Gov. McAuliffe to Dedicate Caledon State Park Access Point

Gov. Terry McAuliffe will dedicate John Smith Trail’s newest access point Friday, Aug. 22 at Caledon State Park in King George County.

The canoe-in campground is the newest public access point along the 3,000-mile Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail that traces the English explorer’s voyage.

Paddlers will be able to rest or stay overnight in one of six primitive campsites measuring 20 by 30 feet, each with a fire ring, picnic table and lantern post.

Shuttle service is available from the parking area to the event, which kicks off at 7:30 a.m. The grand opening ceremony takes place at 9 a.m., followed by a day of family activities including boating safety demonstrations, a plant identification hike and a program on fossils.

The campground is the newest in an ongoing effort by Virginia to increase public access to rivers and the Chesapeake Bay and provide new opportunities for recreation, education and heritage tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Caledon State Park, located 23 miles east of Fredericksburg, is a national natural landmark known for its old-growth forests and high concentration of bald eagles. The park is featured on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

Partners of the event include the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the Chesapeake Conservancy and the National Park Service.

Image: Courtesy Wikipedia