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Hungry Mother State Park, Virginia – Volunteer Vacations 2022

October 2, 2022 - October 8, 2022

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Hungry Mother, one of the original six Virginia State Parks, has long been a favorite. It’s known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains. The park has a sandy beach with a bathhouse, boat rentals (canoe, kayak, paddle boats and paddleboards), a boat launch and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy campgrounds, cabins, yurts, gift shops, a visitor center, a six-bedroom family lodge, and hiking and biking trails. Raider’s Run Trail was historically used as a horseback riding trail and has been turned into a hiking/biking trail. Various sections of the trail need to be re-routed to make it more user friendly and sustainable. New trail will be built with a bench cut on moderately to steep slopes but will be laid out sustainably with water diversion features including sheet flow on the tread and out-slope and grade reversals. Most of the work will be spent bending, shoveling, picking, chopping, and/or sawing.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) and S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, and those who continue to steward these lands today. AHS invites all volunteers to join us in our commitment to support and amplify the work of Indigenous communities as they work to dismantle the systems of oppression that these communities continue to face today.

Host

Virginia State Parks

Accommodations

Cabin/Lodge

Hiking/Access

Day hiking up to 3 miles each work day.

Project Rating

Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

12

Area and Attractions

Hungry Mother State Park encompasses roughly 3,000 acres with 250 acres developed. The park is nestled in the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia and has a 108-acre lake stocked with muskie, walleye, and catfish, but plenty of other native species are available. Canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding are all available. Hungry Mother also has 18 miles of some of the finest mountain trails to hike and bike. One trail will take you to the highest knob in the Park, Molly's Knob with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and countryside. Find out who Molly is and how she is ingrained in our legend of how she helped to give the park its name. The park is located in the same county as the highest peak in Virginia, Mt. Rogers, and is surrounded by National forest and many natural areas. The Channels, the Pinnacles, the Cascades, and Grayson Highlands State Park to name a few are all extraordinary natural finds and are all within an hour's drive of the park. This area is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Basic shopping needs and nice eateries are located in Marion, VA, only four miles away.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will stay in a historical bunkhouse with five bedrooms that have twin-sized beds. Linens are not provided. All towels, bed clothing, blankets and pillows will need to be brought to the site. There are two bathrooms with showers. Volunteers will have access to a fully furnished kitchen with the basic supplies needed to cook meals. Stove, refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot are included. A large living room area is available, with enough space to socially distance. There is also a deck out back and a porch out front with a picnic table for outdoor gatherings. Volunteers need to bring their own linens (sheets/bedding or sleeping bags) and towels. Please contact volunteer@americanhiking.org for assistance with gear needs.

Travel

Tri-city Airport in Blountville, TN is the closest airport. Airport pick up and drop off is available for volunteers and will be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.

Location

Hungry Mother State Park
2854 Park Boulevard, Marion, VA 24354 United States + Google Map
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