If you’re craving time near both a lake and old-growth forest, get your fix at Millersylvania State Park. This stunning camping park is set on Deep Lake amidst towering cedar and fir trees, just a few miles south of Washington’s state capital. Grab your swimsuit and hit one of the two swimming beaches for a fun summer day on the lake, or go for a mountain bike ride on the cool forest trails. Complete with kayak and paddleboard rentals and fishing opportunities, you’ll have days worth of adventure ready for you at the lake. Sleep next to the trees at one of the many campsites or stay at Lakeside Cottage, a charming 1920s lakeside rental. There is also an extensive retreat center available for group rental that can accommodate up to 150 guests in heated cabins.
The Miller family, who owned the property from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, named the park and donated it to the state in the 1920s. The park was later developed by young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps, who cut the trails and built many structures you see at the park today to send money home to their families during the Great Depression.
