Photography and blog shared by Instagrammer Christine Hoggan

For years I have seen amazing photographs taken at Grayson Highlands State Park. As a photographer, it's been on my bucket list of must see places to visit and I finally checked it off my list but I know it won't be the last time I visit. 

Grayson Highlands State Park is tucked down in Southwest Virginia very close to the VA/NC border and abuts Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. Both parks are home to herds of feral ponies, that don't mind humans gawking at them while they are grazing, which is a plus for a nature photographer like myself. My husband Ryan is my hiking partner and we set out a plan to have two days to hike around Grayson Highlands State Park, with the goal of seeing and photographing the ponies. 

Seeing the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park is the icing on the cake

At Grayson Highlands State Park, the best bet to see the ponies is a hike to Wilburn Ridge which starts from the Massie Gap parking lot. You can take a few trails to get up to Wilburn Ridge however the recommended path per the park brochure is the aptly named Rhododendron trail as it seems to pack the most punch when it comes to beautiful vistas and a trail lined with blooming Mountain Laurel and Flaming Rhododendrons. 

The hike is a moderate one and only about 1 mile until you get to the grassy bald that is Wilburn Ridge. Once on Wilburn Ridge, you may run into a herd right away, or you may have to do a little more hiking.  

 

The first day we visited, we ran into a herd before getting all the way up to Wilburn Ridge. 

The ponies were grazing very close to the Rhododendron trail and a few foals were even chasing each other around. We were in love at first sight. Even with the fog and light rain, it was just breathtaking. The herd was about 15 ponies, a mix of mares and foals and of course one stallion. The fog was clinging to the mountains that day, and a heavy rain ensued, so we had to cut our trip short. We didn't experience all that Grayson Highlands State Park had to offer so we were lucky we had planned more than one visit to the park.   

On the second day, the hike up to Wilburn Ridge was so much more amazing.

There was only a light fog that morning, so we could truly appreciate the panoramic views Wilburn Ridge has to offer. On this visit, we ran into two separate herds and also a mare and a foal that were seemingly alone. We were sure the rest of their herd were close by, but we just never ran into them. After about an hour of light fog, the sun finally broke through and what started out as a chilly day, became a pretty warm hike.

We spent time with one herd just off the Appalachian Trail where the stallion was a very impressive gray male. There were 5 foals in the herd and 7 to 8 mares. Most of the foals were napping with their mothers close by, keeping constant watch and protecting their sleeping babies. It was adorable beyond words.  

One pony had a super shaggy brown and white mane that reminded us of an 80's hair band

The second herd we encountered also had one stallion, several mares and multiple foals.

One pony had a super shaggy brown and white mane that reminded us of an 80's hair band. All of the ponies have these beautiful flowing manes and are so striking because of the variety of colors you encounter within each herd. And then there is the beauty of the park. The wildflowers, flowering bushes, vista views, blue ridge mountains capped with low lying clouds and/or fog; it all adds up to this amazingly beautiful experience. Add the ponies and it's truly magical.  It's something that you can't experience elsewhere in Virginia and is certain to have us visit year after year. 

A few things worth mentioning before you plan a trip to Grayson Highlands State Park. 

Keep an eye on the weather. Many hikers on the Ridge were not prepared for the weather and just the changing conditions of Wilburn Ridge. Wilburn Ridge is a bald, so there is no real tree cover and the elevation is 5,000 plus feet, so it's always going to be cooler than elsewhere but with the lack of tree cover, the sun can be oppressive, especially on a warm summer day. On our visit the second day, we went from wearing two layers of shirts, rain coats (because it was raining), in windy and cold conditions; to in just about an hour's time of hiking, donning shorts and short sleeve T-shirts, slathering on sunscreen and putting on hats to protect ourselves from the sun. 

The park warns you about the extreme weather changes but many visitors had on flip flops instead of proper foot wear and weren't carrying any protective gear to guard themselves from the ever changing elements. It is a relatively short hike, but don't catch yourself unprepared when a little planning goes a long way. 

Follow the old adage of leave no trace

Another thing worth noting from our visit to Grayson Highlands State Park, too much human interaction with the wild ponies. 

Let's all help keep the "wild" in wild ponies. While these animals are seemingly quite docile, they can still kick, bite, and will aggressively beg for food, which we experienced when we wanted to have a quick snack. It's best to follow the park rules and observe the ponies from a distance, and practice the old adage of leave no trace, including your germs on the ponies.

Grayson Highlands State Park is an amazing park and a place we are not soon to forget and will most certainly visit again.

Keep the wild in the wild ponies

Grayson Highlands State Park

---

Editor's Note: We appreciate the beautiful photos and sentiment from Guest Blogger Christine Hoggan, and agree that Grayson Highlands State Park is a remarkable place. You can follow her journey on Instagram here @fangirl35.