Summary
The park encompasses 2,200 acres and is named after a local legend about a mother and child who were lost in the wilderness and survived on berries and water.
A visit to Hungry Mother State Park offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. The park features 17 miles of hiking trails, including a popular 3.1-mile trail around the lake. Fishing is available in the park's 108-acre lake, which is stocked with trout, bass, and catfish. Boat rentals are also available, including paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks.
One of the most popular attractions in the park is the Hemlock Haven Conference Center, which offers group accommodations for up to 32 people. The park also features a campsite with 33 tent sites and 18 cabins, as well as a yurt and a group campsite.
Visitors to Hungry Mother State Park can also enjoy the park's scenic beauty, including the beautiful fall foliage in the autumn months. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, black bears, and wild turkeys.
Overall, Hungry Mother State Park is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy the beauty of Virginia's outdoors. With plenty of activities and accommodations, it's a perfect place for a family vacation or a weekend getaway.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Hungry Mother State Park
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Hurricane
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Hurricane Campground
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Raccoon Branch
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Raccoon Branch Campground
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Grindstone
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