Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

Read Our Blogs

 

Posted August 25, 2016 | Updated July 18, 2018

A recent trip to Westmoreland State Park allowed us to discover a location in Virginia that we will return to over and over. 

Miles of great hiking trails also allow nature lovers a rare unspoiled wilderness experience of the Potomac River and its amazing beaches.

High tide, but still wonderful! Just temporarily makes 2 beaches, rather than one.at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

High tide temporarily makes Fossil Beach two beaches instead of one

Enjoy the beach at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

Fossil Beach at Westmoreland State Park

Westmoreland State Park quickly dispels the myth that for a proper beach experience, one must go to the Atlantic Coast. All of our Chesapeake Bay area and Northern Neck State Parks also come with bald eagles and osprey fishing over the peaceful waterways.

You don't get raptors, or a peaceful nature day at Virginia Beach, and Virginia State Parks are a fraction of the price. No lapping a beach town praying to find parking that won't also break the bank at our park system either. So, enough raving about fantastic value, though it truly does make a difference in how much we can do around the state on our incomes.

We can have 3 trips a week, rather than 3 or fewer trips a month for fun days.

Catch a whopper at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

Now, we always view a Virginia State Park we are attending for the first time through the lens of avid hikers and photographers. We love a good variety of hike distances in a park, and hope for beautiful views and a choice of hiking difficulties. The trails in this park were awesome. Many miles of woods and one is even paved that leads to a pristine pond. If you are looking for an even more strenuous workout, you can use the fitness trials that have stops with exercise equipment to use.

One of the most beautiful trials leads to the amazing Fossil Beach. It is less than a mile hike, and well worth the trip. This beach is flanked on either end with beautiful cliffs that, over time, have eroded away and dropped all manner of fossils into the Potomac River surf. Though not always guaranteed, you may indeed find long extinct sharks teeth washing in and out among the waves.

Beautiful sunsets to end your fun day at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

Fossilized shark's tooth found at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

The sharks tooth is on the finger of one of the young YCC volunteers featured here. We hung out with them on the beach and talked and had fun. They had declared the hornets winners of the day and had just come from working on the beachfront handicap accessible camp site under construction. An amazing group of young women. We applaud their efforts to add even more handicap accessibility to the Virginia State Park system.

Lovely scenery abounds at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

So much to see and do at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

The Discovery Center is another must see stop. It has lots of fossils from animals long extinct, and references to how large those animals would have been. There are also many stuffed versions of animals that may be seen in the park, from red fox to owls. The other interesting part of this educational collection was the rubber paw replicas and skulls of current resident fauna. These were way cool.

The Visitor Center is a wonder to see also. The environment was kept in mind through every aspect of its design and construction. The site was chosen to have the least impact on the environment. The materials and type of construction of the building and parking lot were also environmentally sound and innovative.

The gardens were teeming with life at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

A bee on native flowers outside the Visitor Center

They did such a good job considering the environment that the building received an environmental award. The other nice part of the Visitor Center is the amazing Northern Neck native garden planted around it. It is beautiful when in bloom and has lots of insects enjoying the sweetness of the flowers.

Beauty at every turn at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

When we checked out the major beach near the swimming pool and concession stand, we watched people kayaking and fishing from the pier.

Each state park with water so far has had kayak rentals and someone there to give pointers to beginners making it more tempting for first timers to finally pick up paddles and take to Virginia's waterways. Virginia's rivers, Chesapeake Bay and tidal estuary system, and Atlantic coast, all have diverse habitats, and from a kayak or canoe, you can view nature like never before.

For those not wishing to paddle the Potomac there is the swimming pool

For those that prefer a skilled lifeguard on duty so they can read their book in peace and for those folks that have a healthy aversion for the occasional jellyfish in the Potomac River 

It was on our second visit, with our longing to see the cliffs from open water that we overcame our fear of curvy boats designed to roll over. We took the plunge and learned to kayak. 

Off we went to photograph the cliffs in a pair of handsome red kayaks. The Potomac was nothing but gentle waves that day and I had a tethered waterproof cell phone case hanging from my neck to ensure if we did roll, my phone we use for photography would be sealed and safe. It is funny to note, though growing up in Michigan, Bob never learned to swim until he joined the Navy. Then it took all of 20 minutes, making him wonder why he hadn't made the effort before.

Remember, if you can't swim, you can't rent. So, non-swimmers, is that incentive to take a swim class somewhere? The rental fee includes a required adjustable life jacket so you feel safe, even in rough waters.

You can rent these at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

A great way to see the park is from the water at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

A different perspective of the cliffs from the water at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

I have to say, since that day, we also kayaked York River State Park, and we wish now we had tried this long ago. The views are incredible, and not the views you'll get from the shorelines.

You can alsomake videos to record and share your memories from out on the water. A zip lock bag containing a dry towel is handy to take so you can dry your hand before using your touch screen, though my hands have remained rather dry during kayaking so far.

We adventured all over the park from the Potomac River at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

Wonderful exercise and vantage point from a kayak at Westmoreland State Park in VirginiaYou never know where you will encounter something amazing at a Virginia State Park, this snapping turtle, at least 80 lbs at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

You never know where you will encounter something amazing at a Virginia State Park, this snapping turtle, at least 80 lbs!

An incredible creature at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

With extensive campgrounds, miles of hiking trails, a really interesting Discovery Center, a wonderful environmentally friendly Visitor Center, a swimming pool, and two great beaches, we plan to take even more trips to this park during fall color.

Music on the Cliffs is our next anticipated visit to Westmoreland State Park, but we really need very little excuse to hop in the car and head there. The serenity of Fossil Beach calls to us, constantly.

A day at the beach at at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia

We shared the beach early in the day. Dogs have fun at Virginia State Park beaches too, just like their pet people and he was properly leashed as well. We love it when everyone follows the rules. It makes our parks even more fun when the furry attendees are welcome guests by everybody too.

Visit our Facebook page "Virginia Through Our Eyes," and I will give some photo by photo commentary on how we got a few of the more spectacular shots at Westmoreland State Park.

Stay tuned to Bob and Kevin's series on Virginia State Parks to learn more cell phone photography tips, these images were all taken with a cell phone camera, and we are excited to have them get to know Virginia one park at a time.


Did you know you can visit any Virginia State Park for free using a pass obtained at your local library? Go here for the details. To see a listing of upcoming park events and activities, visit our database here.

Learn more about overnight accommodations at Westmoreland State Park by clicking here, or calling 800-933-7275.

Posted August 25, 2016 | Updated July 18, 2018

 

PARKS
CATEGORIES
SHARE THIS PAGE

If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

COMMENTS

Sylvia Puryear (November 08, 2016 11:53:58 AM): WESTMORELAND is the best state park of them all!!!!

Rebecca White (August 23, 2016 12:31:33 AM): This is a wonderful review and gorgeous pictures of a heavenly paradise! The photography is extraordinary!

By Park