Belle Isle State Park
(804) 462-5030
1632 Belle Isle Rd.
Lancaster, VA 22503
Latitude: 37.774414
Longitude: -76.599364
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Located in the rural Northern Neck of Virginia, Belle Isle is the first state park to be purchased with funds from the $95 million 1992 Parks and Recreational Facilities Bond Referendum. The 733-acre site is a window to the beautiful lower Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. The park has seven miles of frontage on the north shore of the Rappahannock, and it borders Deep and Mulberry creeks. It features diverse tidal and nontidal wetlands, lowland marshes, tidal coves and upland forests. Overnight accommodations are available at the Bel Air mansion and guest house, and in the campground. The park also offers fishing, a boat launch, a car-top canoe and kayak launch area, and a picnic area with playground overlooking the Rappahannock River. Ranger-led canoe and educational programs are available. Powerboat, canoe, kayak, and bicycle rentals (seasonal restrictions may apply).
Friends of Belle Isle State Park
Outdoor Recreation Award for: Romantic Spots
Activities At This Destination: Biking, Boating and Water Sports, Camping, Educational Activities, Fishing, Gifts and Shopping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Picnicking, Hunting and Canoeing And Kayaking
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Deep Creek Trail
The Deep Creek Trail is a 0.9 mile multi-use trail that loops from the parking and boat ramp area to the park access road. This trail features views of Deep Creek and the Rappahannock River.
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- Length: 0.9
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Gravel, Natural
Mud Creek Trail
Mud Creek Trail is a .5 mile easy hiking trail that is accessible from the car-top launch area and takes users through the woods, then along an agricultural field, ultimately reaching the Watch House and Porpoise Creek trailheads.
Blaze Color: Yellow
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- Length: 0.5
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Gravel, Grass, Boardwalks
Mulberry Creek Boardwalk Trail
The Mulberry Creek Boardwalk Trail is a short, handicap accessible boardwalk that may be reached from the Mud Creek cartop launch area. This trail offers views of Mud Creek and Mulberry Creek and is a good choice for those wishing to observe waterfowl that frequent the area.
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- Length: 0.1
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Boardwalk
Neck Fields Trail
The Neck Fields Trail is a 1.3 mile, easy multi-use trail, that is accessible from the Watch House Trail and takes users along the peninsula, passing through wooded areas and agricultural fields, and terminating at Brewer's Point where Mulberry Creek flows into the Rappahannock River. A pit toilet and picnic tables are located near the trail's end here. Several secondary trails, including the .8 mile Neck Fields Loop Trail, wind around the fields flanking the trail.
Blaze Color: Green
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- Length: 1.3
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Gravel, Grass
North Boundary Trail
The North Boundary Trail is a 1.5 mile easy multi-use trail around the perimiter of agricultural fields on the northern side of the park. The trail follows the wooded boundaries of cultivated fields and offers occasional views of Mulberry Creek. A camping area is also sited along the trail.
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- Length: 1.5
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Natural
Porpoise Creek Trail
The Porpoise Creek Trail is a 0.4 mile easy multi-use trail that runs between an agricultural field and a wooded area. It connects the Watch House Trail access to the picnic area and passes by an observation blind where visitors may view wildlife on Porpoise Creek.
Blaze Color: Blue
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- Length: 0.4
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Grass, Gravel
Watch House Trail
The Watch House Trail is a .4 mile easy multi-use trail that is accessible from the Mud Creek Trail and from the Porpoise Creek Trail. It runs alongside marsh areas and passes through fields until it ends at the Rappahannock River where there are a few benches. The 1 mile Watch House Loop Trail, which wraps around the adjacent fields, is accessible from this trail.
Blaze Color: Red
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- Length: 0.4
- Difficulty: Easy
- Surface: Gravel, Grass
The Bel Air Mansion
The Bel Air Mansion, built in 1942, was the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Garland Pollard Jr. This Colonial reproduction house was designed by Thomas Tilson Waterman, an architectural historian with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in its early years. The construction of the building included using interior materials from other notable historic buildings in the local area. Current furnishings in the building include solid hardwood, Colonial reproductions and oriental rugs that maintain the historic character of the building. Occupancy of the mansion is limited to six because of fire code requirements. Smoking is not permitted.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.9699 -76° 34.8349
Bel Air Guest House
The Bel Air Guest House sits 15 feet off of a cove on Deep Creek. Picture and bay windows provide beautiful views of sunsets over the Rappahannock River. The children of John Garland Pollard called this building their play house.The building is furnished with standard cabin style furniture. The great room can be set up in many combinations for different purposes. (See the arrangements below.) Maximum occupancy is eight (this includes three cots that come with the rental). It can be rented weekly along with Bel Air Mansion.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.5516 -76° 34.8966
Camping Area
Belle Isle has a brand new campground that is accessible from the road that leads to the cartop launch. It features 30 campsites with electricity and water, picnic tables and fire pits. Seven of these sites are pull through for easier RV access. There is a dump station and a bathhouse/laundry facility. The park also offers primitive group camping for groups who obtain the necessary permit. Contact the park for more details.Five sites - 7, 16, 17, 22 and 25 - are specific pop-up camper types. Open during camping season only, March 1 to first Monday in December. Check-in is 3 P.M.; check-out is 10 A.M. Two-night minimum. Please do not arrive earlier.
- Season/Hours: March 1 through the 1st Monday in December/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.8550 -76° 35.6650
Picnic Area
The parks main picnic area is accessible from the main park road. It has several picnic tables and outdoor grills, restrooms, vending machines, a playground, and two picnic shelters, the Rappahannock Shelter and the William L. Humphreys Memorial Shelter.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.4016 -76° 35.5116
Deep Creek Boat Launch
A new ramp is available for the motor boaters on Deep Creek. Boaters are encouraged to visit by way of water. The motor boat area offers a picnic shelter, grills and restrooms. Docking is permitted during daylight hours. Controlling water depth at the mouth of Deep Creek is two feet mean low water. Purchase an annual boat launch passport by calling 1-800-933-PARK.Equipment rentals offer opportunities to explore the parks 7.5 miles of shoreline on the Rappahannock River, Deep and Mulberry Creeks, in addition to the seven varieties of wetlands and coastal agricultural fields.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.4383 -76° 35.0433
Humphreys Shelter
It can accommodate up to 70 within the shelter and another 40 about it. It is handicapped accessible, offers beach access (great for fishing, with a valid Virginia fishing license), and features a great view of the waterway. It includes a pig-cooker, grills, picnic tables, electrical outlet, and is 100 feet from parking, 100 feet from a playground and 200 feet from a restroom.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Full Day
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.4016 -76° 35.5116
Rappahannock Shelter
It can accommodate up to 70 within the shelter and another 40 about it. It is handicapped accessible, offers beach access (great for fishing, with a valid Virginia fishing license - no swimming), and features a great view of the waterway. It includes a grill, picnic tables and is 100 feet from parking and 140 feet from a restroom.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Full Day
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.4016 -76° 35.5116
Deep Creek Shelter
It can accommodate up to 24 within the shelter and another 20 about it. It is handicap accessible. There's no fishing, but it features a great view of the waterway. It's accessible by boat. It includes grills, picnic tables and is 80 feet from parking and 35 feet from a restroom.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Full Day or Half Day
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.4383 -76° 35.0433
Car Top Launch
A cartop launch area is available for visitors with canoes, kayaks and windsails.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.9666 -78° 36.2566
Park Office Gift Shop
The park office has a small gift shop inside that sells souvenirs as well as camping necessities such as fire starters and hatchets in addition to cold drinks, snacks, ice, and popsicles.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.7566 -76° 35.5466
Fishing Pier
Small fishing piers are on Mulberry Creek near the parks car top launch. Some fish that may be found include croaker, spot, flounder, and rockfish. Because the water here is brackish either a Virginia salt or freshwater fishing license is required to fish here.
- Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (804) 462-5030
- Fee: Park Fees
- Location:37° 46.9266 -78° 36.2549
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