So many things to do, so little time.
Here are some local attractions and festivals that our area has to offer. Be sure to come back again to visit what you did not have time for this trip.
Jefferson National Forrest
We are right across the road! Virtually every type of outdoor recreation activity you can imagine is available. Of course hiking, fishing, mountain bicycling and camping lead the way, but don't forget hawk watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, nature photography, and orienteering.
Whether you are driving a back-country road, enjoying our glorious fall colors, using binoculars to spot colorful neo tropical birds, or savoring the peacefulness of wilderness, remember that national forests are special places.
Whether you are driving a back-country road, enjoying our glorious fall colors, using binoculars to spot colorful neo tropical birds, or savoring the peacefulness of wilderness, remember that national forests are special places.
Near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's two highest mountains, Grayson Highlands offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet high. Facilities include a visitor center, campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks. Scenic horse trails and a horse camping area with electric and water hookups, stables and parking for trailers are available. The park provides year-round access to the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail.
Hungry Mother State Park
Long a family favorite known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains, Hungry Mother has a sandy beach with bathhouse, boats (fishing, canoe, kayak and paddle) and a boat launch, and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy its campgrounds, cabins, gift shop, visitor center, six-bedroom family lodge that sleeps 15, hiking and biking trails, and restaurant. Hungry Mother is also home to the Hemlock Haven Conference Center, available for retreats, conferences and special events. Catering is available.
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Mount Rogers NRA includes the famous Virginia Creeper Trail, outstanding trout fishing in Whitetop Laurel, and picturesque Beartree Lake. The NRA's largest campground, Beartree, is a great family campground and close to all west end activities. The Comers Rock Overlook has outstanding views and the Raven Cliff Furnace Trail takes you to a fascinating iron ore furnace from the early 1800's. Hussy Mountain and Collins Cove Horse Camps provide camping areas close to the famous Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. There are over 400 miles of designated trails on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Trails in the high country as well as the Virginia Creeper and Appalachian Trail are popular destinations, particularly on weekends.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,180 miles in length. The Trail goes through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the Trail’s northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine. The A.T. is home to an impressive diversity of plants and animals. Some animals you may see include black bears, moose, porcupines, snakes, woodpeckers, and salamanders. Some plants you may encounter include jack-in-the-pulpit, skunk cabbage, and flame azalea.
Virginia Creeper Trail
The Va Creeper Trail stretches 34 miles from Abingdon, Virginia down thru the lovely town of Damascus, Va (known as the Heart of the Va Creeper) along the Whitetop Laurel River and up to its highest point Whitetop Station near the NC State Line at Whitetop, Virginia. The Va Creeper Trail is open year round to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. This former rail bed passes through the Mount Rogers National Recreation area and the highland country of Southwestern Virginia. The Virginia Creeper Trail is rich in beauty and regional history. This is an easy biking adventure that you and your friends and family will talk about for a long time.
Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
Located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail is a 68-mile trail between Elk Garden and VA Rt. 94. It features mountainous terrain, valley views and valley crossings. The trail includes parking and primitive camping for those who trailer horses.
Mt Rogers Scenic Byway
Enjoy a variety of scenic curves and interesting changes in the terrain as you follow either of the two sections of this byway. The first section begins at Troutdale, VA. You will drive west for 13.2 miles over Virginia Route 603 to Konnarock. VA. You will traverse the heart of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Highway 603 is a two-lane paved road. The second section of the byway leads you 32.5 miles east from Damascus, VA to Volney, VA. The byway follows US Route 58, which is the easiest access to the "High Country" of the NRA. US 58 is a two-lane, paved scenic road.
New River Trail State Park
New River Trail is a 57-mile linear park that follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way. The park parallels the scenic and historic New River for 40 miles and passes through four counties. The trail's gentle slope makes it great for visitors of all ages to hike, bike and ride horseback. Several places in the park provide horse, canoe and bike rentals, boat launches and gift shops. Fishing is popular, and primitive camping sites dot the trail. The park hosts a horse arena, and guided horseback trips are available. There are access points to the trail at Allisonia, Cliffview, Draper, Foster Falls, Fries, Galax, Ivanhoe and Xaloy (near Pulaski). Horse trailer parking is available at Allisonia, Cliffview, Draper, Fries, Foster Falls and Xaloy.
Grayson County Fiddler's Conventions
When you visit Grayson County in the summertime, you can hear the banjos and fiddles in the air... In addition to the community music jams and music venues, two major fiddlers conventions take place in Grayson County. A fiddlers' convention is not just for fiddlers. The competitions take on a festival like quality where friends and family can gather in the outdoors to listen to music, relax, shop from craft vendors or dance to the tunes. The competitions for each convention may vary. Common categories include; a youth competition, competition for the different musical instruments which make up your typical old time/bluegrass band and band categories. Musicians travel to Grayson County from all over the world to compete in the Fiddlers' Conventions. It's a true delight to hear world renowned musicians play traditional music alongside local experts.
Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition
On the third Saturday of every June at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition features some of the region’s best traditional musicians. From time to time, they have shared the stage with bluegrass bands from Europe. The event takes its name from National Heritage Award recipient Wayne C. Henderson, a musician and instrument maker who lives in nearby Rugby, Virginia. Henderson’s top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family, and neighbors in Grayson County, Virginia. His guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of Masters of the Steel-String Guitar and in seven nations of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Other Area Festivals:
Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival
Whitetop Mountain - Last weekend in March
Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival
Whitetop Mountain - Third Sunday in May
Christmas in July
West Jefferson, NC - Independence Day Weekend
Appalachian Trail Days Festival
Damascus, VA - Third weekend in May
Virginia Highlands Festival
Abingdon, VA - First two weeks in August
Hungry Mother Craft Festival
Hungry Mother State Park - Marion, VA - July
Grayson County Fall Festival
Grayson Highlands State Park - Last weekend in September
Whitetop Mountain Molasses Festival
Whitetop, VA - Second Sunday in October