Parks on the Air is a worldwide program that promotes "international portable amateur radio operations that promote emergency awareness and communications from national/federal and state/provincial level parks." Contacts may be accomplished by using any authorized transmission mode (phone, cw or digital) on any band. Yes, even the WARC (30, 17 & 12 meters) bands. Even the channelized 60 meter band is open for POTA operations! POTA is NOT a contest!!

There are few requirements to participate. If you're a hunter, call a park activator. They can be easily found as activators will be calling "CQ POTA". Stations can also be found via the pota.app website. Rules can be found at the above website. There are only a few rules (remember, it's supposed to be FUN!). That being said, there are rules of conduct that we, as radio amateurs, are expected to follow. We are to place a good face of amateur radio to the public.

There are many locations that count as two or more parks! Also, while POTA doesn't include municipal parks in the program, there are instances where a POTA park or trail goes through a municipal park. There are many examples of this in eastern Virginia as you'll see in the charts below.

Not only have I included park reference numbers (US-1299 for example), I've also included Maidenhead Grid Square Locators. Why? Many parks are in more than one grid locator. Computer logging programs that support POTA operations will have park locations already included. It will automatically fill in the grid locator when you type the other station's park reference.This data comes from the POTA data. Similarly, when you start to activate your park in the logging program, there is a field to fill in your locator. If you're a stickler for location as I am, you'll want to fill in your locator as accurate as possible.

To explain what I mean, the locator listed for the Virginia Bird & Wildlife trail is listed for only one location, a park on Lake Anna in central Virginia (FM18cc). If you're operating from a VBWT trail park in Virginia Beach, you don't want your logs to show you were operating at Lake Anna. Normally, VBWT is what I call a secondary park, as it's literally part of HUNDREDS of national, state & municipal parks across Virginia. During your QSO's you'd tell the other station your what I call "primary" park (US-1299, for example) first, then any other secondary park or trail you're activating.

"How do I know if I'll be activating two or more parks during my activation?" Good question. Research the park in question. If not on the pota.app site, asking fellow activators is a good idea. I've taken the initiative below to list parks that may have more than one reference.

"What about grid square locators?" The locators are listed with the park on the POTA site. However, for parks that cover parts of two or more states and/or more than one locator, a useful app is the Repeaterbook phone app. Once you open the app as if you're searching for the nearest VHF or UHF repeater, your current grid locator is shown at the top of the screen. Another useful tool is the site by F5LEN.

As of December 4, 2025, ALL Wildlife Management Areas in Virginia have been deactivated from the Parks on the Air program. Please do not atttempt to activate in a WMA as 1- it will no longer count and 2- you will run the risk of being asked to leave the WMA by a ranger. Applications for Special Use Authorization (SUA) will be denied. Basically, if you're not hunting, fishing (with permits) or hiking (in areas where hiking is permitted), you're not permitted in a WMA without a paid permit.