Grayson Highlands State Park Photo: Ken Thomas / Public domain
United States › Virginia

Grayson Highlands State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: about 4,500 acres (18 km²)
  • Setting: alpine-like balds more than 5,000 feet (1,520 m) high
  • Neighbour: Mount Rogers, 5,729 feet (1,746 m), Virginia’s highest peak, in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
  • Trail link: the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
  • Gateway: Independence and Damascus
  • Managed by: Virginia State Parks

The landscape

Grayson Highlands sits in Virginia’s highest country, near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. Open grassy balds and rocky outcrops give sweeping views, and wild ponies graze the high meadows, keeping them open. Spruce-fir forest caps the higher peaks, and rhododendron blooms in June.

Best time to go

Late spring brings rhododendron blooms; summer is cool at elevation; fall colour peaks in early October. Winter is cold, windy and icy on the balds.

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Getting there and around

US 58 leads to the park entrance, and a park road climbs to Massie Gap and the visitor center. From Massie Gap, trails lead onto the balds and join the Appalachian Trail toward Mount Rogers.

Things to do

Short hikes from Massie Gap reach the ponies and viewpoints such as Twin Pinnacles. The Appalachian Trail offers day hikes and overnight trips toward Mount Rogers, with shelters in the national recreation area. Horse riders use the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail.

Staying safe

Weather on the open balds changes quickly, and fog can make navigation difficult; carry a map and layers. Do not feed or touch the ponies, which can kick and bite. Store food from bears, and leave a trip plan for overnight trips.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions and reservations with Virginia State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
36.6258, -81.4981
Magnetic declination
7.8° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

7 places in Grayson Highlands State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 2

Park entrance

Visitor centre

On the trail 2

Route

Campground

Sights 3

Viewpoint

Peaks

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expeditionWildlife viewing

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
MountainsAlpineForestMeadows
Key hazards
Sudden weather on open baldsFog and navigationCold at elevationWild ponies (do not feed or touch)Black bears
Best seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall (foliage)
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Access / trailheads
US Route 58 midway between Independence and Damascus; from Interstate 81, exit 45 at Marion and take Route 16 south.
Water
Streams; treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy on the balds.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911. Park office: 276-579-7092.
Permits & regulations
A parking fee applies. Campsites are reserved through Virginia State Parks. The park is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Leave No Trace
Never feed the ponies, stay on trails across the balds, store food from bears and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high66°F(19°C)19°C(66°F)
Average low39°F(4°C)4°C(39°F)
Rainfall3.7 in(94 mm)94 mm(3.7 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 19 minSunrise 7:32 a.m., sunset 6:51 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Jefferson station, 15 miles (24 km)24 km (15 miles) away at 2,759 feet (841 m)841 m (2,759 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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