Widewater State Park Hunts

Open — Open year-round. Campsites are primitive paddle-in only, accessible by canoe or kayak from park launches. Park grounds open 8 a.m. to dusk daily. Call the park at (540) 288-1400 for campsite details and reservations.

About

Located on a peninsula where Aquia Creek and the Potomac River meet in Stafford County, Widewater State Park offers a unique paddle-in camping experience. The park currently has four primitive campsites accessible only by canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard from the car-top launches at Aquia Creek or the Potomac River. These tent-only sites provide a backcountry camping experience with no amenities beyond the natural setting. Two camping units are allowed per campsite. The park itself spans 1,089 acres across non-contiguous parcels and features a visitor center with exhibits on the region's history, including Captain John Smith's expeditions and the Ghost Fleet of Widewater. Two easy one-mile hiking trails loop through the property, and the park offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, perch, and striped bass. The Potomac River here is tidal freshwater. While the park is open 8 a.m. to dusk, the motorboat launch operates from 5 a.m. to dusk with an automatic gate for exit. Widewater State Park is still under development, with future plans calling for traditional tent and RV campgrounds as well as cabins. The park acquired this land from Dominion Resources in 2006 and has been gradually opening facilities to the public. Paddlers can access the sites from nearby Leesylvania State Park (16 miles) or continue downstream to Caledon State Park (13.5 miles), making Widewater part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

Directions

From I-95, take Aquia Harbor Exit 143A, then go north on U.S. 1 (Jefferson Davis Hwy). Turn right onto Telegraph Rd (Route 637), then onto Widewater Rd (Route 611). Widewater Rd becomes Arkendale Rd (Route 633) after about four miles. Turn left onto Brent Point Rd (Route 658). The park is located in several parcels on Brent Point Rd.

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