The future Hayfields State Park
The Future State Park at Hayfields in Highland County is located between Bullpasture and Jack Mountains at an elevation ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 feet.
The 1,034-acre property, previously known as Hayfields Reserve, was acquired by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) in 2017 with the assistance of the The Conservation Fund (TCF). In 2023, 994 acres were transferred to Virginia State Parks, with the remaining 40 acres planned for transfer in mid-2025.
The future state park features a mix of heavily-wood mountain land, valley pastures and several structures, including a single-lane truss bridge and an 1800s farmhouse. The Bullpasture River flows through the property for about a mile and is home to numerous threatened and endangered species.
Along the southeastern boundary, the property shares over a mile boundary with the Highland Wildlife Management Area, which is owned and managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
The General Assembly approved funding for staffing and limited operations of the future state park for fiscal year 2025. Work has begun to prepare the future state park for public access, which will initially include hiking and mountain biking trails, parking areas, fishing, and bird-watching opportunities.
A master plan committee will be established to guide the park’s future management and development; however, development will not begin until additional funding is made available.
Key Contacts
- Justin Rexrode, Park Manager, justin.rexrode@dcr.virginia.gov
- Nathan Younger, District Manager, Shenandoah Region, Virginia State Parks: nathan.younger@dcr.virginia.gov
- Starr Anderson, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, starr.anderson@dcr.virginia.gov
- Jason McGarvey, Communications and Outreach Manager, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, jmcgarvey@vof.org