Posted September 19, 2017 | Updated June 03, 2019

There is nothing mundane about Westmoreland State Park, whether you are there for the day enjoying a sweet summertime Music on the Cliffs concert, or a camping weekend with friends under the stars in one of the three woodsy campgrounds at the park.

Sometimes helpful hints are the best way to discover something new at a Virginia State Park, so that's what we'll share in this article.

Escape to one of the three campgrounds including group camps at Westmoreland State Park

Discover some of the fantastic features of Westmoreland State Park:

1 | The Wildlife: Birding enthusiasts find the park an excellent site for spotting American bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, great blue herons, common terns, green herons and gulls, as well as wintering waterfowl.

There are also plenty of opportunities to see deer, turtles, barred owls, turkeys, and more.

Keep your eyes open to spot wildlife at Westmoreland State Park 

2 | The Recreation: Participate in one of the exciting park programs. Since the programs change seasonally, so there is always something new to experience.

Search for more events and special programs here, or call the park at (804) 493-8821. 

Kayaking is a neat way to glide quietly through the water for wildlife viewing and exercise

3 | The Sunrises: Ideally being at the park overnight with a hot cup of coffee in hand early in the morning is the best way to catch a sunrise over the Potomac River. Some of the most scenic sunrises can be captured from the cabin area high above Horsehead Cliffs. Hint: If you want to stay a few nights, then Cabins 19-25 are the best for sunrises right from your cabin porch.

Or if you want to come early to the park for a sunrise, it is open from dawn to dusk daily, just drive down near the fishing pier.

Watching a sunrise on the Potomac is a spectacular way to start your day

4 | The Fossils: There is a beach named for this, Fossil Beach, which is a wonderful place to search for fossilized shark's teeth, and if you are lucky you may even find the prized Megalodon tooth, a fossil hunter's prize.

Other fossils have been discovered, excavated and studied by Paleontologists like the estimated 10-15 million year old 1000 pound whale-skull discovered in the cliffs back in 2013, click here to read more about it (word on the street is that there will soon be a great exhibit about this in the Discovery Center.)

Have fun searching for fossils and shark's teeth at Fossil Beach

5 | The River:  You can access the river near the pool/fishing area, or hike the .69 mile trail down to Fossil Beach. There is a wildlife viewing platform you can visit when you use the boardwalk that leads you out over the marsh.

There are other longer trails you can hike to get to this beach as well, and explore more of the park. Click here to see a park trail guide.

Fly a kite, kick a ball, or have fun exploring the river

BONUS | The History: Westmoreland State Park is one of the six original state parks opened in June 1936. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The project created numerous jobs during a period of great hardship. Most of the roads and trails found in the park were originally dug by hand.

On the Northern Neck peninsula, the park is minutes from George Washington’s birthplace and Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, and boyhood home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, is five minutes from the park.

This is a 2 bedroom cabin originally built by the CCC at Westmoreland State Park in the 1930's

Location

Westmoreland State Park is located just six miles northwest of Montross, just off Route 3. Drive Time: NoVa and D. C., two hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk, two and a half hours; Roanoke, five and a half hours. Click here for a Google map.

For cabin or camping reservations call 800-933-7275, or click here.

There are more than five things to love at Westmoreland State Park, this was just a sampler to get you started.

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You may also enjoy: 5 Reasons to Hike the Trails at Westmoreland State Park.

Posted September 19, 2017 | Updated June 03, 2019