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Rollster · 05-18-2013, 03:51 PM

Has anyone camped in Virginia at Grayson Highlands State Park or at other campgrounds near the Mt. Rogers Area? We were recommended by a friend to visit the area, and their pictures sure do look beautiful! We might try to head that way this June and have heard that it's usually cool, even in the summer, due to the elevation. I would appreciate any advice or information. Thanks!

nilesrob · 05-18-2013, 07:47 PM

We have camped in Damascus at a private campground, but not at Grayson SP. That is a beautiful area - assuming you will be doing the Virginia Creeper? If not, must add! If you are not familiar, it is about a 20 mile bike ride, all downhill, on a rails-to-trails run that is spectacular.

nilesrob · 05-18-2013, 08:10 PM

Here are some pics from our travels in May a couple of years ago. Suffice it to say you will want your camera - the area is stunning, the landscape was lush and the temperatures were cool.

sandlapper · 05-18-2013, 08:17 PM

The area is indeed beautiful. Mt Rogers is the hightest point in Va. We made a stop there several years ago but the campground was full, had to keep going.

You will like it. You may want to check out Virginia Highland Haven Airstream Park near Floyd while you are up that way.

John

Rollster · 05-19-2013, 12:48 PM

Thanks for the responses; the pictures are beautiful! My friend said to definitely check out the Virginia Creeper trail, but do you know if dogs are allowed? Our golden retriever wouldn't want to miss it either!

TouringDan · 05-19-2013, 01:22 PM

We have camped at Grayson Highlands and do not recommend it. To me it is typical of most Virginia State Parks- just plain lousy design and construction of a campground. Great location on top of a mountain, but poor campground design and implementation. The sites are too close together and the parking area for the trailers are not as level as they should be; the picnic tables are not even level. It is also difficult to get to Grayson Highlands. We had two dogs with us and we had to pay extra for each dog.

We recommend Hurricane campground in the Mt. Rogers area. Beautiful sites, lots of privacy, hiking trails and a creek running through the campground. It is much better that Grayson Highlands.

Dan

nilesrob · 05-19-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rollster

Thanks for the responses; the pictures are beautiful! My friend said to definitely check out the Virginia Creeper trail, but do you know if dogs are allowed? Our golden retriever wouldn't want to miss it either!

I don't think we brought our dogs on this trip (very unusual). I don't recall the campground we stayed at as far as dogs, but would assume it was OK. The other thing to do would be to check and make sure you can take a dog with you on the shuttle to the top of the VA Creeper. Again, I would guess it would be ok, but don't know. Your dog would be running 17 miles - I don't think our girls would be up for that, but certainly we would have been comfortable leaving them in the trailer while we made this trip.

Here are a few pics from the campground where we stayed. Small, not private, but met our basic needs for the purpose. As is typical for us, we brought our fire pit with us.

pmclemore · 05-20-2013, 08:13 AM

Grayson Highlands SP is our favorite. We enjoy the campground and highly recommend it. However if you favor a resort type of campground, then perhaps it would be better to stay down the hill someplace.

Our choice is to stay in the park.

Pat

Rollster · 05-20-2013, 06:45 PM

Thanks, Dan, for your honest opinion on Grayson Highlands. I do not like the sounds of crowded, close sites. I did check out Hurricane, but the website did not recommend towing on the access road. Have you ever stayed at Stony Creek, another forest campground that looks nice?

Rollster · 05-20-2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Grayson Highlands SP is our favorite. We enjoy the campground and highly recommend it. However if you favor a resort type of campground, then perhaps it would be better to stay down the hill someplace.

Our choice is to stay in the park.

Pat

Thanks for the pictures, Pat. The creek looks very inviting! We do not care for resort type campgrounds; in fact, we tend to prefer the more remote places. However, it sounds like there's a lot to do right in Grayson Highlands. Decisions, decisions ... !

pmclemore · 05-21-2013, 10:01 AM

We've been camping there from the early 90's (in our pop-up), then in our 25' Safari and now in our 31 footer. There are fewer spots that we can fit into now, but we always are glad to be there, up on top of the mountain.

The trails are spectacular - since the top of Wilburn Ridge is grazed by horses, the rocky outcroppings make it look more like Wyoming than Virginia. One day we set out just to day-hike along the ridge and found ourselves going to the top of Mt Rogers. No vistas up there, but the sights along the trail are spectacular.

Pat

Rollster · 05-22-2013, 03:41 PM

Dan[/QUOTE]

It is also difficult to get to Grayson Highlands.

Hi Dan,

Can you explain why the park is difficult to get to? We would be towing 25-footer. Thanks!

TouringDan · 05-23-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rollster

Dan

It is also difficult to get to Grayson Highlands.

Hi Dan,

Can you explain why the park is difficult to get to? We would be towing 25-footer. Thanks![/QUOTE]

Rollster

I think I used the wrong word, it just seems like we were close to it on the map and then had to go much farther and up to the top of the mountain where the campground is.

BTW, you should have no trouble getting to Hurricane Campground. We got in there fine with our 24' Tradewind. I also would not hesitate taking our 31' Excella. Here is a link for the Hurricane Campground.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fs...ane+Campground

I hope this helps.

Dan