THREE TRAILS AT GRAYSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK
Early in our hiking career, the FBWG and his faithful Hiking Companion attempted the summit of Mt. Rogers, the tallest mountain in the State of Virginia. (http://fbwg-hiking.blogspot.com/2012/07/rogers-on-appalachian-trail-we-decided.html). On this hike we discovered the magnificent wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park and vowed to return one day....and that day came. We hiked three trails for a total of 5.5 miles...great day in the Old Dominion State.
TWIN PINNACLES LOOP
We started the day at the Visitors Center where the trail head of Twin Pinnacles Trail begins. The Vistors Center is located near the summit of the Haw Orchard Mountain, the highest peak in the park. The trail
is a moderate loop out to Big Pinnacle (5089') on the way there are nice overlooks known as the Twin Pinnacles.
But before taking the hike, we spent time in the Vistors Center and enjoyed the museum detailing the early American history of the area and the wildlife currently residing in the park.
Some really nice stuffed animals allowed us an up close look at creatures we hope never to encounter on the trail and the history exhibit reminded us of the hard life the settlers of these remote mountains would have endured.
The trail was a wonderfully maintained path through a neat forest. At this elevation trees tend to be less tall and the undergrowth rich and varied. Haw Orchard Mountain was once timbered and the ridge was used as a pasture. So there are few remnants of the original forest but the new growth is lush, green and almost primeval in appearance. My Hiking Companion expected to see Harry Potter fly through at any moment.
At the first overlook we got to glimpse the peak of Mt. Rogers (5729') in the distance and the incoming rain storm which would soon interrupt our hike.
A view of WIlburn Ridge, a place we had trekked on our Mt. Rogers hike gave us a better understanding of the difficulty of our first venture to this area of the Blue Ridge.
Leaving the smaller pinnacles we headed to the peak, Big Pinnacle, the last ascent being up a steep rock stairway.
Emerging on the Big Pinnacle we discovered an expansive series of rock cliffs which on a clear day would have provided some magnificent views of the surrounding mountains in at least a 180 degree vista.
One view was of the popular Massie Gap Trail. From this trail folks can interact with the famous wild ponies that roam the Massie Gap ridge. Zooming in on the trail I captured the image of two horse riders enjoying one of the many bridle trails that the Grayson Highlands State Park offers.
Scrambling down to a lower ridge I was able to capture a picture of the incoming rain storm moving from the southeast. The rain it brought drove us from the rock pinnacle and sent us looking for shelter.
On our way up to the Big Pinnacle we passed a shelter and my Hiking Companion remarked that it looked like a Hogwarts Bus Stop....so we scampered to the shelter and waited out the storm, thankfully much drier that we might have been but for the shelter.
Fearing the weather we decided not to venture down to Cabin Creek and returned to the Visitors Center....electing to drive to the Massie Gap Parking Lot and go visit the Wild Ponies....
RHODODENDRON TRIAL TO MASSIE GAP
The Rhododendron Trail is a the most popular hike in the park. It is a 1 mile round trip from the Massie Gap parking lot to the grass pasture of Massie Gap where the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park are normally the feature attraction.
The ponies are not indigenous to the Highlands but were introduced there in 1975 as a means to keep the wild grasslands under control and prevent wild fires from destroying the natural beauty of the mountain balds. The ponies are part of the wild herd of Assateague Island off the Virginia Coast.
The ponies are wild to the extent that they are left to forage on an open range but they are cared for by the Park and are very fond of the visitors to the park and are occasionally a nuisance to campers who find them unexpectedly inviting themselves to breakfast.
When we arrived at the grassy pasture that forms the Massie Gap several families were already enjoying the affections the Wild Ponies. The magic of these creatures are best reflected in the eyes of children.
CABIN CREEK TRAIL
The weather cleared and we elected to end the day by hiking the Cabin Creek Loop Trail a 2 mile loop which took us to the Cabin Creek Waterfall....and if you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know how the Fat Bald White Guy feels about waterfalls!
The trail follows a feeder stream for about 3/4 of a mile to Cabin Creek. The trail is a deep forest hike surrounded by lush greenery, blooming rhodies and occasional burst of light.
The downhill trail ends at Cabin Creek marked by a three-sided wooden shelter and a nice rhododendron adorned rapid.
From this point, the trial begins a steep climb and the roar of the falls just out of sight gets increasingly louder...then we saw the Cabin Creek Falls.
The falls are two cascades which each have multiple falls streaming off the rock ledges.
Thankfully the trail back was along the ridge line and was really a pleasant forest walk. We covered about 400 feet in elevation change and got to see a really nice waterfall. Don't miss this hike when you visit the Park as it is a nice change of pace from the mountain trails over the many ridges of the park.
As is my custom I stopped to reconstruct a cairn created to point the direction to the trail head of the Cabin Creek loop. In so doing I once again gave thanks for the beauty of the day, and the glory of God's creation. Note the cairn points the hiker to the "narrow gate". (Matthew 7:13-14)
Rating the trails here are pretty easy. Access is great. Travel up I-77 to the Galax exit Va Highway 58. Follow 58 through Galax, Independence and Mouth of Wilson....then watch for the signs to the Park....entrance fee of $5 is a bargain.
Parking at the trail heads are close and well marked...9 .The trails are well blazed and well constructed. Though not very long, you can easily link several trails as we did for a 5 mile hike....and if you have a horse. ..well that has to be a treat....9 The scenery is harder to gauge as the horses add to otherwise great vistas....8
The effort to view ratio is also very good....overall a solid 9 hike...And if you are lucky...you may get a wild pony to smile for your camera!
On the way out would could not resist stopping to photograph the New River...at rest in the evening sun.
TWIN PINNACLES LOOP
We started the day at the Visitors Center where the trail head of Twin Pinnacles Trail begins. The Vistors Center is located near the summit of the Haw Orchard Mountain, the highest peak in the park. The trail
But before taking the hike, we spent time in the Vistors Center and enjoyed the museum detailing the early American history of the area and the wildlife currently residing in the park.
Some really nice stuffed animals allowed us an up close look at creatures we hope never to encounter on the trail and the history exhibit reminded us of the hard life the settlers of these remote mountains would have endured.
The trail was a wonderfully maintained path through a neat forest. At this elevation trees tend to be less tall and the undergrowth rich and varied. Haw Orchard Mountain was once timbered and the ridge was used as a pasture. So there are few remnants of the original forest but the new growth is lush, green and almost primeval in appearance. My Hiking Companion expected to see Harry Potter fly through at any moment.
At the first overlook we got to glimpse the peak of Mt. Rogers (5729') in the distance and the incoming rain storm which would soon interrupt our hike.
Leaving the smaller pinnacles we headed to the peak, Big Pinnacle, the last ascent being up a steep rock stairway.
Emerging on the Big Pinnacle we discovered an expansive series of rock cliffs which on a clear day would have provided some magnificent views of the surrounding mountains in at least a 180 degree vista.
One view was of the popular Massie Gap Trail. From this trail folks can interact with the famous wild ponies that roam the Massie Gap ridge. Zooming in on the trail I captured the image of two horse riders enjoying one of the many bridle trails that the Grayson Highlands State Park offers. On our way up to the Big Pinnacle we passed a shelter and my Hiking Companion remarked that it looked like a Hogwarts Bus Stop....so we scampered to the shelter and waited out the storm, thankfully much drier that we might have been but for the shelter.RHODODENDRON TRIAL TO MASSIE GAP
 |
| BIG PINNACLE FROM RHODODENDRON TRAIL |
The Rhododendron Trail is a the most popular hike in the park. It is a 1 mile round trip from the Massie Gap parking lot to the grass pasture of Massie Gap where the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park are normally the feature attraction.
The ponies are not indigenous to the Highlands but were introduced there in 1975 as a means to keep the wild grasslands under control and prevent wild fires from destroying the natural beauty of the mountain balds. The ponies are part of the wild herd of Assateague Island off the Virginia Coast.
The ponies are wild to the extent that they are left to forage on an open range but they are cared for by the Park and are very fond of the visitors to the park and are occasionally a nuisance to campers who find them unexpectedly inviting themselves to breakfast.
When we arrived at the grassy pasture that forms the Massie Gap several families were already enjoying the affections the Wild Ponies. The magic of these creatures are best reflected in the eyes of children.CABIN CREEK TRAIL
The weather cleared and we elected to end the day by hiking the Cabin Creek Loop Trail a 2 mile loop which took us to the Cabin Creek Waterfall....and if you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know how the Fat Bald White Guy feels about waterfalls!
The trail follows a feeder stream for about 3/4 of a mile to Cabin Creek. The trail is a deep forest hike surrounded by lush greenery, blooming rhodies and occasional burst of light.
The downhill trail ends at Cabin Creek marked by a three-sided wooden shelter and a nice rhododendron adorned rapid.
 |
| Lower Cascades Cabin Creek Falls |
The falls are two cascades which each have multiple falls streaming off the rock ledges.
 |
| Upper Cascades Cabin Creek Falls |
Thankfully the trail back was along the ridge line and was really a pleasant forest walk. We covered about 400 feet in elevation change and got to see a really nice waterfall. Don't miss this hike when you visit the Park as it is a nice change of pace from the mountain trails over the many ridges of the park.
Rating the trails here are pretty easy. Access is great. Travel up I-77 to the Galax exit Va Highway 58. Follow 58 through Galax, Independence and Mouth of Wilson....then watch for the signs to the Park....entrance fee of $5 is a bargain.
Parking at the trail heads are close and well marked...9 .The trails are well blazed and well constructed. Though not very long, you can easily link several trails as we did for a 5 mile hike....and if you have a horse. ..well that has to be a treat....9 The scenery is harder to gauge as the horses add to otherwise great vistas....8
On the way out would could not resist stopping to photograph the New River...at rest in the evening sun.
"When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into peace of the wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come to the presences of still water."
"And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world and I am free."
Wendell Berry.
This is why the Fat Bald White Guy hikes!
