Grayson Highlands State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grayson Highlands State Park
Along Highland Trail
Grayson Highlands State Park Location in Virginia
Location	Grayson County, Virginia
Area	4,502 acres (1,822 ha)
Established	1965
Governing body	Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Grayson Highlands State Park
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated:	1974

Grayson Highlands State Park entrance.

Grayson Highlands State Park is a beautiful state park in Grayson County, Virginia, United States. It's right next to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and inside the Jefferson National Forest. The park opened in 1965 and covers about 4,502 acres.

This park is a fantastic place for outdoor fun! You can go hiking, camping, mountain biking, and even horseback riding. There's also backpacking for longer adventures. A part of the famous Appalachian Trail, about 2.8 miles long, goes through the park. Many other trails are perfect for walking or riding horses.

Looking west from Massie Gap.

Grayson Highlands is also known for its music! It hosts the Grayson Highlands Fall Festival. Local folk musicians often have jam sessions here, playing traditional music from the Blue Ridge area. The park also holds the Wayne C. Henderson Festival and Guitar Competition. This event is named after a famous local guitar maker, Wayne Henderson.

The park has lovely forests, similar to those on nearby Mount Rogers. It also features special mountain meadows, called "balds." These open areas offer amazing views of the mountains around you. They look very different from the thick forests. The balds have large rocks and low grasses, with only a few trees shaped by the wind. You can also find a cabin store at the campground, where you can buy candies and ice cream.

Wild Ponies

A mare (mother horse) and her foal (baby horse) on Wilburn Ridge.

One of the coolest things about the balds is the wild ponies! These ponies live freely within the park. They are used to people and often continue grazing even when hikers walk by. It's important not to touch or feed the ponies, as this is against park rules.

Every year, park rangers gather the ponies. They check them for health problems. If there are too many ponies, some young ones (called colts) are sold at an auction. This helps keep the herd healthy and the park balanced.

Exciting Festivals

Grayson Highlands State Park hosts two popular festivals each year. They bring music, crafts, and fun activities to the park.

Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival

The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition happens every June. It's named after Wayne C. Henderson, a local musician and luthier (someone who makes stringed instruments). The festival features awesome old time music and bluegrass music.

Grayson Highlands Fall Festival

The Grayson Highlands Fall Festival is an annual event held in the fall. It offers lots of entertainment, including live bluegrass and traditional music. You can also see how molasses is made and watch demonstrations of pioneer living. The festival has a local crafts fair. It also auctions off some of the young ponies from the wild herd. This herd is managed by the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association.

Amazing Trails

Wild ponies on Wilburn Ridge.

A stallion (male horse) on Wilburn Ridge.

The park has many trails for you to explore. Whether you like hiking or horseback riding, there's a path for you!

Hiking Trails

Participants in a First Day Hike at the park in 2015.

• Rhododendron Trail: 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
• Cabin Creek Trail: 1.9 miles (3.1 km) loop
• Big Pinnacle Trail: 0.4 mile (0.6 km)
• Twin Pinnacles Trail: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
• Listening Rock Trail: 2.0 mile (3.2 km) loop
• Wilson Creek Trail: 1.8 miles (2.9 km)
• Stampers Branch Trail: 2.0 miles (3.2 km)
• Rock House Ridge Trail: 1.2 miles (1.9 km) loop
• Appalachian Trail: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
• Horse Trail (east): 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
• Horse Trail (north): 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
• Seed Orchard Road: 1.3 miles (2.1 km)
• Old Upchurch Road: 3.7 miles (6.0 km)
• Service Road: 0.5 mile (0.8 km)
• Appalachian Spur Trail: 0.75 mile (1.2 km)
• Wilburn Branch Trail: 0.8 mile (1.3 km)

Horseback Riding Trails

• Horse Trail (east): 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
• Horse Trail (north): 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
• Seed Orchard Road: 1.3 miles (2.1 km)
• Old Upchurch Road: 3.7 miles (6.0 km)

Nearby Parks

Here are some other state parks close to Grayson Highlands State Park:

• Elk Knob State Park, North Carolina
• New River State Park, North Carolina
• Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, North Carolina
• Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina