Finding Peace and Ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park
- Hollyann E. Jenkins
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
Weekend road trips are great for the soul! Exploring new sites and enjoying new experiences are a wonderful way to stay active and entertain a curious mind. If you love the great outdoors AND are on a budget, state parks are the way to go.
My fellow "adventure junkie" and daughter, Lily, and I packed up my Wrangler and headed to Grayson Highlands State Park a few months ago. Located in western Virginia, this beautiful park is perfect for camping, hiking, and seeing wild ponies. And the views are absolutely stunning!
After a peaceful night of car camping at one of the park’s serene, wooded campgrounds, we started our day by hiking Wilburn Ridge Trail. The trail is listed as moderately difficult but pretty easy compared to other moderate-rated ones. Perhaps, we were too distracted from the expansive, picturesque views to notice the difficulty.
We crossed into Mount Rogers National Recreational Area and were greeted by a herd of wild ponies. I’m using the term “wild” very loosely, as they didn’t seem to fear humans in any way. Respectfully, we kept a distance, but they ended coming fairly close as we stood and just observed the interactions of the herd.
I have three Mustang mares of my own and am fascinated by how they are so much more in tune with their surroundings than their domesticated counterparts. To see these equines in their natural habitat and living off the land was incredible. This particular band had several heavily pregnant mares and a few with young foals and colts. The stallion of the group, who I later learned is referred to as Fabio had the most impressive flowy mane. Even more incredible was that his hair was free of fairy knots (tangles), which I battle daily with my horses.
The herd grazed and slowly meandered up the hill and through the trees. Lily and I followed a safe distance behind them, curious to learn more about the herd’s dynamics. At one point, the ponies even walked between the tents at a campsite.
As we started our journey back down the ridge, we took a quick detour on Grayson Highlands Trail to explore some of the massive rock formations. They were the perfect spot to sit, enjoy the warm sun, and admire the panoramic view of the mountains in the distance. It’s amazing how you can feel both empowered and so small when experiencing the expansive 360-degree views.
We would have been happy just to waste away the day while admiring the views. However, we had planned another hike that afternoon, an hour's drive away.
Along the trek back to the Jeep, we saw another band of ponies. After looking at our photos later that evening, we noticed that the little one on the ground had a bad cut on its foot (photo not shown). We contacted the association managing the herd, and they sent someone to check on him. It's so reassuring to know that they are cared for in emergency situations.
Whether you like horses or not, Grayson Highlands State Park is a great place to reconnect with nature. As for Lily and me, we happily found BOTH peace and ponies! Till next time, Grayson Highlands! Since we only hiked 2 of the 13 trails, we will definitely be back.
Captivating narrative that beautifully transports readers to the serene landscapes of western Virginia, making them feel as if they’re hiking alongside the author. Holly’s deep appreciation for nature and her equine companions shines through, offering readers both inspiration and a sense of tranquility. This blog post is a delightful read for anyone seeking a genuine connection with the outdoors and the simple joys of life.