Hungry Mother State Park

In Smyth County, about 3 miles north of Marion, Hungry Mother State Park covers about 2,980 acres.

Popular activities here are historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, and hiking. Its trail network totals roughly 17 miles, according to the park. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites, group camping, and showers. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins and yurts.

Cabins Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, all cabins and the lodge are rented for a six-night minimum beginning on a specified start date that varies by cabin. The six-night requirement is reduced to a required four-night stay three months out and dropped to two nights in the last month before arrival. Some cabins located at Hemlock Haven Conference Center have different amenities than the other cabins (see specifics below). Please read the description of the cabins carefully before reserving a cabin. Much of the cabin furniture was recently upgraded. Please call the park for details. Guests arriving after hours must stop by the park office on Park Blvd. Late arrival packets will be located to the right of the office on a large wooden kiosk. Each envelope will be marked with guests' names. The envelopes will include directions and information on cabin access. Late-arriving guests should return to the office the next morning to register. Cabins have: • Kitchen: Refrigerator, range/oven, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans, microwave oven and toaster. No dishwasher, telephone, TV or washer/dryer. Please note that Chestnut, Sycamore, and Hickory do not have full kitchens. Please read the description for these specific cabins below. Cabins have heating and AC. • Bring food, dish detergent, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, dishtowels, dishcloths, potholders, soap, bath towels, board games or cards. • No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own sheets, blankets, pillowcases and towels. • Living area: sofa, dining table, end table • Bedrooms: bed(s), nightstand, chest of drawer, clock radio • Bathroom: universally accessible shower, sink and toilet • Charcoal pedestal grill - guest must supply charcoal • Fireplace - Please note that Chestnut, Hickory, Sycamore, Red Oak, White Oak, and Scarlet Oak do not have a fireplace, but do have fire rings. • Picnic table • Two vehicles per cabin allowed. Others must park in lot #6 and pay daily parking fees. • Overnight cabin guests receive one bundle of free firewood per stay. More is available for purchase. • Cabins 17, 19 and 20-25 are universally accessible inside, offer wide doors and rest on level ground or have ramps at their main entrance. Cabins 14-25 have universally accessible bathrooms. • Cabin 7 has the largest floor area. • These cabins have open porches: #1-5, 7, 9, 14-25. • These cabins have decks: #6, 8, 9-20. Total sites of each type: 1-room log efficiency, 1; 1-bedroom frame, 1; 1-bedroom log water view, 1; 2-bedroom log, 3; 2-bedroom frame, 7; 2-bedroom cinderblock,12; Hungry Mother Lodge, 1 Site types: • 1-room log efficiency - Cabin 3. One room, allows two, sleeps two. One-room log efficiency; one queen bed. Historic cabin built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). • 1-bedroom frame - Cabin 9. Allows four, sleeps two. One queen bed. One-bedroom wood frame. The third and fourth guests would need to bring a sleeping bag or air mattress. • 1-bedroom log water view - Cabin 2. Water-view, allows four, sleeps two. One-bedroom log; one queen bed. The third and fourth guests would need to bring a sleeping bag or air mattress. Historic cabin built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). • 2-bedroom log - Cabins 1, 4 and 5. Allows six, sleeps four. Two-bedroom log; one set of bunk beds and one queen bed. The fifth and sixth guests must bring a sleeping bag or air mattress. Historic cabin built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). • 2-bedroom frame - Cabins 6, 8, and 10 through 13. Allows six, sleeps six. Two-bedroom wood frame; two sets of bunk beds and one queen bed. • 2-bedroom frame - Cabin 7. Allows six, sleeps four. Two-bedroom wood frame; two twin beds and one queen bed. The fifth and sixth guests must bring a sleeping bag or air mattress. • 2-bedroom cinderblock - Cabins 14-25. Allows six, sleeps six. Two-bedroom cinderblock with cedar siding; two sets of bunk beds and one queen bed. Please note cabins 21-25 are located in the Hemlock Haven Conference Center area of the park. Total cabins: 25 Hemlock Haven cabins Hemlock Haven has 6 named cabins with different amenities than the other cabins in the park. Please read the descriptions below carefully before making your reservation. • Red Oak, White Oak and Scarlet Oak cabins: These cabins each sleep six. They have two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and the other with two sets of bunk beds. There's a full-service kitchen, dining area, a living room with a sofa and table, and two bathrooms. All other amenities are the same as those listed above for cabins in Hungry Mother proper, except that they have no fireplace. Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bath towels, washcloths, kitchen towels, and dishcloths. Other cabins in Hemlock Haven: There are three cabins in Hemlock Haven with amenities that significantly differ from those in other cabins at the park. Carefully read their descriptions below before booking them. Each sleeps eight and do not have a full-service kitchen but does have utensils, dishes and a grill kit. They have no fireplaces. All have decks, heating-AC, a coffee maker and a microwave oven. Chestnut and Hickory have a standard refrigerator; Sycamore has a mini-refrigerator. These cabins are designed for outdoor grilling; each has a deck and an outdoor gas grill. The cabins have names rather than numbers. Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bath towels, washcloths, kitchen towels, and dishcloths. • Chestnut (universally accessible cabin): This universally accessible cabin sleeps eight people in four bedrooms. Each bedroom has two single beds and a chest of drawers. No linens are provided. It has a sitting room with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and toaster, and two common bathrooms with universally accessible facilities. No fireplace. Gas grill on the porch. • Sycamore and Hickory cabins: Each of these two-bedroom cabins sleeps eight. Each bedroom has two sets of bunk beds, a closet, and a chest of drawers. No linens are provided. Each has a sitting room. Note that these cabins don't have a full kitchen. Hickory has a full-sized refrigerator and Sycamore has a mini-refrigerator. Each cabin has microwave, toaster and coffee maker. Sycamore has a full bathroom, toilet and sink in each bedroom. Hickory has a common bathroom with two showers, two toilets and three sinks. No fireplace. Gas grill on the porch. Lodges Hungry Mother Lodge - Six-bedroom lodge (Sleeps 15 maximum). It's a great place for a family get-together. Rentals begin on Saturday when a six-night stay is required. This historic log lodge offers a view of the park. It was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. Universally accessible. Interior logs have been stained in a light finish. Parking at the lodge is limited. Guests must park additional vehicles in lot 6. Six bedrooms: Master bedroom with a double bed and private bathroom and tub, three bedrooms with queen size beds, one with two sets of bunk beds (making four beds), one bedroom with a single bed, and a set of bunk beds (making three beds), and two full bathrooms with a universally accessible shower. The lodge sleeps 15. • TV-DVD in the living area. No cable. • Kitchen: Kitchen: Refrigerator, dishwasher, range, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans, microwave oven, toaster, clock radios. Rustic furniture. The lodge is climate-controlled (heat and AC). • Bring food, dish detergent, dish towels, dishcloths, pot holders, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, bath towels, body wash or soap, board games or cards. • Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bath towels, washcloths, kitchen towels, and dishcloths. • Porch • Large deck and a picnic shelter • Washer and dryer • Gas grill • Horseshoe pits (bring your own horseshoes) • Gas fireplace Yurts Functionally speaking, they’re a cross between a tent and a cabin. Hungry Mother has three yurts, two of which are in Camp Burson campground. The other yurt is in the Royal Oak campground. Each yurt has a large wooden deck, a picnic table and fire ring with a cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed for each yurt. Those with additional vehicles must pay the daily parking fee and park in available overflow spaces in the campground. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season for yurts in Camp Burson begins on the first Monday in March and ends on the first Sunday in December. The rental season for yurts in Royal Oak runs from April 1 through October 31. Cabin cancellation policies apply. Yurts must be rented for Friday and Saturday on weekends, but one-night stays are allowed otherwise. During the summer season, check-in at the Camp Burson office for yurts in that campground and, for the Royal Oak yurt, check-in at the Discovery Center. Outside of the summer season, check in at the park’s Discovery Center for all yurts. • Maximum occupancy four. Sleeps three. One queen-sized bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. No linens are provided. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens. • No smoking, cooking or pets are allowed in yurts, with the exception of service animals. • Yurts have no inside electricity, water or lighting. An electrical pedestal and water hydrant are next to the Camp Burson yurts. The Royal Oak yurt has no water or electricity available at the site. • Each yurt has a sofa, chair, coffee table and dining table in addition to the bed and trundle bed. Dining table seats four. • No heat or air-conditioning. • Guests use the campground bathhouse, located a short walk from the sites. • Yurt 2 in Camp Burson is universally accessible.

Hiking, bicycle trails and self-guided trails. More than 17 miles of trails are open year-round. Hungry Mother offers self-guided programs for all ages and interests. The Kids in Parks Track Trail is a .6-mile paved trail that helps children and adults learn about various plants and animals in the park. The park also offers a geocaching program that takes guests on a “treasure hunt.” The Discovery Center has information about the program and geocaching in general. Guests may also visit the Discovery Center to check out one of four Park Packs for up to three days. Each pack contains supplies, equipment and games for learning about and identifying flora and fauna.

Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. Weather and other issues may occur at times force suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim at the beach’s designated area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is prohibited. The swimming beach has a bathhouse and concession area. From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, guarded swimming and a snack bar are available 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Operating hours are weather-dependent. Click here for park fees.

The 108-acre Hungry Mother Lake within the park supports a host of sport fish, including largemouth, smallmouth, hybrid striped and spotted bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, carp, bluegill, rock bass, muskellunge and walleye. The channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, walleyes and musky are stocked every year. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. Boat launching is available for non-gasoline-powered boats. A boat launching ramp and a universally accessible fishing pier have also been developed. Boat rentals for canoes, kayaks, fishing kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and hydrobikes are available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Rentals may be available on weekends weather permitting before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Please contact park for availability. Whenever Watersports Self-Serve Kayak Rentals Single and tandem kayaks are available to rent for an expanded season through the Whenever Watersports app and kiosk. Find more details here.

The 108-acre Hungry Mother Lake within the park supports a host of sport fish, including largemouth, smallmouth, hybrid striped and spotted bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, carp, bluegill, rock bass, muskellunge and walleye. The channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, walleyes and musky are stocked every year. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. Boat launching is available for non-gasoline-powered boats. A boat launching ramp and a universally accessible fishing pier have also been developed. Boat rentals for canoes, kayaks, fishing kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and hydrobikes are available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Rentals may be available on weekends weather permitting before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Please contact park for availability. Whenever Watersports Self-Serve Kayak Rentals Single and tandem kayaks are available to rent for an expanded season through the Whenever Watersports app and kiosk. Find more details here.

A state fishing license is usually required.

• Discovery Center: universally accessible parking, two spaces; interior easily accessible, both men and women accessible restrooms. • Picnic shelters: All three shelters have adjacent, universally accessible parking. Shelters 1 and 2 are universally accessible; shelter 3 is not because there's a small step going down into it. The shelters' fireplaces are not accessible. • Beach area: universally accessible walkway with a sidewalk around the beach area. The park has only one first-come, first-served beach wheelchair that's available when the beach concessions is open. The bathhouse/changing area is universally accessible with restroom facilities. • Campgrounds: The Creekside, Royal Oak and Camp Burson campgrounds have universally accessible bathhouses. All bathhouses have universally accessible parking with paved sites that are near the bathhouse. • Cabins: Hungry Mother cabins 17, 19 and 20 through 25 are accessible. Cabins 14, 15, and 16 have a five-inch step outside and are accessible inside. • Hungry Mother Lodge: universally accessible bathroom and master bedroom, with a ramp for entrance. • Amphitheater: universally accessible by a paved trail across a wooden bridge and smooth mulched surface on Amphitheater Island. • Trails: universally accessible trail from the beach area to parking lot six, approximately ¾-mile in length. • Fishing pier: universally accessible pier next to the beach area and adjacent to the parking lot one. • Parking lots: All have universally accessible spaces. • Lakeview Event Facility (formerly "The Restaurant"): Fully universally accessible with an elevator to the second floor and restrooms available on both levels. • Boat ramp: The dock at the boat ramp is universally accessible, but loading into boats is up to the individual. • All walkways along with parking areas from the beach to lot 6 are paved. Within this area are three picnic shelters, Lakeview Event Facility (formerly "The Restaurant"), picnic areas with charcoal grills and tables, beach, playground equipment, fishing pier and the amphitheater. • Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric powered wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.