With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

A breeding colony of great blue herons is not a rookery, it is a heronry.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .

See the majestic osprey right behind our Visitor Center.

Come and discover the majestic aerial hunters and their habitats.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Have you ever wanted to enjoy the wonders of fossil beach after dark?

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?  The Tyke Hike is the perfect fit for little legs.  The hikes are less than a mile and mostly stroller friendly.  The ranger will help your little one discover neat things in nature in this one hour adventure.

Make York River State Park your destination for field education and outdoor discoveries.  We offer hikes and netting programs that highlight fresh water and estuarine ecosystems as well as coastal woodlands to enhance Standards of Learning requirements.  Canoe and kayak trips are available from May until the end of September, weather conditions apply.  Contact our Park Interpreters at (757)566-8523 or email john.gresham@dcr.virginia.gov or zach.robertson@dcr.virginia.gov to help plan your trip.