Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grayson Highlands State Park is a true gem. It’s adjacent to two of Virginia’s highest mountains, Mount Rodgers and Whitetop, so it offers unforgettable views, challenging trails and a serene atmosphere.  

While the park is famous for its wild ponies, there’s much more to discover and explore. Here are five activities you don’t want to miss at Grayson Highlands State Park. 

1. Come in the off-season. 

Grayson Highlands in December 2024 

Given its mountainous location, Grayson Highlands is a sight to see in the winter. Snow-dusted peaks and panoramic views that stretch for miles combined with fewer crowds make you feel as though you have the entire park to yourself. 

If you want to add some adventure to your visit, Grayson Highlands offers excellent opportunities for winter sports. Take on a snow-covered hiking or biking trail or go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. 

Below freezing temperatures, icy conditions and brisk winds are common here, so proper gear is essential. Make sure someone knows where you’re going and download the park’s free geo-referenced map from Avenza before your visit.  

2. Throw a line. 

Fly fishing along Big Wilson Creek 

If you love fishing with a view, Grayson Highlands is the place for you. Its cool mountain streams provide nearly 10 miles of fishable water and are home to native brook and wild rainbow trout.  

• Big Wilson Creek, along the northeastern boundary of the park, offers 3.5 miles of fishable water. You can reach the creek via the Seed Orchard Road Trail or the Wilson Creek Trail from the main campground. 
• Wilburn Branch, near the park's central area, provides 1.8 miles of fishable water. It can be accessed via the Upchurch Road Trail. 
• Mill Creek, which has 1.1 miles of fishable water, is the park's southeastern corner. Get there by taking Highway 58 East from the park's entrance, then turning left on SR 742 (Mill Creek Rd.). Access to the park's portion of the creek is on the left near a grove of white pines, about half a mile down Mill Creek Rd. 
• Quebec Branch, in the park's northern region, has 1.1 miles of fishable water. This waterway sometimes has low water. Access it by taking the Seed Orchard Road Trail from Hickory Ridge Campground. 
• Cabin Creek of the park's western area has 2.1 miles of fishable water. Wild rainbow and native brook trout inhabit the waters here; it's not stocked. Take the Cabin Creek Trail at Massie Gap to get there. 

All the streams in the park are Special Regulation Wildlife Trout Streams, which require the use of single hooks and artificial lures, and all trout less than 9 inches long must be released unharmed.  

All required state fishing licenses and creel limits apply to fishing within the park. A National Forest Permit is required when fishing on national forest property, which borders the park along Wilson Creek. 

3. Go bouldering. 

Bouldering at Grayson Highlands 

On the park’s mountainous slopes are four main boulder fields and three smaller fields with more than 700 named climbing routes, also known as problems.  

The park’s geology, which is unique in the Southeast, makes it well-suited to bouldering. Climbers will find rhyolite at higher elevations as well as a metaconglomerate in a quartzite matrix elsewhere in the park. These provide steep faces with angular features, including rails, flakes and edges that ensure bouldering opportunities for climbers of all skill levels. 

The park follows Leave No Trace principles, so ropes and chipping of rocks are not allowed. Bring your own crash pad or rent one from the park, and don’t forget to stop by the contact station or office to register as a climber in case of an emergency. 

For more information about the bouldering opportunities at Grayson Highlands, visit the Mountain Project.  

4. Hike to an overlook or unique natural feature. 

The sunset from Little Pinnacle 

There’s something for every kind of hiker at Grayson Highlands, whether you want an easy-going trail for the little ones or one that will get your blood pumping and heart rate up. 

When it comes to choosing your adventure, you can’t go wrong with any of the 13 trails, but here are our recommendations:  

• Twin Pinnacles: Moderate, 1.33-mile loop featuring the Magic Tree and Little Pinnacle and Big Pinnacle overlooks. 
• Cabin Creek Trail: Difficult, 1.5-mile loop featuring the 25-foot twin falls of Cabin Creek and a rhododendron tunnel.   
• Listening Rock Trail: Difficult, 1.28-mile loop featuring Listening Rock and Buzzard Rock overlooks. 
• Wilson Creek Trail: Difficult, 1.76-mile loop. While there’s no waterfall on this loop, it does have beautiful creek views. 
• Rock House Ridge Trail: Moderate, 1.25-mile loop featuring a 200-year-old pioneer cabin. 

If you don’t want to hike but still want to check out an overlook, you can drive to Sugarland’s and Buzzard Rock overlooks. 

5. Attend a ranger-led program. 

Ranger Kelley explaining the difference between rhododendron and mountain laurel on a guided hike 

Grayson Highlands offers a variety of ranger-led programs designed to immerse visitors in the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region. Here are some of the highlights: 

• Bear Necessities of Safety: Come touch a bear pelt, see what bear tracks look like and learn about bear safety, including how to store food, what to do when you come across a bear hiking and how to camp in bear country.  
• Magic Tree Hike: Take a short hike to see the Magic Tree and learn how it came to be sitting on top of a rock.  
• Sunset Hike: Join a ranger for this short, moderate hike to the highest point in the park, Little Pinnacle, and witness one of the most stunning sunsets in Virginia. 
• Plants and Pollinators: Explore how birds, bats, bees and other pollinators aid in the life cycle of plants and flowers and take a look at how native plants and pollinators help each other. 

In addition to educational ranger-led programs, the park hosts the Grayson Highlands Fall Festival every September. This two-day event includes live music, local vendors, a pony auction and more. 

To learn more about the park’s events and programs, go to virginiastateparks.gov/events. 

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If you’re ready to start planning your visit to this one-of-a-kind park, go to virginiastateparks.gov/grayson-highlands.