We visited here on a Friday in early April. It was actively raining so we decided to not go on our planned hike. We did look at the couple exhibits inside the visitor center and looked at the store. The ranger and other lady at the kiosk were fun to talk to.

There is a video for the park they show in the theater on demand. It was a nice quick way to learn about the park even though we didn't get to hike and explore it much.

We also have been trying to collect all the VA State Park pins and unfortunately this park's pin is a bit underwhelming. It's a green shield with a buffalo and the park's name on it and it's very very small Almost the size of a button. We did end up picking up a couple of the cool looking stickers and a patch.

There are bathrooms and a water bottle filler inside the visitor center.

Definitely worth another visit to this park just to do a couple of the interesting looking trails. Martin's Station the historical living history area/fort was also closed on our visit. They are currently only open on the weekends.

• We visited in the early afternoon on a Friday in late December 2023 (after Christmas).

• There was no one at the front booth so payment is the honor system here. We have a VA State Park annual pass so we were not concerned.

• We drove straight to the visitor center. There were 5 or 6 cars in the parking lot at the time. Although no one was in the visitor center so they must have been outside somewhere. You enter the visitor center into his atrium area where the bathrooms are to your right and the store/visitor center is to the left. I wonder if they do this so people have access to bathrooms but there may not be staff inside the store or visitor center.

• The visitor center was quite large and had a nice big bank of windows in the back. There were 2 snakes and a turtle in a large indoor pond enclosure. There was merch and food available for purchase. I wonder if this double also as the park’s camp store.

• The kids got to talk and interact with a range inside the visitor center and there was another staffer who helped us check out. We grabbed a couple hiking medallions and pins.

• We then headed over to the Discovery Center which had 2 people staffing it. They were super good with interacting with the kids. Asking them questions and answering questions as well. They were super knowledge about the park and the animals that inhabit the park. It was cool to also learn about all the cool fossils that could be found at the fossil beach before actually heading down there. Definitely worth a visit. There were hands on materials and informational posters all over the walls and tables. The two young ladies did a great job.

• We then 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 park again if we were in the area. Many other cool trails to explore.

• This was VA park number 18 for us on our VA State Park Trail Quest.

We visited in the afternoon, late May 2023. The plan was to bike with the family. However the weather did not cooperate. It had been raining the 2 days prior and the trails were probably pretty muddy so instead we decided to just take a look around and maybe hike a little bit since it was already built into out itinerary. We explored the visitor center for about 30 mins. There are a number of really cool exhibits and they have live animals in there as well. It was pretty interactive and kept the kids entertained. The park store is also located here in the visitor center. There was a decent amount of stuff to buy including apparel. We wanted our pins and hiking medallions which we actually had to run up to the contact station at the front gate to get as they were sold out at the visitor center. We also asked for the junior ranger program here and there was no way we could complete it as one of the requirements was to attend multiple ranger lead programs which we couldn't do in an hour or so. We took some fun pictures out back the visitor center and were then on our way.

We will definitely have to return with our bikes so we can complete the trails!

• We visited on a Friday morning in late December 2023 (after Christmas).

• There was no one at the front booth so payment is the honor system here. We have a VA State Park annual pass so we were not concerned.

• We did like that park sign was decorated for winter.

• We drove straight to the visitor center where we found one park ranger working inside. It’s a fairly large visitor center and it’s weird that you have to go in the side door instead of the front door. The bathrooms are located outside on the side of the building.

• The visitor center was pretty huge for a VA State park. There was a bunch of exhibits and interactive ones as well. Could stayed 30-60 mins in here just checking everything out. There is a decent sized store with merch also available adjacent to the main desk. We liked the park logoed merch with the butterfly on it. Picked up some hiking medallions, pin and a patch.

• We did the trail that was just outside the visitor center. It goes around back by the water and loops around to an adjacent parking lot. We hiked about 90% of it until the water ended. We didn’t feel a need to continue to the other parking lot. The path is mostly grass and dirt and it had just rained. Even with the multiple days of rain it wasn’t as bad as we had thought. Maybe one or two spots we had to walk on the edge of the trail. You could also see several unsanctioned trails which looks like people went out to climb on the rocks in the water.

• We only encountered 1 other family the whole time we were there. Remember to bring binoculars. There are also blinds out in the water with active hunters in. Unfortunately, the park doesn’t own the water area, so those hunters are allowed to be there. The ranger warned us if we heard loud gunshot sounds while we were out there. We did not experience any.

• It was also suggested to us to do the boardwalk trail at the other end of the park so we drove other there. We passed by the camp store and campgrounds on the way but they were closed for the season. The parking lot for the boardwalk trail head was quite large. It’s also where the kayak /canoe launch is. There are picnic tables and a bathroom and trash cans.

• We hiked the trail clockwise and it was nice and shaded. Very nice in the afternoon and when it’s warmer out. We were surprised to see a boat tied off to the boardwalk at one point. It was a good size boat with what looked like new line but the boat not so much. Also noticed it had expired registration tags. Not sure if the park staff knew it was there or not. Also it was definitely stranded on a sandbar so it wouldn’t really be moveable anyways. There are couple of docks you can walk out on over the water and it was nice short hike to get more scenic views of the park. You end the trail at the kayak launch. It would be fun to come back and kayak the waterways for sure.

• We ended up having a small picnic lunch here out of the van. The picnic tables were in the grass and it was still a little wet and muddy in some areas.

• We would definitely visit again if we were in the area and probably try out those kayaks/canoes.

• This was VA park number 17 for us on our VA State Park Trail Quest.

We visited in the afternoon, late May 2023. The plan was to bike with the family. However the weather did not cooperate. It had been raining the 2 days prior and the trails were probably pretty muddy so instead we decided to just take a look around and maybe hike a little bit since it was already built into out itinerary. We explored the visitor center for about 30 mins. There are a number of really cool exhibits and they have live animals in there as well. It was pretty interactive and kept the kids entertained. The park store is also located here in the visitor center. There was a decent amount of stuff to buy including apparel. We wanted our pins and hiking medallions which we actually had to run up to the contact station at the front gate to get as they were sold out at the visitor center. We also asked for the junior ranger program here and there was no way we could complete it as one of the requirements was to attend multiple ranger lead programs which we couldn't do in an hour or so. We took some fun pictures out back the visitor center and were then on our way.

We will definitely have to return with our bikes so we can complete the trails!

We visited in the afternoon, late May 2023. The plan was to bike with the family. However the weather did not cooperate. It had been raining the 2 days prior and the trails were probably pretty muddy so instead we decided to just take a look around and maybe hike a little bit since it was already built into out itinerary. We explored the visitor center for about 30 mins. There are a number of really cool exhibits and they have live animals in there as well. It was pretty interactive and kept the kids entertained. The park store is also located here in the visitor center. There was a decent amount of stuff to buy including apparel. We wanted our pins and hiking medallions which we actually had to run up to the contact station at the front gate to get as they were sold out at the visitor center. We also asked for the junior ranger program here and there was no way we could complete it as one of the requirements was to attend multiple ranger lead programs which we couldn't do in an hour or so. We took some fun pictures out back the visitor center and were then on our way.

We will definitely have to return with our bikes so we can complete the trails!