Deep in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, Holliday Lake is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill is popular. Swimming at the park's guarded beach and the "Critter Hole" play area are visitor favorites. The park has several hiking trails, including a connector trail to the 10.2-mile Carter Taylor Multi-use Trail for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. Visitors enjoy its campgrounds, picnic shelters, playgrounds, seasonal concession stand, gift shop and boat ramp. The park rents canoes, kayaks, jon boats, stand-up paddleboards and pedal-boats. Holliday Lake is just minutes from the famous Appomattox Court House National Historical Park where Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in 1865 ending the American Civil War in Virginia.
Cabins
None, but nearby James River, Bear Creek Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have cabins.
Bunkhouse
Bunkhouse – Two-night minimum; no weekly requirement. It can be rented only during camping season, from the first Friday in March through the first Monday of December. The three-room, climate-controlled trailer has seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker. Outside the bunkhouse is a deck, a fire ring with cooking grate, a large pedestal grill, a water spigot, and a small screened-in shelter with two picnic tables and an outdoor sink. Water is available during warmer months; call the park to verify. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the bunkhouse. Parking for five vehicles is covered with rental of the bunkhouse; all other vehicles must pay the park's daily parking fee. Additional cars must park in the field across from Redbud Campground. This facility is not sold 11 months in advance; it goes online in January each year. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.
The transfer deadline policy and cancellation fees are the same as those for cabins.
Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own linens and pillows.
Maximum occupancy is 14. Guests are responsible for any damage.
No bathroom, kitchen or fireplace
Bunkhouse guests use campground bathhouses (about 75 yards away)
No cable hookup
Electrical outlets limited to 50-amp service are available
No extra bed rentals
No tents or other camping equipment allowed
Camping
The camping season runs from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 1 p.m. Guest may arrive before check-in and enjoy the park until their site is available. Holliday Lake allows guests to reserve specific sites.
Laurel Ridge and Redbud campgrounds. Laurel Ridge is well-suited for RVs up to 38 feet long, and Redbud allows tents, trailers, conversion vans and pop-ups up to 30 feet long.
Each site has a grill, lantern post and picnic table. The grill can be raised, allowing an open campfire. All fires must be contained within this space.
Sites are color-coded. Yellow is for sites that may be specifically reserved, which includes Laurel Ridge (30-38 feet) and both size types in Redbud (see the chart above). Redbud also has white sites (up to 22 feet) that are available for selection upon arrival. Late-arriving guests should set up on a site coded with the color assigned and register the next morning at the contact station or office.
Firewood is for sale. Starter logs are available at the contact station. Because of the risk of forest infestation, do not bring firewood to the park.
A parking fee is charged for more than two vehicles, and they must be parked near the restroom or in a field across from Redbud campground.
Guests visiting campers must pay parking fees and leave by 10 p.m. They may, however, stay overnight if the 6-person limit per site is not exceeded.
Boat launching is free for overnight campers.
Campers get one day of guarded swimming for each night of the stay.
All sites, except the group camp, have water and electric hookups.
Pets are allowed but must be attended at all times and kept in an enclosed area or on a leash no longer than six feet.
Group camping area - GroupSite - All standard tent sites, no hookups. Five tent pads, each about 16 by 20 feet. Each site has a picnic table and lantern holder. The area also has a fire ring with a cooking grate and a large pedestal grill.
Tents only.
No electricity; water available at entrance to group camping area.
Rented to groups only, up to 30 people.
Bathhouse with running water and hot showers nearby.
Pets are allowed but must be attended at all times and kept on a leash no longer than six feet or in an enclosed area.
Parking for up to eight vehicles.
Site type
Laurel Ridge Campground - LREW38ftYellow Site-Specific (Electric and Water) - color code: yellow. Offers 20, 30 and 50 amp hookup. Various equipment up to 38 feet; six sites. The sites have been designed for larger RVs and are site-specific.
Redbud Campground - RBEW22ftWhite (Electric and Water) - Color code: white. Allows tents, vans, trailers, motorhomes and popups up to 22 long. Fourteen sites are now Yellow Site-Specific. Offers 20 and 30-amp hookup. Total 29 sites.
Total sites of each type: Laurel Ridge; LREW38ftYellow, 6; Redbud; RBEW22White, 15; Redbud Yellow 14. GroupSite, 1. Bunkhouse, 1.
Laurel Ridge and Redbud campgrounds. Laurel Ridge is well-suited for RVs up to 38 feet long, and Redbud allows tents, trailers, conversion vans and pop-ups up to 30 feet long.
Recreation
TRAILS
The park has seven hiking trails and one aquatic trail. Lakeshore Trail is a 6.3-mile hiking trail that loops around the lake and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, passing through a hardwood forest, wetlands and managed pine plantation. Saunders Creek Trail provides access from the campground to the picnic area and is .1-mile in length. Dogwood Ridge Trail is a .7-mile loop that starts across from Redbud Campground. Northridge Trail is .4-miles and provides a ridge top walk from the picnic area toward the northern end of Holliday Lake and connects to Lakeshore Trail. The Laurel Ridge Trail runs from the Laurel Ridge Campground and connects to Saunders Creek Trail. The S-Curve Trail, which begins at Redbud Campground and ends at the picnic area, enables guests to stay off of the road while walking to the beach area. The Sunfish Aquatic Trail is a self-guided water adventure that requires a boat and free trail brochure. A brochure map and numbered stop's provide information about the lake and environment as you paddle around its edges. The trailhead for Carter Taylor Connector Trail is next to the amphitheater. The trail connects to a 10.2-mile loop in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest for hikers, bicycle riders and horseback riders. A State Forest Use Permit is required for bicyclists and equestrians using that trail.
SWIMMING
Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. Weather and other issues may at times force suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim in the beach’s designated buoyed area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is prohibited. Click here for park fees. Discount swim coupons and annual swimming passes are available at the park. Hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The beach area has a bathhouse and a concession operation. Rental boats and beach merchandise are available at the boathouse.
When the beach reaches capacity, park staff may stop selling and distributing swim arm bands to day-use and overnight guests until the number of people on the beach reaches a safe level. The concession stand will remain open at such times. We apologize for any inconvenience.
FISHING, BOATING
If you’re looking for great largemouth bass fishing, this scenic lake is for you. You’ll also find chain pickerel, crappie and yellow perch. It’s a good place to escape the daily grind and enjoy a peaceful day on the water.
Fishing is available with valid Virginia fishing license. Licenses are sold at the park office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boat Launching is available; electric motors only. No gas-powered boats.
Boat Rentals: Jon boats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats are available from the first weekend in April through last weekend in October, weather permitting. Paddle boats rent by the hour. One-hour and four-hour rentals are available for Jon boats, stand-up paddleboards (available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day), canoes and sit-on-top kayaks.
Guests should rent from the park office or contact station prior to Memorial Day weekend and after Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, boats are rented at the boat house on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (final rentals at 4 p.m.) and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (final rentals at 5 p.m.) on weekends and holidays. On Wednesdays in summer the snack bar handles boat rentals.
HORSES
None for rent, but visitors may bring their own horses and use the Carter-Trail Connector Trail and the state forest trail. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a current negative Coggins report for each horse brought to the park. The closest equestrian camping is at James River State Park.
