Top trails at Virginia's Grayson Highlands State Park
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Photos
Massie Gap
Appalachian Trail sign
Appalachain Trail
Backpackers head up the AT
Gnarly stump
Ponies in the park
Trail junction
Why Scouts are trained to Be Prepared
Cabin Creek Trail
Cabin Creek
Bottom of the falls on Cabin Creek
Another Cabin Creek waterfall
Waterfall on Cabin Creek Trail
Big Pinnacle Trail
Massie Gap from Big Pinnacle
Awesome view from Big Pinnacle
Little Pinnacle
Chart (Mouse wheel zooms in)
Story
I hiked the Cabin Creek Trail, Twin Pinnacles Loop and a little bit of the Appalachian Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park in southwest Virginia. All told, it was 7.1 miles with well over 1,000 feet of elevation gain (my GPS unit says 1900 but it always vastly inflates elevation gain estimates). A great park to hike in the off-season. Trip write-up to at Two-Heel Drive.
Altitude can really creep up on you if you're coming up from the flatlands. Not like the Rockies or anything, but much of the hiking is near 5,000 feet, which will be come noticeable on the uphill climbs. Signs warn to be prepared for drastic weather changes -- I would advise taking these seriously and never venturing up into the HIghlands without rain gear and your 10 Essentials.
Altitude can really creep up on you if you're coming up from the flatlands. Not like the Rockies or anything, but much of the hiking is near 5,000 feet, which will be come noticeable on the uphill climbs. Signs warn to be prepared for drastic weather changes -- I would advise taking these seriously and never venturing up into the HIghlands without rain gear and your 10 Essentials.