Grayson Highlands State Park, VA

Has anyone been to Grayson Highlands State Park (Near Marion, VA and next to Mount Rogers NRA)? I've been looking at online. It's reportedly a little over two hours from my house. They seem to take reservations, and have 30 amp service and water at half the campsites, and a dumpstation.

I'd like to go see the wild ponies that live there. I'd also like to go on a clear night with little moonlight, so my kids just might see the Milky Way. On a map of light polution, it seems one of the darker places in the region. The elevation is pretty high, so this would be a summer trip.

Richard, we have been, but that was YEARS ago - maybe 20! So, I think they have probably done lots of work on the area since we were there. We've looked at it, too! If you decide to go, let us know. We might be up for a trip, also. It's about 1 1/2 from us.

Will do!

Richard we camped up there a few years ago. There are some great views up there. We were up there at the end of May and it had snowed the night before. So the weather was a little cold. Seeing the ponies were neat some of them will walk up to you. There's alot of good hiking. I know alot of the sites were pull thru and nice. I don't remember the bath house, sorry. We are planning to go back, maybe this summer.

Thanks for the review. My kids would love seeing those ponies.

Richard,
 
Did you ever make the trip to Grayson?   Kind of curious, its on my bucket list for this year.  If so, what did you think?

I never did. I still want to. When are you thinking of going?

thinking about August 1 - 4th. Need to go before school starts and during the summer because I'm betting it stays cooler up there.

Going to try Natural Tunnel on the 19th. Looks like they have lots of activities for the kids.

Familyman, I didn't get back to you, but we haven't done Grayson Highlands in years. The last time we were there was in the early 80s. So, no, I can't really tell you anything about it, but we did have friends that went last year and they loved it. She had lots of pics of the horses grazing in front of their camper and off of their table.

Sounds great, the ponies are what I'm really after. My daughter loves animals so I think they will be the highlight. Thought it would be nice to take a day and head over to the creeper trail. Some have said that the bath houses were nice there. Hoping to make it a 3 nighter before school starts. I've been wanting to visit Grayson since I heard about it last year.

My friends, Becky and Todd went to Grayson Highlands last year and they took lots and lots of pics and has them on facebook. I think you must be a member in order to view the pics, but here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/becky.lagow/media_set?set=a.10150211910209193.320548.591449192&type=3

merrykalia wrote:My friends, Becky and Todd went to Grayson Highlands last year and they took lots and lots of pics and has them on facebook.  I think you must be a member in order to view the pics, but here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/becky.lagow/media_set?set=a.10150211910209193.320548.591449192&type=3

Unfortunately.. you also have to be a friend of Becky's to see the pictures.. too bad. 

I will be picking my oldest daughter up from American Heritage Girls camp om the 3rd, over in Knoxville, and then going to Dollywood on HomeSchool discount day on the 4th, so I will not be able to make it this time.

Thanks Chuck.... I sent her a friend request. Hope she doesn't think that I'm just a weirdo... LOL Can you send her a message that I just want to see her pictures of Grayson...

Robert

sorry.. I don't know her.. I wish I could see the pictures too. I think she is friends with Donna.

Familyman68 wrote:Thanks Chuck....  I sent her a friend request.  Hope she doesn't think that I'm just a weirdo... LOL    Can you send her a message that I just want to see her pictures of Grayson...  

Robert

I will text her, Robert and let her know.

Hi Everyone,

We just got back and had a ball.  The weather was nice, only rained late one night.  The campground was nice, friendly rangers and hosts.  The sites are not the biggest, mainly pull through on the outside of the loop.  They have 2 bath houses, not new but very clean and nice.  They have a nice camp store and the hosts drive by the sites in the morning and afternoon selling ice and firewood.  "Can't beat front door service"   They have some really AWSOME hiking trails, a couple of waterfalls.   The rangers have activities each evening.  I was disappointed with their playground, it was just a swing and a volleyball net, still seemed to be the gathering place for kids.   I saw lots of really big rigs and 5th wheels so size doesn't seem to be an issue.   There is no pool..... but you can't have everything.   The park itself is HUGE!!!!   I was told that the campground is at 4000 ft.  Getting there is a pretty easy grade going up, but there is a lot of curves.   At the highest part of the park there is a nice visitors center with some exhibits about how people used to live and work.   The park closes the gates at 10pm, so don't stay out late.  We brought our bikes and one of the days I dropped the wife and kids off at the top of white top mountain station where "The Creeper Trail" begins, drove down to Demascus, parked the truck and caught a bike shuttle van back up to the top.   It took us 3 hours to bike the 17 miles back down to where the truck was at..... Really easy downhill ride.   The kids had a blast and even though it was a ways up there, its going back on the list.   I have a lot of pictures on my blog if you'd like to see .....

http://ourfamilytreks.blogspot.com/2013/08/grayson-highlands-sp-va-2013.html

Sounds like a great trip