Occoneechee State Park - Clarksville, VA
Occoneechee State Park – Scenic Pet-Friendly Escape in Clarksville, VA
If you’re searching for a dog park in Clarksville, Virginia that offers more than just basic amenities, Occoneechee State Park stands out. Nestled along the shores of Buggs Island Lake, the park delivers beautiful, wooded scenery and spacious grounds ideal for pet owners. With miles of dog-friendly hiking and pet-friendly trails, you and your pup can enjoy nature together. The park is well-maintained, offers both shady areas and sunny spaces, and features plenty of opportunities for adventure, including campsites, splash pad for families, historical markers, and more.
While Occoneechee State Park doesn’t have a dedicated fenced dog area, its combination of wide-open spaces, lush shade from mature trees, and easily accessible trails make it perfect for leashed walks and picnics with your four-legged friend. Amenities like maintained restrooms, boat ramps, playgrounds for kids, and on-site parking make it a convenient stop for the whole family. Best of all, the park is known for its clean facilities, helpful staff and rangers, and natural beauty, making it a top choice for weekending with pets in southern Virginia.
Occoneechee State Park FAQ
- What are the park’s leash requirements? All dogs must remain on leash while in the park, as there is no fenced dog area.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the park has abundant shade provided by trees, and many areas offer natural cover.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? Yes, the park has clean and well-maintained restrooms for visitors.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are several pet-friendly trails and hiking paths throughout Occoneechee State Park.
- Are there staff or rangers present at the park? Yes, rangers and staff are available in the park and are known for their helpfulness.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, besides trails, the park offers a splash pad, playgrounds, archery range, and historical markers for family fun.
- Is parking available? Yes, there’s parking on site for visitors.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, both the grounds and facilities are reported to be very well maintained and clean.
- Are there ticks or other pests common in the area? Some visitors note the presence of chiggers, especially during warmer months—so long pants and sleeves are recommended if hiking off-path.
Reviews
First time here and very impressed. Not only is the scenery in the park beautiful and well maintained but so are the bathrooms and other buildings etc. Camping lots are spacious and they offer lots of different options. They have several boat ramps, a splash pad for kids, playgrounds, trails, historical markers and more. Not sure what summer is like but it’s the end of October and it’s quiet and peaceful! They have wood and ice on site so very convenient. Fire rings are on a cement slab and camping lots have a nice packed gravel base.
Trying my best to seperate the actual lake vs the camp grounds but they kinda go hand in hand.
Just to get it out of the way, the lake was down about 6ft and continues to drop as i sit here on a sinking, muddy, snail and clam shell ridden bank that has retained a certain fecal smell posting this. We came with intentions to fish a legendary lake. It did not live up on these banks at this campground unless youre really really into escargo.
The campground is maintained but thats about it. The camp pads are small, we barely fit 2 tents as 4 adults, our kitchen had to be put to the side and set up on rocks to level ou, bery little level terrain in Ataltl. Night bathrooms on a timer, no stranger to that in a state park but the stalls are offset so badly only 1 of the doors of the 2 actually closes with basically a window through the jamb seam.
Were in off season so no events, great for hiking but no real recreation area, which is fine by me but other members in the group got antsy with nothing to do. Best we could muster up was a “water park”, some bleak history of a not so proud moment of nathaniel bacon and the desperation activity of “finding bigfoot”.
Honestly i cant even say this park would be good for a quiet escape with the weekenders and constant boat traffic. We literally had boaters come in the inlets close enough to cut our lines.
Not going in a top state park destination.
Trying my best to seperate the actual lake vs the camp grounds but they kinda go hand in hand.
Just to get it out of the way, the lake was down about 6ft and continues to drop as i sit here on a sinking, muddy, snail and clam shell ridden bank that has retained a certain fecal smell posting this. We came with intentions to fish a legendary lake. It did not live up on these banks at this campground unless youre really really into escargo.
The campground is maintained but thats about it. The camp pads are small, we barely fit 2 tents as 4 adults, our kitchen had to be put to the side and set up on rocks to level ou, bery little level terrain in Ataltl. Night bathrooms on a timer, no stranger to that in a state park but the stalls are offset so badly only 1 of the doors of the 2 actually closes with basically a window through the jamb seam.
Were in off season so no events, great for hiking but no real recreation area, which is fine by me but other members in the group got antsy with nothing to do. Best we could muster up was a “water park”, some bleak history of a not so proud moment of nathaniel bacon and the desperation activity of “finding bigfoot”.
Honestly i cant even say this park would be good for a quiet escape with the weekenders and constant boat traffic. We literally had boaters come in the inlets close enough to cut our lines.
Not going in a top state park destination.
I tent camped at Occoneechee State Park in the Atlatl campground Saturday night. I do not recommend tent camping. The highways across from Buggs Island Lake is loud and constant. I barely slept
That said the park is beautiful and extremely well maintained. It’s perfect for fishing, boating, and horse trail riding ding. Panhandle Trail has what a moderate trail needs. Flat areas, twists, turns, gradients. It is an out and back trail. Young to about 20 year trees. You’re in nature but the highway hum noise and Park road noise is also constant until you reach the equestrian center. I was to tired and not in the mood to take the additional 4 miles out to Beaver Pond overlook.
Please go to the archery range. It is a quick loop and a few “what tha’?” moments. My favorite is 4.
I will stay at a cabin next time and finish the trail.
I tent camped at Occoneechee State Park in the Atlatl campground Saturday night. I do not recommend tent camping. The highways across from Buggs Island Lake is loud and constant. I barely slept
That said the park is beautiful and extremely well maintained. It’s perfect for fishing, boating, and horse trail riding ding. Panhandle Trail has what a moderate trail needs. Flat areas, twists, turns, gradients. It is an out and back trail. Young to about 20 year trees. You’re in nature but the highway hum noise and Park road noise is also constant until you reach the equestrian center. I was to tired and not in the mood to take the additional 4 miles out to Beaver Pond overlook.
Please go to the archery range. It is a quick loop and a few “what tha’?” moments. My favorite is 4.
I will stay at a cabin next time and finish the trail.
I tent camped at Occoneechee State Park in the Atlatl campground Saturday night. I do not recommend tent camping. The highways across from Buggs Island Lake is loud and constant. I barely slept
That said the park is beautiful and extremely well maintained. It’s perfect for fishing, boating, and horse trail riding ding. Panhandle Trail has what a moderate trail needs. Flat areas, twists, turns, gradients. It is an out and back trail. Young to about 20 year trees. You’re in nature but the highway hum noise and Park road noise is also constant until you reach the equestrian center. I was to tired and not in the mood to take the additional 4 miles out to Beaver Pond overlook.
Please go to the archery range. It is a quick loop and a few “what tha’?” moments. My favorite is 4.
I will stay at a cabin next time and finish the trail.
Had fun camping here for 5 days…lots to do, lots of hiking trails. (There are chiggers, though, so wear long pants and sleeves) Place is full of history…There is even an extensive archery range. Although there really isn’t a swimming beach, we thoroughly enjoyed the Splash Park! ❤️
Had fun camping here for 5 days…lots to do, lots of hiking trails. (There are chiggers, though, so wear long pants and sleeves) Place is full of history…There is even an extensive archery range. Although there really isn’t a swimming beach, we thoroughly enjoyed the Splash Park! ❤️
Had fun camping here for 5 days…lots to do, lots of hiking trails. (There are chiggers, though, so wear long pants and sleeves) Place is full of history…There is even an extensive archery range. Although there really isn’t a swimming beach, we thoroughly enjoyed the Splash Park! ❤️
This park is very nice because of how much shade cover there is from all the trees. We prefer campsites that are woodsy, not wide open. And the bonus here is being able to get sites on the water with hookups! The visitor center has lots of information and history of the Native Americans who once inhabited the area, very worth checking out!! The squirrels are pretty tame, they walk all around you in your campsite and even get in to your trash when it’s hanging from the pole…..just a heads up.
Prompt and courteous service from the Ranger when we thought there may be an issue with the electric at our campsite. We will definitely come back for a longer stay!
The only negative about the place were the chiggers………we got LIT UP from those suckers……. 😂