Friends of Belle Isle State Park

The Friends of Belle Isle State Park is a citizen organization that supports the recreational and educational opportunities at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Virginia.  We are dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the park’s native plants and animals and historical and cultural resources.  The Friends of Belle Isle was founded in 2001 and is a 501(c)(3) organization. Annual programs include the Music by the River series, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and other events. Volunteers are always needed for a variety of projects.

Belle Isle has seven miles of shoreline on the Northern Neck’s Rappahannock River and provides access to Mulberry and Deep Creeks. The park lets visitors explore a wide variety of tidal wetlands interspersed with farmland and upland forests. It has a regular campground for tents and RVs, canoe-in campground, three picnic shelters, hiking, biking and bridle trails, and motor boat and car-top launches. Belle Isle also offers overnight lodging at Bel Air and the Bel Air Guest House, as well as a camping lodge. Guests can enjoy the park’s universal access playground, boardwalk, fishing pier, and educational programs.

The diverse habitats found in the park provide a home to many predator birds, such as blue herons, osprey, hawks, and bald eagles. White-tailed deer, turkeys, groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, moles, reptiles, and amphibians are also common. With multiple wetlands, upland forests and cultivated fields, the diverse ecosystems at Belle Isle make it an an excellent outdoor laboratory for environmental education.

For additional information on the Friends of Belle Isle State Park or to join, please e-mail us.