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Westmoreland - Rock Spring Pond/Laurel Point LbNA #14112 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Mar 31, 2005
Location:
City:Westmoreland State Park, Montross
County:Westmoreland
State:Virginia
Boxes:2
Found by: Trout Rat
Last found:Aug 29, 2005
Status:FFaaaa
Last edited:Mar 31, 2005
Placed by great blue

Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, from which it takes its name. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River, and its 1,299 acres neighbor the former homes of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The park’s Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a spectacular view of the Potomac River. In addition to the scenic beauty at Westmoreland, the park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming. Visitors can enjoy the park’s vacation cabins as well. The visitor center, open during summer, gives an informative historical and ecological perspective to an important natural area on the coastal plain. Westmoreland also offers the Potomac River Retreat (closed for repairs until May 2005).

From Fredericksburg (I-95), take Rt. 3 east, go about 40 miles to the park's entrance, turning left onto Rt. 347.

From Tappahannock, take U.S. 360 East to Warsaw. Turn left onto Rt. 3 west at the third stop light. Stay on this road until about six miles past Montross. Turn right into the park's entrance on Rt. 347.

From Richmond, take U.S. 360 East, then follow Tappahannock directions.

From Tidewater, take 17 north to Tappahannock. At the second light, past Lowrey's Restaurant, turn right onto 360 east, then follow Tappahannock directions.

Distance: The circuit hike described here is approximately 2 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Time: 2 hrs

A trail map can be obtained at the park, though these directions will be suffucient to complete the trek. Please replace boxes with care and enjoy.

Park at the Rock Springs Pond Trail head at the entrance to Campground C. Follow Rock Springs Pond Trail to the pond. The Rock Springs Pond Box is hidden in the foundation of the water pump station built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the creation of the park in the 1930s. On the recessed platform, the box is wedged in a hole in a corner behind some rocks and a board.

Return to the intersection of the Rock Springs Pond Trail and the Laurel Point Trail. Take the Laurel Point Trail North. When you reach the next intersection with signs , keep straight. You will enter an area with lots of Mountain Laurel and reach the peak of Laurel Point. As you descend toward the Potomac, the trail makes a wide curve toward the left. Midway through this curve, look for two trees fallen over a third on the right side of the trail. The Laurel Point Box is under the crossing of these trees beneath a stack of wood and a stone. If you pass the trail marker post on the slope, you have gone too far.

Listen for osprey cries and descend to the end of the trail. Walk east along the beach. Note the osprey nest atop the end of a dock. Look for the osprey and bald eagles. The eagles habitually hover higher in the sky than the osprey. They wait until the osprey catches a fish then swoop down to swipe it. Look for shark's teeth on the beach. When you pass the pool, head toward the woods, ascend the stairs onto the Beach Trail.

Now up at the road, turn left and follow the trail along the road to the entrance road intersection. Turn right and walk along the entrance road a hop, skip, and jump to the Rock Spring Pond Trail head.