Lake Anna State Park offers variety for water enthusiasts

LAKE ANNA STATE PARK You can paddle a kayak or canoe miles in either direction, past bustling marinas and beautiful lakefront homes.

Or you can duck into quiet, wooded coves and leave the sights and sounds of the 21st century far behind. For boaters of all persuasions, fishermen, swimmers and other water enthusiasts, Spotsylvania County boasts Lake Anna State Park.

The 2,810-acre park has 10 of the 200 miles of shoreline at the 13,000-acre lake, built in 1971 to cool Dominion Resources' North Anna nuclear-power station.

For information about commercial boating, lodging and other private facilities around Lake Anna, visit www.lakeannaonline.com. In addition to motel rooms, there are bed-and-breakfast places.

Also available at the lake or nearby are boat and Jet Ski rentals, fishing guides, restaurants, food stores, golfing, hunting and wineries.

The lake offers fishing in all four seasons for largemouth and striped bass, crappie and other game fish. Lake Anna is 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg and 60 miles northwest of Richmond and is the second-largest lake contained entirely within the state.

Gold was discovered in the state park area in 1829 and the park, which opened in 1983, occupies the site of a former mine.

According to the park's Web site, www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/lak.shtml, there is plenty to do for those not interested in the water, such as picnicking, 15 miles of hiking on 11 trails, biking, horseback riding, a playground, food concessions, exhibits, rental cabins, camping and a bathhouse.

A swimming beach -- with lifeguards -- is open from the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.

Lights have been added at the park's boat ramp so those fishing can launch boats an hour before sunrise. An automatic gate allows campers to exit the boat ramp area and return to the campground after hours.

Park fees for a passenger vehicle are $4 a day on weekdays and $5 on weekends. The boat launch fee is $4 all week long. There is no charge for boat launching for camping and cabin guests.

The park's address is 6800 Lawyers Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22551-9645; phone (540) 854-5503. For more information about the park, call (800) 933-PARK or e-mail: or .

Fishing reports are available online at: www.annapoint.com/fishing.htm and www.highpointmarina.com.