Guide to Grayson Highlands: Camping, hikes, wild ponies, & more
Here’s your comprehensive guide to Grayson Highlands State Park, with information on camping, hiking, bouldering, fishing, and more.
Situated high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grayson Highlands State Park is unlike any other state park in Virginia. With never-ending alpine views at elevations of more than 5,000 feet, a smorgasbord of outdoor fun, and even a herd of wild ponies, Grayson Highlands should be at the top of your Virginia State Park bucket list.
Whether you’re looking to spend a peaceful night camping under the stars, hike to the commonwealth’s highest peak, boulder on rugged slopes, mountain bike along a scenic trail, reel in a rainbow trout, or observe wild ponies at play, the 4,502-acre park has something for everyone. Here’s your guide to all the outdoor fun Grayson Highlands has to offer.
Camping
There’s no better way to experience Grayson Highlands than to camp. Visitors to the park have a variety of lodging accommodations, including campsites, yurts, and the bunkhouse.
There are a total of 89 campsites at the park, with each site capable of accommodating up to six campers. All sites are dirt and gravel, with picnic tables and grills, and most of them are wooded. The standard camping rental fee is $27.
Camp in style by reserving a yurt, which the park describes as a combination of a tent and a cabin. Four yurts are available for rent in the Hickory Ridge Campground, with each one coming with a queen-sized bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Although electricity and water are not available in the yurts, they’re only several hundred feet from the bathhouse. Yurts cost $94 per night.
The bunkhouse is a camping facility in the form of a two-room trailer with seven bunk beds and basic amenities like a refrigerator, microwave, and heating and cooling. Only available during the camping season from May 1 to Oct. 31, the bunkhouse has a two-night minimum. Please note that it doesn’t have a bathroom. Picnic tables and a charcoal grill are located nearby. Bunkhouses are $117 per night.
Those hoping to camp in the park should keep in mind that full-service camping is only available from May through October, with primitive camping being offered in the stable area campground from March through April and November. Primitive camping costs $16 for Virginia residents. Camping isn’t allowed from early December through early March.
Hiking
Hiking at the park is plentiful, with 13 trails that vary in length, the shortest being 0.5 miles and the longest being a little more than 2 miles. The trails are somewhat of a pick-your-own adventure, with some leading to scenic overlooks, captivating waterfalls, and even a 200-year-old cabin. After exploring the park, you can also use the trails to connect with the Appalachian Trail or the nearby Jefferson National Forest.
Those looking for a short hike should try the Appalachian Spur Trail, which is 0.8 miles, while those seeking a longer experience should opt for the 2.3-mile Wilburn Branch Trail. Consider picking up a detailed trail map at the park office.
The biggest draw when it comes to hiking is Mount Rogers, the commonwealth’s highest peak with an elevation of 5,729 feet.
Bouldering
Bouldering is also plentiful at the park. In fact, it’s commonly referred to as the best site for bouldering in the commonwealth. The park features a mixture of rhyolite rock in its higher parts, along with quartzite and metaconglomerate, creating an uneven climbing surface that’s ideal for bouldering.
The moniker makes sense once you consider there are over 700 named climbing routes on the park’s slopes, with bouldering options falling into four main boulder fields, along with three smaller fields. Remarkably, some of the fields have elevations exceeding 4,900 feet.
If you’re new to bouldering, the park has you covered with crash pads for rent, along with chalk, chalk bags, and a Grayson Highlands Bouldering Guidebook for sale. The Mountain Project’s Grayson Highlands State Park Bouldering page is an invaluable resource for bouldering enthusiasts.
Biking
If you’d prefer to explore the park by bike, a handful of biking trails are available. They include the 2.3-mile Wilburn Branch Trail, 3.2-mile Horse Trail, 1.2-mile Seed Orchard Road, and 3.3-mile Old Upchurch Road.
If you don’t have your own bike, consider renting one from Adventure Damascus Bicycle & Outdoor Co. or The Bike Station, both located in Damascus. They offer bikes for all types of riding, including mountain biking and simple cruising.
Fishing
Fishing opportunities are plentiful at Grayson Highlands State Park, boasting almost 10 miles of wild trout streams. Several of the standout streams for fishing include Big Wilson Creek, a 3.5-mile creek in the northeastern part of the park, Mill Creek, a 1.1-mile creek in the southeastern part of the park, and Cabin Creek, a 2.1-mile creek with wild rainbow and native brook trout in the western part of the park.
Those fishing should be mindful of the fact that the streams in the park are Special Regulation Wildlife Trout Streams. This means that you should only use single hooks and artificial lures. Additionally, trout of less than 9 inches in length should be returned to the streams. State fishing licenses are needed.
Wild ponies
The wild ponies that call the Grayson Highlands State Park home are another major draw. While visitors are urged not to approach the ponies, they can be observed as they roam freely.
Introduced to the park in the mid-1970s to aid in the reforestation efforts on the balds, the ponies are now managed by the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association. Every fall, some of the ponies are rounded up and auctioned at the annual Fall Festival.
Grayson Highlands Fall Festival
Each year in late September, the Grayson Highlands Fall Festival is held in Mouth of Wilson to remind visitors of simpler times, like how molasses was made by having mules grind up cane into juice and how apple butter was made in a copper kettle over an open fire.
During the event, vendors sell a variety of food, while old-time bands provide the soundtrack.
Programs
While at the park, consider taking advantage of the many programs that are held from May through October. The guided tours spotlight the park’s wildlife, like ponies and owls, while the amphitheater events celebrate the region’s old-time music and storytelling heritage.
Little ones will surely enjoy participating in the Junior and Adventure Ranger Programs that focus on the park’s historical, geological, cultural, and natural resources. Lasting three to four days, the programs are designed for children 5-15. They offer activities such as canoeing, bouldering, and backpacking.
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