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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 4,502-acre park in the Blue Ridge Highlands of southwestern Virginia, next to Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and within Jefferson National Forest. It is famous for sweeping mountain views, high grassy "balds" dotted with rock outcrops, and herds of wild ponies that graze along the trails. Established in 1965, the park has a 2.8-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail and is a gateway to Mount Rogers, Virginia's highest peak.
The ponies were introduced to help manage the balds and are used to people, but the park asks visitors not to touch or feed them. Each year officials round up the herd to check health and sell excess colts at auction. The park also protects red spruce forest, black bears, and wildflowers.
Things to Do
See the Wild Ponies
Look for them on the open meadows and along the Wilburn Ridge trail.
Hike the Appalachian Trail and Mount Rogers
Day hikes and backpacking routes start from the park.
Ride and Camp
Horseback riding, mountain biking, and camping are available, with cooler temperatures in summer.
Top Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Pinnacles Trail | About 1.6 miles round trip | Moderate | Rocky overlook with highland views |
| Wilburn Ridge Trail | About 5.5 miles round trip | Moderate | Rocky ridges and balds; among the best places to see ponies |
| Mount Rogers Trail | About 8.5 miles round trip | Moderate to Strenuous | Toward the summit of Mount Rogers (5,729 feet) |
| Appalachian Trail access | Varies | Moderate to Strenuous | Day hikes or longer backpacking trips |
This article uses material from official tourism pages for Grayson Highlands State Park, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
