Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve one of the park’s 72 campsites, 24 horse sites, and four yurts online.
- Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance and must be made one day before arrival.
- Campsites can book up fast, so you should iam to book a minimum of three months in advance.
When to Go
Peak season at Grayson Highlands State Park is mid-May through mid-October, and this is the most popular time to hike and boulder. Full-service camping is only available during this period, while primitive camping is possible in shoulder season (March, April, and November). No winter camping is available. Time your visit for one of the park’s summer music festivals: Wayne Henderson Festival (June), Albert Hash Memorial Festival (Labor Day weekend), or Grayson Highlands Fall Festival (end of September).
Know Before You Go
- Grayson Highlands State Park is set along US 58, 25 miles west of Independence and 26 miles east of Damascus.
- Day-use parking fees and camping reservation fees are charged at Grayson Highlands. State fishing licences and equestrian permits are also required.
- Facilities include a visitor center, country store, restrooms, and picnic areas. Facilities are minimal in the off-season, so bring everything you need with you, including drinking water.
- Cell phone service is patchy but emergency coverage is provided, so keep your cell phone charged.
- Do not attempt to pet, feed, or interact with the park’s wild ponies. They can bite and kick, and human food can cause colic.
- Accessible campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas are available at Grayson Highlands State Park.
Grayson Highlands State Park
Along with hiking and bouldering, these rocky mountains host wild ponies and live music festivals.
Craggy peaks, mountain valleys, and waterfalls tempt hikers and horseback riders to Grayson Highlands State Park. Seasoned hikers can summit Mount Rogers—Virginia’s highest peak—or tackle part of the Appalachian Trail, but 13 short trails also run through the park. Bouldering is equally popular with more than 700 climbing routes, and you can also explore horse trails, fish for wild trout in the creeks, and seefree-roaming herds of wild ponies. Backcountry camping isn’t permitted, but the main campground at Hickory Ridge has standard and electric hookup sites, and there’s also a horse camp, bunkhouse, and yurts.
Craggy peaks, mountain valleys, and waterfalls tempt hikers and horseback riders to Grayson Highlands State Park. Seasoned hikers can summit Mount Rogers—Virginia’s highest peak—or tackle part of the Appalachian Trail, but 13 short trails also run through the park. Bouldering is equally popular with more than 700 climbing routes, and you can also explore horse trails, fish for wild trout in the creeks, and seefree-roaming herds of wild ponies. Backcountry camping isn’t permitted, but the main campground at Hickory Ridge has standard and electric hookup sites, and there’s also a horse camp, bunkhouse, and yurts.
Activities in the park
1 campground in Grayson Highlands State Park
Located almost right on the southern border of Virginia, Grayson Highlands is a gorgeous getaway no matter what state you're coming from. As the gateway to the state's highest peak and a feeder into the Appalachian Trail and the Grayson Highlands, this is a hiker's haven to boot. Whether you're looking to traverse it by foot, horse, or bike, there Read more...
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Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve one of the park’s 72 campsites, 24 horse sites, and four yurts online.
- Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance and must be made one day before arrival.
- Campsites can book up fast, so you should iam to book a minimum of three months in advance.
Read more...Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
Peak season at Grayson Highlands State Park is mid-May through mid-October, and this is the most popular time to hike and boulder. Full-service camping is only available during this period, while primitive camping is possible in shoulder season (March, April, and November). No winter camping is available. Time your visit for one of the park’s summer music festivals: Wayne Henderson Festival (June), Albert Hash Memorial Festival (Labor Day weekend), or Grayson Highlands Fall Festival (end of September).
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —