Before you even reach Grayson Highlands State Park, you will sense this place is unlike any other state park in Virginia!
Hiking Wilburn Ridge Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park
The winding roads leading to the park are lined by farmlands, a rolling creek, and Christmas tree farms.
Fresh air and a slower pace replace the rush of our everyday lives. The park is full of little treasures, some well-known and others are hidden, just waiting to be discovered. Each visitor comes for a different reason and most leave feeling a bit more relaxed and focused.
With elevations in the park ranging from 3,900 feet to just shy of 5,100 feet, on average, the temperature is at least 10 degrees cooler in that park than in surrounding areas. The park is located just 2 hours from Charlotte, NC and Winston-Salem, NC, 2 ½ hours from Knoxville, TN and only 3 hours from Columbia, SC. It makes the park the perfect escape from the heat of summer.
Hikers and equestrians have known for a long time that the park is home to some of the best trails in the area.
The park serves as a connector to the VA Highlands Horse Trail.Trails within Grayson Highlands meander from rushing streams featuringwaterfalls and native brook trout (all VA fishing regulations apply), to mountain balds that are home to wild ponies and offer views beyond compare.
The newest trails at the park are in the click here.
The namesake for the Split Rock Trail system
For folks wanting to stay overnight at the park, there are two campgrounds:
- Hickory Ridge Campground has 32 standard (tent) sites and 42 sites with electric and water. In the center of the campground, is a large field with a playground. It is a perfect place for kids to run and play but still be within the parent’s line of vision. The Country Store is located near Hickory Ridge Campground and carries camping supplies, souvenirs, and snacks.
- Chestnut Hollow Campground is an equestrian campground. It offers a stable with 67 stalls as well as 50 amp electrical service and water hookups for horse trailers, a dump station, and a bathhouse. An additional charge applies if you wish to have a covered stall.
Hickory Ridge Campground
Here is a sampling of just a few of my favorite pictures of this unique park:
Equestrian trails available at the park
What a view!
Where ponies run free
A treasure along Cabin Creek Trail
WSLS Daytime Blue Ridge featured Grayson Highlands State Park in their special travel segment on the region called "In a Day's Drive." Grayson Highlands State Park is just under 2.5 hours from Roanoke, Virginia. Check out what they found here: