The plan is to hike to the most popular location at York River State Park for a day of collecting remnants of the pre-historic past. The kids are anxious to find a giant shark tooth while you and the spouse hope to kick back and catch a few rays. But, you notice some special things along the way.

The kids are enthralled with the fiddler crabs crawling in the marsh. The ruggedness of the shoreline provides a different beach experience than can be found in other places. And following the rest of the trail through the woods is a lost piece of history and connection to a great loop hike. Welcome to the Mattaponi Trail.

Beyond the expected

The path to Fossil Beach

The skinny

The Mattaponi Tribe of Native Americans reside in King William County along the river named for them that is one of the main tributaries of the York. It is one of only three trails designated for hikers only.  Bikers and horseback riders who want a beach experience will have to journey further to Riverview. It is eight and a half tenths of a mile long and is rated easy. This trail sees heavy foot traffic from ranger and self-guided excursions to Fossil Beach.

Forest, marsh, and shoreline in one trail

Reach the beach

What the beach lacks in swimming opportunities, it more than makes up for as a scenic place to discover and explore the natural world. Fossils embedded in the cliffs are washed down with the storms to the shoreline for easy pickings. Guests are permitted to take one fossil per person, but as many photos of scenery and wildlife as they wish.

As you walk along the beach, you may even find a threatened diamondback terrapin. And don’t be surprised to see dolphin swimming here in the summer. Be warned not to walk too far to the water’s edge at low tide as you may get stuck in the mud.

Guests are permitted to take one fossil per person

Make a surprising discovery

Powhatan Panorama

The journey to Fossil Beach is part of the fun. Passing the remains of Dr. Wood’s house, there is a bridge across a small marsh that is teeming with fiddler crabs, killifish, and periwinkle snails. While walking along the cliff is unadvised, there is a place you can step off the trail to enjoy a view of the river.

Staying along the trail, the best view is from the Powhatan Overlook. This platform has an amazing vista encompassing West Point, the Poropotank River confluence, Purtan Island, Wererocomico (the home of Chief Powhatan), Allmondsville, and Capahosic (former ferry landings on the Gloucester County side of the river).

There is a place you can step off the trail to enjoy a view of the river

The best view of the York River

Ranger's Recommendations

The Mattaponi Trail forms a loop with the Woodstock Pond Trail with intersections just above the pond and at the remains of Henderson House. Taking the whole loop is great exercise and gives guests a full spectrum of the park's ecosystem.

Hiking from the Visitor Center along Backbone Trail, pick up Beaver and cross over to Mattaponi and loop back to the river along the Woodstock and you will cover two miles of woods and waters. We do permit dogs on leashes to hike with you. But do be considerate to other hikers and clean up anything “Fido” left behind.

We do permit dogs on leashes to hike with you

Wander in the woods

It is hard to imagine anyone visiting York River State Park and not coming to Fossil Beach. In addition to this dramatic shoreline, Mattaponi Trail offers history, marsh and woodland ecosystems, and some of the best waterside views in the area.

Down to the water

Directions to York River State Park: From I-64, take the Croaker Exit 231B. Go north on Route 607 (Croaker Rd.) for one mile, then right on Route 606 (Riverview Rd.) about one and a half miles to the park entrance. Take a left turn into the park.

 

Editor's Note: This is another part in the trail of the month series from York River State Park. Click here to see the previous article about Woodstock Pond Trail.