Fossil Beach — Attraction in Virginia

Drove about two hours from home on Tuesday, September 10, to Fossil Beach using Google Maps—the guidance is clear and correct. Fossil Beach is now a part of Westmoreland State Park, so you may enjoy a great many services of a Virginia State Park much enlarged from yesteryear—including a very impressive Visitor Center with ice cream treats and T-shirts and baseball caps etc.—even some books for sale—and CLEAN REST ROOMS!

Fossil Beach is at the end of Big Meadow Trail. A six-tenth mile descent across the road from the Visitor Center leads you down to the quiet, driftwood-strewn sandy beach where dedicated searchers can perhaps find two fossil shark teeth per day (for some reason, women seem much more effective than men or even children at finding them). If you are desperate for shark’s teeth, the Visitor Center sells them, but I am not sure if they are locally sourced.

The entire Big Meadow trail is shaded, but the beach is not; those who are not bringing their own shade will need sunscreen. The beach is bounded by PRIVATE PROPERTY AT BOTH ENDS, so the bounds are clearly marked and threats of private owners are disclosed. There were no guns displayed while I was there, but I suppose there might be.

The people I met there were nice and I certainly found the beach—which is 100% Potomac River water donated by...

• We visited in the early afternoon on a Friday in late December 2023 (after Christmas). • We went down Big Meadows Trail just off the parking lot to fossil beach. It’s a well-maintained trail but it’s a little longer than you’d probably think and also elevation changes along with a lot of bumpy roots so watch your step. I’d still classify it as a easy trail but it’s not flat. • We got to the end and there is quite a bit of erosions and wash out. So be careful. Also we did not have the right shoes or anything for fossil hunting. There were people out there in waders and wagon carts. Apparently, there are serious fossil hunters here. Kids were kind of disappointed that they couldn’t get over to the nice area to fossil hunting, but we weren’t prepared either. I think it was high tide. If we came again maybe we would bring shovels, sifters and water shoes. It was also cold because it was Dec. We’ve been to one other fossil beach where it was just littered with fossils everywhere you stepped. It looked pretty cleaned and picked over here. Just need to management the kids expectations better next time to avoid major disappointment. • We would definitely visit this fossil beach again if we were...

Fun filled afternoon! We had a FANTASTIC visit and could have spent longer if we were not on the way to Williamsburg. There is a little gift shop with snacks and trinkets but definitely recommend packing a picnic lunch. The parking lot to beach is a bit of a hike so wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops or beach shoes) for the trail. It took us longer than expected. When you get to the beach there is just beach so make sure to pack anything you will want to use - umbrella, blanket, sand toys, etc. Highly recommend using old conference nametapes for each of your kids when searching for sharks teeth in the water. The badges stay above water and keep treasures visible rather than dealing with something lost in a pocket. We brought dollar store colanders and they were perfect for using in the small waves. While we were there at least five sharks teeth were found and some...