Lake Anna State Park

Formerly known as Gold Hill, Lake Anna State Park is located in Spotsylvania, Virginia and boasts nearly 3000 acres of trees, wildlife and fresh air. Gold Hill contained the Goodwin Gold Mine, which was discovered in 1829. Located approximately 60 miles northwest of Richmond, the park is easy to find as it is next to Route 601 off Route 208. The park is partially situated on Lake Anna, with 10 miles of lake frontage. Lake Anna is a large lake that is known for its ample supply of largemouth bass, bream and crappie fish. Lake Anna was built in 1971 to serve as a coolant for a nearby nuclear power plant. There is something for everyone at this fun filled park, including boating, fishing, hiking and more. There are several small concession stands scattered throughout the park that offer drinks and snacks to fulfill your snack cravings.

Lake Anna is a major attraction for kids of all ages who enjoy going for a swim when it’s warm enough or boating to enjoy the water. One hour before sunrise, there is a boat ramp that becomes available for those who wish to fish at the lake. There are lights to help guide you around the dock safely. An additional small fishing pond is a unique feature offered by the park that caters to small children or handicapped persons. Because of this, no one has to miss out on the fun of fishing at Lake Anna. The largemouth bass are usually abundant in both the lake and the fishing pond.

There are picnic areas scattered throughout the park, including a few that are positioned near the lake. You may want to reserve these picnic tables early as they are highly desired and tend to fill up quickly. Seasonal swimming is available near the picnic area and is staffed by attentive lifeguards.

For those who are active and adventurous, there is plenty of hiking available to keep you busy. There are approximately fifteen miles of hiking trails laced throughout the park. The trails range in skill level from easy to technical, depending on your level of experience hiking. Most hiking trails are considered easy, with the exception of Big Woods, Pigeon Run and Gold Hill Trail. Trail guides are available in the park office. Park hiking trails are considered multi-use trails, because they are shared with people riding their bicycles or horseback riding.

If you find yourself tired from hiking the beautiful terrain, you may wish to camp in the park overnight. There are several cozy cabins that are available for rent for a small fee. Cabin check-in is at 3:00 pm, and check out is at 10:00 am. These two bedroom cabins can sleep up to six people. All cabins include beautiful rustic furniture, refrigerator, pots and pans, linens, heating and air conditioning. They do not include a dishwasher, phone or television. To make your stay as comfortable as possible, bring your necessities from home, such as food, extra towels and toiletries. Cabin rentals also include swimming and boat launching at no additional charge.

For those who prefer outdoor camping, Lake Anna State Park has a campground available for a small fee that includes fire rings for roasting marshmallows and electricity outlets for your appliances. Check-in is at 4:00 pm, check out is at 3:00 pm. Campground rental also includes free swimming and boat launching.

To make camping reservations, or to find out more information about Lake Anna State Park, you may write to:

Lake Anna State Park
6800 Lawyers Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551-9645

You can also purchase annual parking passes and discount swimming coupons. On holiday weekends, parking can be limited. Daily parking fees are $2 per car on week days and $3 per car on weekends. Other facilities, such as swimming and boat launching costs additional. If the parking areas near the picnic and beach areas are full, the park staff may close the road leading to the park temporarily until some parking spaces open up. For this reason, it’s a good idea to plan your trip ahead of time to ensure that you will have parking available during your visit to enjoy all that Lake Anna State Park offers.