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Submission
Campground and Cabins: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/staunton-river#cabins_camping
Park admission is necessary to access the campground. There is a park fee in addition to the camping fees.
We enjoyed our weekend at the park. We stayed in cabin #7 which was perfect for two people. Unfortunately, the almost full moon made stargazing somewhat difficult, but the Dark Sky aspect of the park is outstanding. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We even saw the white doe that hangs out there, very cool! Took some good pictures also.
First time there, went solely to check out the Dark Sky certified skies during the Dec near-new moon and for a quaint weekend staycay from Raleigh, and the trip exceeded all expectations!
• STARGAZING: The most brilliant stars and dark skies we’ve seen in ages. Tip: go out midnight or after, it’s worth getting out of bed for!
• CABINS: Talk about awesome, and at crazy awesome prices! Wood burning fireplace, kitchen with pretty much everything you need, awesome deck overlooking the river (no leaves to block view in winter). 8 cabins, we stayed in the efficiency – two of us and 2 little doggies, totally comfy! Bed was okay comfy, pillows not bad, just remember to bring your linens. All cabins overlook river, with #1 having perhaps the best of all, but none shabby. Our efficiency (#8) is probably the most private of the bunch.
• LIST AVAILABLE: If you’d like a detailed list of all the kitchen and bathroom have, message me and I’ll be glad to share the one we put together since we plan to go back and felt it would come in handy.
• VISITORS CENTER/GIFT SHOP/STORE: Nice gift shop, store items like snacks, some minimal foods, and basic essentials in the store, bait for you fishermen, fire starter, artificial logs and such, even ice cream and drinks. Helpful customer service. They even loan out super nice telescopes, horseshoes, etc, all no charge!
(*) The pic is a panorama off Efficiency #8 deck
One of my favorite campgrounds in the state. It’s an International Dark Sky Park and is perfect for astrophotography and star gazing. The cabins were nice and clean. No ice in the rooms, but they do sell bags at the main office. They also offer telescopes, but we couldn’t get them to work… probably user error.
This place is an amazing place for a family with kids. There are several hiking trails and mountain biking trails. If you are a horseback rider, then there are several trails for horseback riding. We were there in December and it was very pretty and peaceful. We stayed there in a cabin. They have a master bedroom, and a kids room with four beds (bunk beds ). They only have one bathroom . The kitchen is really nice and spacious. Be mindful that there are a lot of mice due to the cabin being located in the woods. As long as you put away your food at night, there should not be an issue. In that trip, my most memorable moment is night time star gazing. If the visitors are low, the parks let you rent a very nice telescope during your stay. If there are many visitors, you may have to reserve the telescopes. The park was associated with the dark skies international association. During our visit, we saw our milky way galaxy . In addition, we met very nice local folks who are very knowledgeable about star gazing and universes. They even had a home made telescope which they shared with us . We saw a lot of stars, nebulas, globulars, planets, and many galaxies. It was very very nice. The sunrise and sunset was amazing. We saw many types of animals such as blue herons, robins, and there should be a white deer(we didn't see it but the rangers told us and showed us the photo). One more thing I would highly recommend visiting there with families.
Spent 2 nights in cabin 8. Explored the trails with a quick run around the perimeter. Lots of spots to stop and take pictures. I definitely want to head back and learn more about the Dark Sky Association. This park looks well suited for families and equestrian enthusiasts. I could see bringing the family back in the summer when the pool is open.
