With High-Elevation Beauty and Views for Days, Grayson Highlands State Park is Simply Magnificent.

A treasure trove of high-elevation beauty, Grayson Highlands State Park has officially been declared one of The Gemmies in the United States by our team of local travel experts. The 2025 Gemmies are a collection of destinations that are a true representation of their state. To experience these gems is to know the heartbeat of their American locations and we think they are all worthy of a visit.

It's hard to pick a favorite state park in Virginia, but I have one. Now, this might be a bold claim considering I haven't visited every single one of our beautiful parks. Still, though, I stand behind my choice: Grayson Highlands State Park.

This Virginia state park is simply magnificent. I first visited about seven years ago, on a road trip between Virginia and Tennessee. Grayson Highlands is actually quite difficult to reach if you're based in Richmond, as I was at the time, so having an excuse to visit made it much easier. Now that I've been, however, I can safely say that Grayson Highlands is a destination in its own right.

Grayson Highlands State Park lies within Jefferson National Forest in Southwest Virginia's Grayson County. It's marked by high-altitude peaks, mountaintop meadows, lush streams, and thickets of rhododendron. The park was officially established in 1965 and though it's not among the original Virginia state parks, it's become a fan favorite of anyone who's visited. The park boasts just over 4,500 acres, plus proximity to the two highest peaks in our state: Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. To visit this park is to understand Virginia's expansive beauty on a whole new level.

During my first visit to Grayson Highlands State Park, I hiked the Wilburn Ridge Trail, a 4.4-mile trek that follows the Appalachian Trail for a good portion of its duration. The trail is well-marked, easy to follow, and almost immediately showcases some brag-worthy views. The higher up you climb, the more rocky the terrain becomes. For this reason, I was grateful to have some sturdy hiking boots, a quality hat, and plenty of water with me.

There's another highlight of visiting Grayson Highlands: the wild mountaintop ponies. They roam the grassy balds, enjoying a contained area of nearly 1,500 acres. They also have an additional 3,500 acres to roam in the nearby Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The ponies actually help maintain the land by eating the small shrubs and grasses. There are approximately 100 ponies that live here, and they are managed and cared for by the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association. Hikers are welcome to photograph these resident creatures, but it's vital to give them space and never feed them.

After admiring the ponies, you'll want to keep climbing. The trail continues to get steeper and rockier, even requiring a small amount of scrambling, but you'll be glad you made such an effort to get to the top; the views are magnificent. From here, you'll enjoy a nearly panoramic view of the Virginia Highlands, which reveal themselves in layer upon layer of blue and green. (You should also note that this view is one of the best in the area; getting to the top of Mount Rogers is slightly anticlimactic since its surrounded by trees and you won't get much of a view).

If you do have the chance to visit Grayson Highlands State Park, I'd recommend camping. The campsite is clean, well-maintained, and lovely. There are also yurts available, but you'll need to make your reservation in advance.

Editor's Note: The campground is currently closed through 2025 for renovations. (More info here) If you plan to visit the park in 2025 or early 2026, we love this charming cabin with gorgeous views!

Have you experienced this gem of a destination yet? From Hawaii to Virginia, you’ll want to discover all of the incredible destinations featured in The Gemmies.