overnight backpacking grayson highlands

Updated: Feb 26, 2021. Entrance Fees : $7/car except on weekends from April through October: $10/car (camping reservation includes this fee) Backpacker parking: $8/night. The hike is all open and easy to do in the dark. All de. AT- Grayson Highlands to Damascus Day One: 3.5 Outcasts Total Miles: 2358.9 Connector trail 0.5 Massy Gap to Thomas Knob . Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363 ***Starting point for this backpack trip is the Overnight Backpacking Lot within Grayson Highlands State Park. The park offers camping, picnicking, overnight horse stables, a visitor center, hiking trails, and access to the Appalachian Trail. Camp overnight or take a short stroll from the Welcome Center, and see why Grayson Highlands State Park is one of the most popular in Virginia. Or at least, I think everybody knows that. The Grayson Highlands Overlook Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson Virginia, is a tiny 0.1 mile out-and-back walk to an overlook at the top of the mountain in the middle of the . Appalachian Treks: Best One-Night Hikes Hiking, bicycle trails (mountain bikes only), horse trails, self-guided trails. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (VA). Backpackers should check in at the contact station or park office upon arrival. TRAILS. None of them is particularly long—it's a fairly small . Ahhh, the famed Grayson Highlands. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Grayson Highlands State Park. There are bears in this area therefore a bear canister/box should be used.. We quickly broke into some of the classic Grayson Highlands views and enjoyed a lunch at the trail intersection. Before you do the Grayson Highlands loop hike, you will need to reserve a parking spot and you can do that here. At least once a year, Alan and I grab our tent + backpacks and set out on an overnight backpacking trip. Grayson Highlands State Park. Guests cannot stay in their car and must backpack camp on surrounding federal land. Hours: 8am - 10pm. I am definitely going to be going back to Grayson Highlands to do this hike again. From the parking lot, take the Appalachian Spur Trail as you climb gradually through woods and meadows. Suggested Hiking Trails in Grayson Highlands. Entering MRNRA on the AT southbound after exiting Grayson Highlands State Park. I could have easily taken over 300 pictures with the amazing and incredible views that we saw. Visit the . Location: Grayson Highlands, NC Lewis Fork Wilderness in Virginia Duration: 2 day backpacking trip (1 overnight). There is no dispersed camping in Grayson Highlands State Park. Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia, and the Wild Ponies, a small herd of beautiful ponies that roam freely in the park.In addition to the gorgeous views, there's numerous hiking and horseback riding trails, picnicking and camping areas, and a visitor's center/museum. Parking for overnight backpacking at Grayson Highlands By Amy Atwood Posted October 28, 2019 Grayson Highlands State Park serves as a corridor to the Appalachian Trail in southwest Virginia. We hike until our legs ache, watch the sky until stars appear above our camp fire, and awaken to golden sunbeams and chirping birds. Perched high in the Virginian Appalachians, in the Jefferson National Forest, this state park is home to grassy pastures and meadows, 5,000+ foot peaks, wild ponies, and crystal clear mountain streams lined with rhododendron tunnels. The trailhead is accessed via Massey Gap Overnight Parking lot (see attached image). Tucked away in the southwest corner of Virginia is 4,502 acres of rolling hills, windswept ridges, and dense forest that make up Grayson Highlands State Park. Location of the Mt. Grayson Highlands State Park is home to two major attractions, Mt. That was me last week. . click to see photos from this backpacking trip in the Grayson Highland State Park: October 28, 1995* click to view a detailed trip report of this hike near Mt. Park at the Massie Gap Parking Lot to begin the adventure. The region was once home to early settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 21 mile loop through the Grayson Highlands and Mount Rogers area. $9 for interactive PDF (smartphone version) Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store. Follow the signs to the "backpackers overnight parking" area. Backpacking. This park also has unpredictable weather so if you do a day hike keep this in mind. Parked in the Overnight Backpackers Parking lot at Grayson Highlands State Park ($10). Continued from Part 1: I woke up right as the rain was ending and I put on my boots, zipped up my rain jacket and headed out to see where exactly we had landed. Unfortunately we did not know this upfront and parked at a local general store and got them to shuttle us there which was fine as we were probably too late for the reservations anyway. I. We started out with picking all the state parks in Tennessee with overnight trails and are taking them on one at a time. In 0.86 miles reach the AT: Mt. 48 Hours, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Highlands, Heart of Appalachia, Hiking, Outdoors, Shenandoah Valley, Travel Ideas, Virginia Mountains / June 22, 2016 by Johnny Molloy / 40 Comments. Grayson Highlands is a great destination for day hiking, but also for awesome multi-day backpacking loops that are suitable for beginners. For an awesome 2-3 day trip, start hiking at the Massie Gap trailhead, which can be reached from Grayson Highlands State Park. Rogers, Virginia, but this guide will cover how to do so as a day hike, and starting and finishing at the Massie Gap Trailhead within Grayson Highlands State Park. The hike is intended for those with backpacking experience and is being limited to 5 hikers based on parking availability. (It's in Virginia, but only about 2.5 hours north of Charlotte, mostly on I-77.) In case you go, our hike took us from the Overnight Backpackers Parking Area near Massie Gap (you must register and pay at the entrance station to Grayson Highlands State Park), up the AT to the Scales Trail, then to the Pine Mountain Trail, and finally rejoining the AT back to the parking area. While my favorite part of Grayson Highlands State Park is definitely the ponies, I also love that there are so many incredible hiking trails. Details. The park has long been a gateway to the state's highest peak, Mount Rogers, as well as the Appalachian Trail and the Grayson Highlands. Trailhead Used: Elk Garden Trailhead Parking, 36°38'46.7″N 81°34'59.0″W. We'd heard such wonderful things about Grayson Highlands . Established in 1965, the Grayson Highlands State Park spread over 4,502 acres area and become a favorite place for hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, and backpacking. It took a lot of driving along The Crooked Road to reach this amazing park high in the sky. The trip started at 22F in the parking lot, and dropped from there as we ascended and the sun went down. The 0.3-mile Rhododendron Trail climbs a small hill beginning at Massie Gap. Backpacking / Camping. It also crosses over into the bordering Grayson Highlands State Park. Parking is $8 per day in the backpacker lot. For many, hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail is on their bucket list. There was an amazing view of the surrounding mountains Take into account that there are other ways and routes to summit Mt. And within the forest lies Grayson Highlands State Park, a gateway to Mount Rogers and to a number of miles along the Appalachian Trail. Follow this itinerary for an enjoyable three day, two night backpacking loop. From the parking area, cross the field adjacent to you and continue through the wooden gate to start on the trail. Grayson Highlands State Park moderate (63) Length: 7.6 mi • Est. Backpackers should check in at the contact station or park . Just doing s quick overnight to get out, and I know you can't set up camp withing the actual state park boundary. Numerous trails allow for a variety of multi-day backpacking options. The trail to Mt. Turn left here and weave your way through rock outcrops and Rhododendrons. To summit Mount Rogers, the state's highest peak at 5, 729 feet, there's a 6.7-mile Mount Rogers National Recreation Trail from the Grindstone Campground six miles east of Troutdale. Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia - PERMIT. $5 for printable PDF, AVAILABLE NOW. It was supposed to be 2 nights, but after hitting somewhere between 0-5F the first night, the. WhiteBlaze Pages 2022. This was her first backpacking trip and first time hammock camping! Reservations for this parking lot are now required so book your reservation in advance as weekends tend to fill up quickly. After that, drive up the road and park at the backpacker's lot. Providing a variety of unique sights, trails, and boulders, there's something here for everyone. Grayson Highlands State Park, VA 67° F The park has access to the highest point in Virginia), a part of Jefferson National Forest. Grayson Highlands State Park, Overnight Backpacker's Parking Area at the Massie Gap Parking Lot. Backpacking The park has long been a gateway to the state's highest peak, Mount Rogers, as well as the Appalachian Trail and the Grayson Highlands. N36° 38.012′ W81° 30.322′ Trails Used, Day 1 Depart Massie Gap Parking Lot Rhododendron Trail Appalachian Trail South Wilburn Ridge Trail (it's also possible to stay on the AT) Rejoin the Appalachian Trail South This reservation is for a parking spot in the Overnight Backpacker's Lot only. Gear: Garmin GPS watch, Lowa hiking boots, down sleeping bag, tent… (actually hike just past the shelter to a small meadow on left after crossing Wilson Creek to camp). This will be an overnight trip incorporating a 15 mile loop hike exploring the Grayson Highlands (known for the great views and wild ponies) and Mount Rogers (the highest peak in Virginia at 5,729 feet). The beauty in the region is unmistakable. Backpacking / Camping . We talked out the details and decided that we would give it a try; if the packs we had fit everything we needed . Hiked to the Wise Shelter on the Appalachian Trail, about 1.8 miles. Grayson Highlands, VA. CC BY 2.0 | Virginia State Parks Why it's awesome: A group of ponies was introduced to Grayson Highlands State Park several hundred years ago.Since then, they have grown to a herd over 100 strong and freely graze the grasslands. (actually hike just past the shelter to a small meadow on left after crossing Wilson Creek to camp). 40 Camp Drive, Troutdale, Virginia 24378 | 888-644-0014 | RockyHollowHorseCamp@gmail.com In about 0.10 miles pass through a gate (please close it). Grayson Highlands Hiking. On our second day in the Grayson Highlands Michael and I were fly fishing when he suggested that we go backpacking and stay overnight in the highlands near Mount Rogers. You can park at the Backpacker's parking lot at Massie Gap and wander around for a few days. I — Snows Out West. 4 h 9 m Day-use parking is along the road at Massie Gap with overflow at the Visitor Center. In addition to ponies, the Grayson Highlands section offers long, flat trails with big views at 5,000 ft above sea level. No fee or permit is required for parking or . Varied terrain makes for wonderful scenery and spectacular views. When you get to the top of the 3rd peak you will notice the AT continues through a neat opening in the rocks (not the fat man's squeeze,but just a open with rocks on both sides. I did a 3-day backpacking trip with friends. The Appalachian Trail courses 550 miles amidst Virginia's . Guests cannot stay in their car and must backpack camp on surrounding federal land. This is "Day One" of a two day, overnight, backpacking hike in the high country of Grayson and Smyth Counties in southwest Virginia. As for a long-distance week-long "loop": you may be thinking of the roughly 50-mile loop starting at Damascus and taking the yellow-blazed Iron-Mountain trail north (the route of the AT until . If you're looking to satisfy your craving for wilderness and adventure, Grayson Highlands State Park has views, trails, wild ponies, bouldering, fly fishing and the Appalachian Trail to scratch that itch. This is why it's important to know the boundaries. Whitetop Mountain Rd, Troutdale, VA 24378. Read more about it - Visiting Grayson Highlands — It's not just a walk in the park. Backpacking the Grayson Highlands Pt. Backcountry camping is not allowed within the state park boundaries, so you must hike onto USFS property before setting up. 10 Best 2-3 Day Virginia Backpacking Trips on the Appalachian Trail. I've had an overnight backpacking trip planned at Grayson Highlands in VA in a couple of weeks, planned to start at the Massie Gap overnight parking area. It wasn't like I could return anytime soon. Date of Hike: Saturday, June 15, 2019: This hike has become my all time favorite in Virginia. Clouds obscured Mount Rogers to the . ‍. There's plenty of good hiking in the Grayson Highlands area. click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip in Grayson Highland State Park: March 5, 1994; click to view a detailed trip report of this hike near Mt. Rogers: March 5, 1994* (password required) click to view maps of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia: area map, detailed map, profile map* click for more information on the Appalachian Trail; click for the Long Trail discussion forum Another option would be in the Grayson Highlands (Southwest Virginia) (more park information here ), 12 miles and simply a wonderful one-night backpack! Review of Grayson Highlands State Park. The Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands loop hike is an iconic section of the Appalachian Trail, located in the southwestern hills of Virginia within the Jefferson National Forest. Parks, Forests & Wilderness Areas. Hike a short spur trail of about 1 mile to the Appalachian Trail. At 8:10 a.m., we took the AT access trail a half mile up to join the AT, then headed north. We saw a lot of the wild ponies, horses, and the views were spectacular. The address for Grayson Highlands State Park is: 829 Grayson Highland Ln. Soon we began to see signs saying that Wise Shelter was closed due to aggressive bear activity. The most favorite trail in this state park is the Appalachian Trail which runs through the park for 2.8 miles. Know Before You Go *This guide will cover certain specifics of hiking Mount Rogers. The hike is all open and easy to do in the dark. Take the Rhododendron Trail up the ridge to connect with the AT, keeping an eye out for wild ponies in the Massie Gap area as they like to hang out here. I was poring over the reviews on AllTrails, torn between the 2.3-mile Massie Gap and Wilburn Ridge Loop and the 4.4-mile Wilburn Ridge via Appalachian Trail hike. Begin your hike at Massie Gap in Grayson Highlands State Park. Only about three miles of the AT passes through Grayson Highlands and the real star of this area is the larger Mount Rogers NRA, as the AT traces over its open grassy balds and winds over, around and through its stunning rock outcrops. As many as 6,000 overnight visitors and many day hikers visit the area a year. My family visits Grayson Highlands State Park in southwest Virginia every year. Rogers hike. This is our story: Friday, February 15, 2019. Trail Riding at Mt. Click here for description and details of the hike. Backpacking Grayson Highlands Bonus Tip: Secure a Parking Permit. Hiked to the Wise Shelter on the Appalachian Trail, about 1.8 miles. Must have reservation for the backpacker overnight parking lot; no overnight parking at the Massie Gap parking lot. Grayson Highlands overnight backpacking I'm trying to plan my first trip to Grayson Highlands to backpack, but am having trouble planning a route. Sorry for the audio in the last 2 minutes. We spent a good chunk of the day exploring the rugged terrain amd clamboring up rocky outcropping to take in the sweeping views into NC and TN. The easiest way to see the wild ponies is through Grayson Highlands State Park. Grayson Highlands State Park is the gateway to Grayson Highlands, to the Appalachian Trail in southern Virginia and to the highest mountain in the state, Mount Rogers. Backcountry camping is not allowed in Grayson Highlands State Park, however, you can camp overnight in Mount Rogers Recreational Area. As the popularity of outdoor recreation has grown, so has the number of visitors to the highlands. Follow Highway 58 for 7.5 miles, and then take a left into the Grayson Highlands State Park on Route 362. - Campsite 2: from campsite 1 continue south on AT over 2nd peak toward 3rd peak. Reviewed June 3, 2021 via mobile. Two of Virginia's highest peaks, Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, are . Hiking trails in Grayson Highlands State Park proper include trips to the park's highest point, to beautiful waterfalls in the deep valleys of the park, and to the mountain meadows for which the area is most famous. I took a trip to the Grayson Highlands in VA to backpack some of the AT this past weekend. There are several different hiking trails in Grayson Highlands State Park. Our hiking group is made up of hikers from Murfreesboro. The Wise Shelter on the Appalachian Trail is inside the park, but there is mixed information on whether or not you can legally stay there overnight. Hike Day 1. Click here for an 8 mile option from Elk Garden to Massie Gap in the Grayson Highlands. Grayson Highlands State Park, established in 1965, is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Stupidly, I didn't look into the parking situation when I was planning, and just learned that they now require reservations for overnight parking in the lot. Park at Grayson Highlands State Park in Massie Gap. GPX Data below! A fantastic overnight backpack trip option is to start from the trailhead at 19E and hike about 8 miles in to the Overmountain Shelter, more commonly known as "The Barn" (so named because it is, well, a barn). - Campsite 2: from campsite 1 continue south on AT over 2nd peak toward 3rd peak. Feels Like 45°. Activities include hiking . Grayson Highlands does not allow backpack camping within the park itself. The Tongue Mountain Range is a 3 mile long peninsula, so named because it looks like a . You will soon pass through a toll gate, where you will need to pay $3/night (I think). Spur Trail. Trailhead Used: . The park maintains more than 25 miles of hiking trails, as well as access to the Appalachian Trail and backpacking loops within Jefferson National Forest. The trails we mention take you outside of the State Park. In case you go, our hike took us from the Overnight Backpackers Parking Area near Massie Gap (you must register and pay at the entrance station to Grayson Highlands State Park), up the AT to the Scales Trail, then to the Pine Mountain Trail, and finally rejoining the AT back to the parking area. But I find most people do not know the state park nestled in one of the most beautiful areas of Southwest Virginia boasts 17 trails for hiking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, or . Description. Hiking Guide: Grayson Highlands State Park . Fri, Oct 8, 2021, 12:00 PM: Three day, two-night low mileage (LM) loop including Mt Rogers (highest point in Virginia at 5,729 feet) highland meadows, bald mountains, rocky ridges, and rhododendron-cl Grayson Highlands Backpacking Trip - Route Overview - Sintax77. If you plan to spend the night camping on the AT outside the park use the Overnight Backpacker's Lot. Rogers: October 28, 1995 (password required) click to view maps of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia: area map, detailed map, profile map* click for more information on the Appalachian Trail . There are several loop backpacking options as well as passing through via the AT. Grayson Highlands State Park - Backpacking/Camping. It's an easy drive from the Boone, North Carolina area, northeastern Tennessee, and, of course, western Virginia via U.S. 58 (aka Highlands Parkway). We drove down to Grayson Highlands State Park and left our car in the overnight parking area. Rogers. The Twin Pinnacles Trail departs from the Visitor Center and is a 1.6-mile hike that leads to the two highest peaks in the park. Before doing so you'll need to pay a parking fee (as much as $19 for non-residents) and file a trip plan with the state park's main office. As the clouds began to lift our campsite could not have been more perfectly placed. - Trails: From the parking area, you will see an a sign indicating the "A.T. There is a designated overnight backpacking parking area for those who want to stay overnight at Massie Gap. A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook. Montreat Family Campground. Day 1, Friday 12 October Departed Newport News around 7AM, arrived around 3 PM. When you first arrive at the backpackers' lot in Grayson Highlands, you will go to a box by the trailhead. The extensive 4800-acre Grayson Highlands State Park provides any nature enthusiast premier wildlife watching potential within the mountain range home to Virginia's highest peak, Mount Rogers. From Grayson Highlands state park you can purchase a parking reservation in their overnight backpacking parking lot. Here you will look for a paper with your name on it, fill out the sheet, and place the parking pass inside your car. Grayson Highlands Backpacking: A.T./Pine Mountain Loop Posted by Bill Fuller on April 28, 2013 This is a loop hike in the Grayson Highlands that I tend to do about once per year, so I've posted it a couple times before, but not with all the snowy conditions that I experienced this time. This reservation is for a parking spot in the Overnight Backpacker's Lot only. I forgot to mention in this article that if you want to stay overnight in Grayson Highlands State Park and park at Massie Gap, then you'll need a permit to do so. It is a popular destination for hikers, backpackers, mountain Lastly, due to the popularity of backpacking around Grayson Highlands, there will be new online reservation for overnight backpackers parking spots (Reserve America) coming into effect October 2019. You Go * this guide will cover certain specifics of hiking Mount rogers so book reservation... Keep this in mind to begin the adventure for wonderful scenery and spectacular.. 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