Pocahontas State Park — Attraction in Chester

For anyone in the metro Richmond area, this is the largest, and best park in the area. A plethora of trails for hiking and mountain biking, boat rentals (and a landing of course if you have your own), an ampitheatre for concert events, and plenty more. Due to the size of this park, there are also plenty of opportunities for "off trail" hiking, and I gotta tell you, it's great. Of particular value to myself, this park has yielded great opportunities to teach my son about the large number of diverse plants and wildlife in Virginia. I could literally ramble on and on about all the different bird, insect and plant species I've seen in this park. There's also a cool little river trail I call "Turtle Lane", because you can see turtles hanging out on rocks and logs at every turn. Like, a lot of them. Like, using all the fingers and toes of a party large enough to automatically require an 18% tip at any restaurant, you may still come up short.

Now, what are the downsides?

A $7 admission fee is my main complaint (raised from $5 last year). But,... ill be honest; it's worth every penny. It really is.

It's one of those things where I feel like state tax dollars should be funding the operation and maintenance of the park, but then again that may just be because I come here so often that it really does add up. I wish they offered season/annual passes, I think that'd be an acceptable remedy. Until then, I find it a bit excessive (but still entirely worth it).

The other downside, and really the only other one I can point to,.... is the fishing. For me, it has been truly disappointing. With such a large lake you'd think there'd plenty of opportunities for landing "the big one", but that really hasn't panned out. Maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm a terrible angler, maybe the fish here are just smarter, but when I compare this lake to some of my other fishing spots, it really has been a letdown. And like almost everybody does when they see someone with a rod, I've asked others about their luck, and theirs seems to be the same as mine. A few nibbles, no bites. If nothing else, I don't believe this lake is regularly "stocked", though I've never asked any of the rangers about it (probably will ask next time, now that I've had the thought to do so).

But me personally, and this is a bit embarrassing because I consider my self a decent fisher, but I have NEVER caught a fish here. Ever. A few nibbles, no bites. That could be for a number of reasons, but I don't really have that problem elsewhere , so I dont know what the deal is.

That being said, my bad luck with fishing here has never "soured" the experience for me.

On the water is beautiful, especially with all the waterliily fields, and on land you can truly find a sense of isolation in nature, if that's what you're after (and I often am).

12 out of 10, I would absolutely reccomend this park to others.

Those extra 2 out of the 10 are enemies of mine.

From the choir teacher who forever stifled any desire to publicly flex these lungs (unless I'm a bit tipsy and its karaoke night), to the deadbeat roommate/ex friend who skipped out on the lease and almost caused me to lose my residence, no matter how badly they've wronged me, dangit this park is so good I'd even recommend it to them!

Oh and if any of you reading this happen to work there, make season/annual passes a thing!...

This is our second time staying here and it’s definitely worth the 5 stars. We stayed in lot 115 and we love that site! Nice and spacious on the end, we had room for our tent to sit in as well as our giant movie screen. Equipped with a laundry room (2washers & 2 dryers.. & 1 commercial washer and dryer. There is a change machine inside the laundry room as the machines only take quarters. ($2.00/wash $ $1.50/per drying load. There is also a soap dispenser in case you forget you detergent inside the laundry room(all, tide,snuggle and oxiclean.There is also a vending machine inside laundry room with snacks only no drinks. There is a camp store attached to the laundry room with very limited hours and very limited items. There is a very nice water park with 3 pools(1ft) (3.5ft) & a (5ft) all outdoor. There hours are 11-6 during the week and 11-7 during the weekend. There is also a splash pad just to get wet. The water park and pools are heavily guarded with life guards to make sure everyone is safe. There is also a water slide for the older adults and children. Only downfall to the water park was disrespectful people walking around in thongs(this is a family water park and I don’t enjoy seeing someone’s butt hanging out with my kids.) I also talked to a staff member that said weekends were the worst times to go as people are walking around smoking pot and barely wearing anything. (Again this is a family water park people should really be considerate.) They also allow outsiders to pay to use the pools/water park which I don’t think is fair cause it takes away from the campers that are staying on the property. Water park passes are included with your overnight camping stay. There were several bus loads of children, that were being dropped off. The park can get very busy which I why we always went early. I think they should have a separate day to allow the general public to pay and utilize. They also have a nice playground for the kids. Overall had a good stay and will definitely be...

All trails is right; Idk how equestrians aren't pissed. After widening the horse trails to fit a fleet of shiny double cabs, the park has been logging the Equestrian side for well over a year and. We have a tree farm. It sure looks like the forest manager doesn't care how that job's going as long as the money's there. Elsewhere in the park, they have a big new shop building and a lot with maybe 15? 20? trucks. Don't offer more than $10-$14/hr for most positions but they can keep a fleet of very economical double cabs -- practical vehicles that work real well for tools, firewood, lumber, unlike a standard truck. (Not that they ever look loaded when they pass us on trails. Maybe they just don't like walking? The heat? Or the outdoors.)

But don't worry. If you start to miss the significantly cooler sections that area's shade used to offer, or the serenity and beauty you used to go there for, it's not like the trees won't grow back! And a little soil compression and run off don't matter. Also ignore how the mosquitos seem to have really taken a liking to the water standing in the ruts left from the equipment.

I have friends in state parks across the country and some who manage controlled burns; they all say logging like this only happens when park management lets it -- particularly the mess of skidder trails. If you didn't know the area, you can see in pics areas that aren't dense mature loblolly have been cleared. (The "diseased trees" pretext has been used for years to handwave away public concerns.) It's not like the area couldn't have been logged with a bit more care and deliberation, but cheap contracts mean unskilled day labor, and when the manager is fine with the sprawling cuts and litter and fluids and ruts left behind by the loggers, then it's just...