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High‑elevation wilderness park known for open grassy balds, panoramic mountain views, extensive hiking trails, and a free‑roaming herd of wild ponies.
General Information
How to Get There
From Roanoke, VA (95 mi): Take I‑81 S to Exit 45 at Marion, follow VA‑16 S toward Volney, then turn right on US‑58 W and continue to the park entrance.
Overview
Grayson Highlands State Park is a state park located in Grayson County, Virginia. It is adjacent to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and lies within the Jefferson National Forest. The park was established in 1965 and contains a total of 4,502 acres (1,822 ha). The park hosts a number of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, mountainbiking, horseback riding, and backpacking. A 2.8 mile (4.5 km) portion of the Appalachian Trail runs through the park in addition to a number of other hiking and horseback riding trails.
The park hosts forests like those on nearby Mount Rogers, as well as a number of mountain meadows or balds. These meadows provide excellent views of the surrounding area and present a striking change in scenery from the surrounding forests. The balds are dominated by large rocky outcroppings clear of vegetation excepting the occasional windswept tree and low grasses.
The balds are inhabited by a herd of introduced ponies allowed to run wild within the confines of the park. The ponies are very accustomed to humans and rarely halt their grazing as hikers pass close by. Many locals touch and feed the ponies, though this practice is frowned upon and against park policy. Each year, park officials round up the herd and check for health problems in addition to reducing the herd size if necessary; the excess colts are sold at auction.
Things to Do
Experience Virginia's Highest-Elevation State Park
Grayson Highlands State Park is one of Virginia's most spectacular mountain destinations, located in the Blue Ridge Highlands near Mount Rogers, the highest peak in the state. The park is famous for its sweeping mountain vistas, alpine-like meadows, rocky outcrops, and herds of wild ponies that roam the highlands.
See the Famous Wild Ponies
One of the park's most popular attractions is its population of wild ponies. Introduced to help manage vegetation in the high-elevation balds, these ponies can often be seen grazing in open meadows and along hiking trails. They are a favorite subject for wildlife photography and sightseeing.
Explore Mount Rogers and the Appalachian Trail
Grayson Highlands serves as a gateway to Mount Rogers and several sections of the Appalachian Trail. Visitors can access some of the most scenic high-country hiking in the southeastern United States, including forests of red spruce, open grassy balds, and panoramic mountain viewpoints.
Enjoy Outdoor Recreation
The park offers hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, fishing, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing. Cooler temperatures and expansive mountain scenery make it a popular destination throughout the year, especially during summer and fall.
Discover Unique Mountain Ecosystems
The park protects rare high-elevation habitats that support black bears, white-tailed deer, wildflowers, songbirds, and diverse plant communities. The combination of rugged peaks and open meadows creates a landscape unlike most of the southern Appalachians.
Top Trails
Wilburn Ridge Trail
Length: Approximately 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This iconic trail traverses rocky ridges and open balds while offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. It is one of the best places in the park to see wild ponies and enjoy panoramic scenery.
Mount Rogers Trail
Length: Approximately 8.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Significant
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
This popular route leads toward the summit area of Mount Rogers, Virginia's highest peak at 5,729 feet. Hikers pass through high-elevation forests and scenic mountain terrain while experiencing one of the state's premier hiking destinations.
Appalachian Trail Access
Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Strenuous
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Several access points connect visitors to the Appalachian Trail, allowing for day hikes or longer backpacking adventures through some of the most scenic landscapes in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Twin Pinnacles Trail
Length: Approximately 1.6 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This shorter hike climbs to a rocky overlook with impressive views of the surrounding highlands and mountain valleys. The trail is ideal for visitors seeking excellent scenery without committing to a longer backcountry hike.
Sources: Virginia State Parks official Grayson Highlands State Park information, including details on wild ponies, Mount Rogers access, hiking trails, camping, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and visitor amenities. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands
Additional trail information verified through Virginia State Parks resources for Wilburn Ridge Trail, Mount Rogers Trail, Twin Pinnacles Trail, Appalachian Trail access, and high-elevation recreation opportunities. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands/trails
- Rhododendron Trail: 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
- Cabin Creek Trail: 1.9 miles (3.1 km) loop
- Big Pinnacle Trail: 0.4 mile (0.6 km)
- Twin Pinnacles Trail: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
- Listening Rock Trail: 2.0 mile (3.2 km) loop
- Wilson Creek Trail: 1.8 miles (2.9 km)
- Stampers Branch Trail: 2.0 miles (3.2 km)
- Rock House Ridge Trail: 1.2 miles (1.9 km) loop
- Appalachian Trail: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
- Horse Trail (east): 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
- Horse Trail (north): 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
- Seed Orchard Road: 1.3 miles (2.1 km)
- Old Upchurch Road: 3.7 (6.0 km)
- Service Road: 0.5 mile (0.8 km)
- Appalachian Spur Trail: 0.75 mile (1.2 km)
- Wilburn Branch Trail: 0.8 mile (1.3 km)
- Horse Trail (east): 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
- Horse Trail (north): 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
- Seed Orchard Road: 1.3 miles (2.1 km)
- Old Upchurch Road: 3.7 miles (6.0 km)
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Grayson Highlands State Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
