This185-acre reservoir offers a fully stocked fishing area, boat ramp with parking, hiking and picnicking areas. A Virginia State Fishing License is required. Only non-motorized and electric motorboats are allowed. Abel Reservoir is long and riverine, and has steep-sided banks covered with rocky outcroppings and large hemlocks - reminiscent of a Canadian lake. It is almost too long for a single battery electric motor if you plan on traveling its length. There are bass, crappie, chain pickerel, bluegills and an excellent channel catfish population.

Curtis Memorial is a beautiful wooded park with nature trails, picnic shelters (by reservation), a baseball diamond, a playground, a skateboard park, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool with diving area ($ fee), a zero-depth entry wading pool with water umbrella for children ($ fee), a 91-acre fishing lake and an 18-hole public golf course ($$). Skateboarding Park: Ramps & Rails. Protective gear strongly recommended. Bikes are NOT permitted. Foul language will not be tolerated. Closed during inclement weather and some holidays. Pool: Diving area, wading pool, water umbrella, concession stand. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Picnic Shelters: Ideal for reunions, company or church picnics, wedding receptions. Available for rent April - October. Call 540-658-5019 for reservations & fees. HOURS: mid-Mar to 31 Oct, 8am-8pm. 31 Oct to mid-Mar, 8am-5:30pm.

Lake Anna State Park is 2,304 acres with 8.5 miles of lake frontage. It has more than 13 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnicking, a guarded swimming beach, a children's play area, boat ramp, food concession stand, bathhouse and children's and handicapped fishing pond. On summer weekends, interpretive programs on the nature and history of the area complement exhibits and displays in the visitor center. Three shelters are avilable for rent through the Reservations office at 800-933-Park. Fees are: Parking: weekdays $3.00, weekends $4.00; Parking & Boat Launch - weekdays $7.00, weekends $8.00; Parking & Horse Trailer - weekdays $5.00, weekends $6.00; Beach Admissions: Adults (13 & up) - weekdays $3.00, weekends $4.00; children (3-12) - weekdays $2.00, weekends $3.00; Group Swimming (10 persons or more) - adult $2.50, child $1.50. MC and V.

This 860-acre natural area including the 160-acre reservoir, is a haven for fishing, boating canoeing, hiking and picnicking. It also serves the residents of Fredericksburg and parts of Spotsylvania County with drinking water. You may bring your own boat (ELECTRIC MOTORS ONLY) to launch on the lake, or fish from the banks. Fee charged for fishing and boat launching. No swimming, horseback riding, biking of any kind, or all-terrain vehicles permitted. The park has jon boats and canoes available for rental, picnic grills and tables, and over 4 miles of hiking trails.

Above Fredericksburg, the Rappahannock and Rapidan provide excellent smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish angling. Herring and shad run the river below Fredericksburg each spring. The Rappahannock, below Fredericksburg, has white perch, largemouth bass, crappies, yellow perch, big channel catfish, and huge blue catfish. Striped bass are also abundant below Fredericksburg. Picnic tables, canoes, boats, fishing, nature trails and hiking. Fees: $1 for Fredericksburg residents, $3 for Spotsylvania and Stafford County residents, and $5 for non-residents.