GRAYSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK OFFERS SOMETHING FOR ALL OUTDOORSMEN

What’s the Attraction?
Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is one of America’s finest mountain parks.

This all-season park offers a rugged paradise for the outdoorsman—and really has it all. There’s camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, fishing, hunting, rock climbing or just viewing the beautiful mountain scenery—a real smorgasbord of outdoor activities.

Distance
It’s 130 miles, one way from Charlotte, about a 2 ½ hour drive.

Getting there
Take I-77 North to Hillsville, VA (exit 4). Take US 58 West approximately 40 miles to Volney, VA. Turn left and continue on US 58 for eight miles to the park entrance.


To see and do
Grayson Highlands is a year-round park with activities for every season. There are nine hiking trails, four mountain biking trails, bridle trails, guided hikes, interpretive programs, special events and festivals. Camping, backpacking, mountain biking and horseback riding are the big activities, but there is rock climbing, bird watching, fishing, deer and turkey hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. This is a great park for sightseeing, and the fall colors, usually at their peak the first weekend in October, bring many visitors.

The hiking trails wind through open fields and forests that lead to panoramic vistas, waterfalls and trout streams. Beautiful rhododendrons showcase the forest with purple and white blooms in June. In August wild blueberries color the countryside.

Hikers wanting an easy access to the Appalachian Trail will find it by following the Rhododendron Trail located a half-mile from the Massie Gap parking area.

The wild ponies of the high country graze in the open mountain meadows. They cheerfully approach visitors, but protect your pocket books, camera bags and hands—or anything edible that you’re carrying.

A historic, rebuilt pioneer homestead, complete with two log cabins, a springhouse and cane mill, makes a picturesque background for the spacious picnic area. The facilities provide drinking water, grills, restrooms and shelters.

Park activities and programs include bluegrass and old time music, storytelling, cultural demonstrations,
basket weaving, spinning, clogging, flora and fauna programs. Call for a schedule.

The 200-Mile Blue Ridge Relay, known as the “BRR200”, will be run on September 8-9, 2006. This is one of the longest running relay races in America. Teams consist of a maximum of 12 members who rotate through 36 transition areas while covering 200 miles. Entry fee

The 31st Grayson Highlands Annual Fall Festival is held in the picnic area the last full weekend in September (Sept. 23-24) rain or shine. Traditional mountain culture comes alive during this two-day festival as the air is filled with sounds of music and the fragrant aroma of apple butter, hobo pies, cider and sorghum molasses. There will also be a pony auction (2 p.m. Saturday), a blacksmithing demonstration and kids' games. More than 100 arts-and-crafts and food booths will be there, as well as homestead demonstrations. Fee. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Call for details.

Grayson Highlands Visitor Center, Amphitheater and Mountain Crafts Shop is near the summit of Haw Orchard Mountain and includes exhibits on plant and animal life and pioneer life of the area. In summer months there are guided hikes-- day and evening-- and evening programs in the amphitheater.

Stables are provided for guests who bring their horses to ride more than two miles of bridle paths that meander through the park and also lead to bridle trails in the Jefferson National Forest. The area provides 23 campsites that accommodate either tent or trailer with covered or uncovered stalls for 67 horses. All horses must be sheltered in horse stable areas. (All horses stabled overnight must have valid Coggins papers.)

Special orange-blaze trails are provided for horse use. A bridle trail in the stable area splits, with one fork leading to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail and the other to the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness Area. These are the only two trails on which horses are permitted in the park.

Details
Grayson Highlands State Park: (276) 579-7092; www.dcr.state.va.us; Camping reservations (800)-933-7275 toll free, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. Admission: $2 per vehicle weekdays, $3 Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Open daily for use year-round. Trails close at sundown. The stable and campground are open March-November. The Visitor Center and camp store are open and interpretive programs are held Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bathhouse facilities, with hot water showers, are open May-October. Primitive camping with portable toilets (but no showers) is available in March, April and November at the horse campground. A fee is charged for parking, camping and stables. The park does not rent horses. Some campsites have electricity and water hookups.

For information: on the Fall Festival at Grayson Highlands, contact: ghfallfestival@yahoo.com, (276) 773-3111; Blue Ridge Relay, $780 team entry fee, payable to Blue Ridge Relay. No children allowed. Call (336) 877-8888 for details.
30



For full article see Charlotte Observer