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Camp Sites & Facilities
Grayson Highlands State Park comes by it’s name very honestly. The park entrance is located at an elevation close to 3,700 feet, however the visitor center is almost at 4,900 feet. The area known as “Little Pinnacle” tops out at just over 5,000 feet. The park is very close to Virginia’s tallest mountain, Mount Rogers which is 5,729 feet tall. That being said, camping in the area can be refreshing and somewhat a challenge for the novice.
A look at the camping facility supports the idea that the park draws from three groups of people – there are 37 camper sites with electric and water hook-ups, 32 standard tent sites and 23 horse sites with electric and water. There are over 50 open and closed stalls for horses. There are bathhouses located in the tent and bridle camping areas. While there isn’t a swimming facility the park has several streams running through it for excellent fishing. There are several amphitheaters, two gift shops and some wonderful picnic areas.
Recreation
Visitors to Grayson Highlands will be treated to spectacular views from just about every location in the park. The park trails venture along cool-water streams with falling rocks, waterfalls, mountain overlooks and lofty meadows. There is a herd of wild ponies that can be photographed and hikers can continue their travels through the Jefferson National Forest or the Appalachian Trail.
Local Attractions
The park is located near the bluegrass musical capitals of Galax, VA, and Mt. Airy, N.C. There are a number of musical festivals that take place in the area like the Fiddler’s Convention in Galax and The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival held at the park’s amphitheater named in his honor.
Additional Information
Due to it’s elevation, the park can often be fairly breezy. During the early spring and late summer, the weather can be quite cool. Visitors should be aware that the later in the year they wish to camp may affect the access to water that may be turned off due to freezing temperatures. Campers should definitely plan to bring their supplies into the park with them. The best supply spot will be Marion, Virginia, which is also the location of Smyth County Community Hospital.
