A short drive and quick walk on the paved path to the top. Beautiful overlook of Boone. I wish I…read morehad gotten there at sunrise! We around 9am on Sunday and it wasn't as crowded as people say it can get. Quiet and chirpy birds, so relaxing!

Beautiful small park with excellent view below and above. Picnic area with two different camping…read morestoves. One was covered. Porta potties that appear to be temporary as the area is under construction.

Not Too Bad Of A Hike. Very Rewarding Views At The End! Slippery When Wet. Wear The Proper Shoes!read more

You can't pay for views like this, and good news is... you don't have to!…read more Rough Ridge Overlook is a local *and* tourist hot spot for some of the best views in the state! I went there with some GFs for nature and the views, and it didn't dissapoint. Definiteluy put this spot on your map when planning a trip to Grandfather Mountain.

Have been to Laurel Creek Falls (Trash Can Falls) many times and we love it. It's beautiful every…read moretime off year. I've came when it's crowed and when it's empty. The parking is off on a gravel area on the side of the road and it's limited. To get to the falls cross the street and follow the path through the woods. It's a super short and really easy path but once you get to the falls you do have to do some climbing and maneuvering so I don't recommend for anyone disabled, small children, or older folks who have issues getting around. We recently went post hurricane Helen and it looks a little different. The wood planks for crossing are gone but the straps remain to help you get out of the swimming hole. There is a fallen tree we had to climb over. Still many people there having a great time just as before!

This place is awesome to jump into a fresh spring & clean water as well, the rocks are a bit high…read morebut once the fear of heights is gone you'll have a blast!!!!! :)

We needed some time in the mountains. I had visited here before but mostly for shorter trails. This…read moretime we needed some Appalachian Trail in our lives. We did a couple of short trails but the monster was the Appalachian Trail to Mount Rogers Loop. It's logged at 14.3 miles but we ended up logging around 15.2 miles with various trips off trail to check out. The first part of this trail is fine. You walk through areas where some of the wild ponies hangout. Sometimes you can catch wild cattle too(which we did, but not until we were on our way out). The off trail to Mount Rogers is also fairly easy. If you're coming down from Mount Rogers and taking the loop around the mountain, make sure you have plenty of water and maybe some kind of snack for energy. There is a little section from mile 8-12 that almost put me down. It reminded me of a dehydration episode I had in Montana a few years ago. This time I had all the water I needed, but I'm so glad I had food for energy. There's a little section where you gain so much elevation in such a short amount of time... those types of sections always make my legs want to give up. I powered through with some breaks, but it'd help if that section were at the beginning instead of near the end. If I ever do that loop again, I'll take it counter-clockwise. Grayson Highlands is an amazing place that stands on its own in the area. The AT runs through it, but the ponies and cattle and any other animal you might run into make the place magical. Being at the top is also nice. You can see mountains and landscape for miles. It's also a decent place to camp in my opinion since it's so wide open. It can be a bit windy at the top, though. On our trail, there was a fair bit of downed trees, so be aware that you might have to climb, walk around, or whack your way through portions if any storms have rolled through. Watch the weather because it can change fast, but honestly, just prepare for it. You're going to have a unique experience, whether you have to battle fog early in the morning or once the sun comes out. We also hit a patch of drizzly rain, but it didn't last long. We were able to see it coming and adjust our speed to let it pass. Grayson is a state park, so it doesn't have all the amenities that a national park has, but it does connect to some national forests/parks, and it's a beautiful/well-maintained place. Good job Virginia for keeping this place pristine. I realize that not everyone seeks out the long trails. The good thing about Grayson is that there are various trails. You can find 2-5 mile trails, 5-9 mile trails, 10-15 mile trails, and I think there are 1 or 2 that are even longer! There's something for everyone here.

What an incredible experience! I won't even comment on the pics because they speak for themselves!…read moreThis park has several hiking trails, some more challenging than others, mainly due to all the loose rock and gravel, but it made for a great workout on a gorgeous day! They also host overnight camping and are part of the Appalachian Trail as well. $10 to park isn't bad, but there wasn't an attendant when we first got there. I doubled back after we did the first trail so I wouldn't get fined or anything. We heard parking fills up fast so we got there early, but there were actually still plenty of spots by the time we were ready to leave in the early afternoon (we arrived at like 8am).

DO NOT VISIT THIS PARK IN A RV or LARGE VEHICLE! We came from Boone which from our Google map said…read more23 minutes or 5 miles. The road to park is very steep in sections and has two (2) hairpin turns not designed for large heavy vehicles. When we got to the state park, at what felt like the top of the mountain, the only thing we saw were a dozen or so new picnic tables surrounded by a field of leafless trees ~ mid April. Very disappointed to say the least. IMPORTANT: On the way back down to Boone our brakes started to fail at about an .08 of the way down and we had the pull over and let them cool down for 45 minutes to let them stop smoking. This was a very scary experience and a poor decision to visit. Absolutely would not recommend this experience in any car or in an RV!!! Hope this helps someone.

Well marked trails in a beautiful clean natural environment. Easy to find state park just 11 miles…read morenorth of Boone. There is no park entry fee. Signage and way finding are very good. There are 5.5 miles of trails. To the summit seems a straight uphill climb. You need to have good shoes on and be somewhat in shape. The view is supposedly spectacular. Our party didn't make it, we took a flatter trail. There is a Junior Ranger Program and an interesting hiking guide to search for fungi. Picnic areas are available. There is a fee to camp. Dogs on leashes are welcome to outside areas, but not inside buildings.

April, 2025. We visited Abington, Virginia quite a few years ago. After discovering the Virginia…read moreCreeper Trail at that time, we promised that we'd return "someday" to bike at least part of the trail. This trail is a nationally-acclaimed Rails-to-Trails that extends for 34 miles and over 47 trestle bridges. While best known as a biking trail, it's actually a multi-use trail with bikers, walkers, stroller pushers, runners, equestrians, and more, especially near the access points. In the past, the trail started near Whitetop, went about 18 miles to the center point near Damascus, and ended in the charming town of Abingdon (or vice versa). Unfortunately, Damascus was hard hit by Hurricane Helene, and 18 trestle bridges were destroyed as well as many portions of the trail so the Whitetop to Damascus portion of the trail is currently closed. The 18-mile stretch from Damascus to Abington IS open. While there are bike rental companies, as well as shuttle services to take you to the trail's start, we brought our own bikes. We decided to ride the 8.5 mile segment from Abingdon (elevation: 2,020' to Alvarado Station (the old train stop at 1,750') and back. This "lower" section is considered a relatively easy to moderate stretch through rolling farmland and forests and over beautiful trestle bridges. As mentioned, our turning point was Alvarado Station, where we enjoyed our picnic lunch on a bench river-side. The stop also had drinks and snacks available for sale, a water refill station, restrooms, and a big, friendly dog eyeing our lunches! The trail is wide in most areas, and is very well-maintained. There are multiple access points with parking lots, information kiosks, regular mileage markers, benches, photo ops, and some restrooms. In a relatively recent development, e-bikes are now allowed on the trail. With its restaurants, breweries, shops, local theater, and more, make some extra time to visit Abingdon!

Love riding the Virginia Creeper Trail. Most people ride it from Whitetop Mountain down to…read moreDamascus, but it's just as enjoyable riding the section from Abingdon to Damascus, and back. Both routes offer beautiful scenery and make for a great ride. ‍

Easy to get to playground when you're on the road traveling - close to hotels & fast food…read more We stopped here before getting back on the road after a 1 night stay near by. It served its purpose - getting energy out before the next leg of the drive. There's a small area for younger toddlers and bigger playgrounds for older kids. My 2 year loved the taller playgrounds. Many features to run around and play on. There is some wear and tear to the playground. It's muddy when wet out but overall a good park. There is also a free little library - there wasn't much in it while we were there. Easy parking

They have 2 dog parks. Limited seating and NO WATER for dogs, bring your own. Always clean, people…read morefriendly.

We enjoyed a visit to the campground this week. Many activities to enjoy. Campground facilities…read morewere well maintained. Camp Host Patrick and Amy could not have been more helpful and friendly. They definitely made everyone feel at home. Hope to visit this park again

One of the best State Parks in Virginia! Nice trails, easy access. Lots to offer families.read more