I first went to York River State Park in 2016, but I remembered little about it. I decided to go back to the Park this time because I overslept and missed an opportunity to travel further afield. So, what did I think of York River State Park with context now known? Keep reading to find out, and watch the accompanying YouTube video.
Fossil Beach: The Prettiest Section
Fossil Beach is the most beautiful and interesting section of the Park. The fossils themselves are not much, being small shells located in the sandy cliff; you would assume that these are shells that washed up on the beach without knowing the context. But I have always loved wild beaches for their quiet beauty and peaceful nature.
Other Scenic Places
Besides Fossil Beach, York River State Park has other beaches. These beaches (like Seining Beach) are much smaller, but they are still quite nice. York River State Park also contains a pond and marshlands.
Besides the aforementioned beaches, pond, and marsh, York River State Park also has some specific places that are worth noting. An elevated platform stands at the end of the Pamunkey trail, allowing park-goers to see views of the York River. The trails leading up to Fossil Beach and the marsh at Croaker Landing are also lovely.
The Woods
Much of York River State Park is woodlands. I have become used to the woods of the Tidewater region of Virginia, which can be described as relatively flat with small hills and endless trees surrounding the trail. From this description, this does not make for interesting photographs. Still, I managed to take a few photos of the wooded areas.
My real complaint about York River State Park is how confusing the maps are and how few things are labeled. There are several historic house foundations listed on the map, but they were impossible to find. I foolishly tried to figure out where I was on the Backbone Trail using the branching bike trail, but those trails went all over the place. At some point on the Backbone Trail, there was fork in the road that was (maybe) not listed on the map; I took the right one in a field thinking it would lead me somewhere, but I ended up on private property.
Conclusion
Overall, I feel that York River State Park has a few nice places, but it’s mostly uninspiring woodlands; the Backbone Trail in particular is a long slog to get through. My assessment might be too harsh, but York River State Park is very similar to other parks in the Tidewater region of Virginia, particularly since many of those parks are free. Perhaps I would have appreciated the Park more if I lived in a different ecosystem. Still, there is much to recommend in York River State, and those looking for outdoor recreation can find plenty to do.
Below is my companion YouTube video about York River State Park, which has footage not found on the blog. I also have two videos from my old channel about two other State Parks in Virginia, Machicomoco State Park and High Bridge Trail State Park.
Restaurants
The closest major city to York River State Park is Williamsburg, which has many restaurants. Here are my recommendations from the Colonial Williamsburg post: in order from closest to furthest from the Park is Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que, Maria Bonita Cantina, Anna’s Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta, Honey Butter Kitchen, the restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg, and Bonanza Social Kitchen.