Grayson Highlands, Virginia, in 20 Photos

Sometimes, all you need when researching a new travel destination is a set of great photos. Sure, text and information is useful—undeniably—but pictures usually do say more than words. I recently spent three days hiking and camping in the Grayson Highlands Virginia destinations and had an absolute blast.

Located in the very south of the state, near the North Carolina border, the Grayson Highlands Virginia is a large region encompassing both Grayson Highlands State Park and a part of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. It’s a region of forests, meadows and mountains, waterfalls and streams. Many miles of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, crisscross the landscape.

One of the main features of the region is its wildlife. The State Park and the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area are home to feral ponies. While hiking across the mountain meadows, you will certainly come across some ponies, which are a hugely popular attraction. The ponies are free to roam the area and are semi-wild, but are very used to having people around. Sometimes they even walk up to you.

In addition to feral ponies, the area’s wildlife also includes wild turkeys, rabbits, raccoons, deer, countless chipmunks and squirrels, and the occasional black bear.

It’s an incredible place. In terms of sheer natural beauty, it can compete with the best American national parks. This region is unquestionably one of the greatest destinations for outdoor adventures—hiking, camping, horseback riding and mountain biking—on the East Coast of the United States.

There will be a couple of more detailed posts about this spectacular region later on. For now, let’s start with these twenty beautiful photos of the Grayson Highlands Virginia destinations.

20 Fantastic Photos of the Grayson Highlands Virginia Destinations