’s lake fishing. Just up the road is Philpott Lake, which offers good largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing. It’s also a good lake for walleye. Fishing is allowed with a valid Virginia fishing license. Fishing licenses are sold in the park office. A fishing area is accessible to visitors with physical disabilities. Canoe, kayak, and paddleboat rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.