Holliday Lake State Park

Cabins

None, but nearby James River, Bear Creek Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have cabins.

Bunkhouse

Bunkhouse – Two-night minimum; no weekly requirement. It can be rented only during camping season, from the first Friday in March through the first Monday of December. The three-room, climate-controlled trailer has seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker. Outside the bunkhouse are a deck, a large fire ring with a cooking grate, a large pedestal grill, a water spigot, and a small screened-in shelter with two picnic tables and an outdoor sink. Water is available during warmer months; call the park to verify. Cooking, smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the bunkhouse. Parking for five vehicles is covered with the rental of the bunkhouse; all other vehicles must pay the park's daily parking fee. Additional cars must park in the field across from Redbud Campground. This facility is not rented 11 months in advance; it goes online in February each year. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.

The park has six hiking trails and one aquatic trail. Lakeshore Trail is a 6.5-mile hiking trail that loops around the lake and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, passing through a hardwood forest, wetlands and managed pine plantation. Saunders Creek Trail provides access from the campground to the picnic area and is 0.1-mile in length. Dogwood Loop is a 0.7-mile loop that starts across from Redbud Campground. Northridge Trail is 0.4-miles and provides a ridge top walk from the picnic area toward the northern end of Holliday Lake and connects to Lakeshore Trail. The Laurel Ridge Trail begins near the Group Camp in Laurel Ridge Campground and connects to Saunders Creek Trail. The S-Curve Trail, which starts at Redbud Campground and ends at the picnic area, enables guests to stay off the road while walking to the beach area. The Sunfish Aquatic Trail is a self-guided water adventure that requires a boat and a free trail brochure. A brochure map and numbered stops provide information about the lake and environment as you paddle around its edges. Carter Taylor Trail, a multi-use trail in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, can be reached by hikers from Lakeshore Trail. Bicyclists can access the trail by State Park Road at our entrance sign. Equestrian users must park in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest trailhead off Francisco Road (Rt. 636). A State Forest Use Permit is required for bicyclists and equestrians using that trail.

Unguarded swimming year-round. Guests must swim in the beach’s designated buoyed area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is prohibited. Pets are not permitted within the swimming area or inside the fence of the swimming beach. Hours are dawn to dusk. The beach area has a restroom and a snack bar. Rental boats and beach merchandise are available at the boathouse.

If you’re looking for excellent largemouth bass fishing, this scenic lake is for you. You’ll also find chain pickerel, crappie, catfish and yellow perch.

A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. Purchase licenses online at dwr.virginia.gov or at the park office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boat launching is available; electric trolling motors only. Gas-powered boats are not allowed.

Canoeists and kayakers are requested to utilize the sandy launch between the swimming area and trailered boat launch area for convenience.

Boat Rentals: The park rents Jon boats, canoes, single kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats seasonally. One-hour and four-hour rentals are available for Jon boats, paddleboards, canoes and kayaks. Pedal boats rent by the hour. Boat operations are open seasonally. Check the Know Before You Go section for the schedule.

• Campground: No designated universally accessible sites, but the park can, on request, arrange to place those with disabilities near the restrooms. Roadways are paved, and sidewalks to the restroom are paved.
• Campground Bathhouses: Accessible toilet and shower in each. Doors to buildings are not automatic, and in Redbud Bathhouse, the space inside is tight but manageable by wheelchair.
• Picnic area: The restroom has an elevated toilet, but the stall area does not meet wheelchair access size. Doors are not automatic and are difficult to open from within. There are paved sidewalks to the building. Several wheelchair-height picnic tables are scattered throughout the area, and the ground is fairly even in most places. There's a ramp for wheelchair access into shelter 2.
• Concession-swimming beach: Concession restrooms are large and open. The toilet is elevated, but space within the stall is inadequate for turning. Universally accessible parking is available by building and paved sidewalks for access. Paved walkways lead to an accessible fishing pier, beach, accessible playgrounds and food service window. The swimming area features a Mobi-mat for wheelchair access to the water.