Grayson Highlands

So, on the way home from my wife’s 20th high school reunion, I was able to make a quick detour to Grayson Highlands State Park In VA this weekend. This is definitely my second favorite hiking spot on the east coast (#1 is Linville Gorge).

A view on the road to Grayson Highlands

For starters, it’s just fun to drive up there. Hwy 58 is one of those roads where the posted speed limit is 45, but there is no way you could average that speed on four wheels unless you’re in a Porsche. Plus, it’s beautiful mountainous farmland. 58 is part of The Crooked Road Music Trail, so there are some pretty amazing views and dozens of historic landmarks along the way.

Once you get there, the park is even more amazing. It’s one of the few high concentrations of natural balds in the Southeast. Most of the hiking is up above 5,000 feet, and it links up to the Appalachian trail, so technically, you have access to thousands of miles of trails. All technicalities aside, there is more trail mileage in the park than most folks could cover in a weekend. It’s also the best gateway to Mount Rogers, the VA State High point.

The Blue Ridge Mountains

When I was there, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Here are a few more images.

Wildflowers in Bloom

While the scenery is amazing, the best part is the wildlife. There are several herds of wild ponies roaming the highlands and grazing above the tree line.