Grayson Highlands State Park Backpack Parking Campground
Open year-round with reservations required. Check-in is 1 p.m. and check-out is noon. Sleeping in vehicles is prohibited. When the lot is full, alternate parking is available at the VA-600 Elk Garden or VA-603 Fox Creek parking areas in Mount Rogers NRA.
Flood Watch issued August 11 at 1:42PM EDT until August 13 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of northwest North Carolina, including the following areas, Alleghany NC, Ashe and Watauga, Virginia, including the following areas, Alleghany VA, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Tazewell and Wythe, and southeast West Virginia, including the following areas, Eastern Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Summers and Western Greenbrier. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding through midweek. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
About
Grayson Highlands State Park's Backpack Parking Campground is a designated overnight parking facility for backpackers accessing the adjacent Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Appalachian Trail. Located at Virginia's highest state park with elevations ranging from 3,698 to 5,089 feet, this lot separates overnight hikers from day-use visitors and eliminates dangerous roadside parking. The reservation includes parking only. Camping is not permitted within the park or in your vehicle. Hikers must travel approximately 1.5 miles south or 2.5+ miles north on the Appalachian Trail to reach legal camping areas on federal land. Bear boxes are available near Thomas Knob Shelter, Rhododendron Gap, Wise Shelter, and Scales. Campfires are prohibited; bring a camp stove. Weather at this elevation can change rapidly with snow possible May through September and winds regularly exceeding 50 mph. Cell service is unreliable, so download offline maps via the Avenza app or bring National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map #318. The park's famous wild ponies roam the area but should not be approached, fed, or petted.
Directions
From I-81, take exit 45 (Marion/Chilhowie). Follow US-16 South for approximately 25 miles to Volney. Turn right onto US-58 West and continue about 8 miles to the park entrance at 829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | No |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $16 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| GraysonHighlands@dcr.virginia.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (276) 579-7092 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
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