Grayson Highlands State Park, Mountain state park in Virginia, United States
Grayson Highlands State Park is a protected area at 1,100 meters elevation in the mountains of Virginia with several peaks, rock faces and wide-ranging trails. The terrain shifts between open meadows and wooded slopes, threaded with paths that extend across the entire area.
The Virginia administration opened this protected area in 1965 to preserve the mountain landscape near Mount Rogers. Since then, the area has been managed as part of the regional recreation zone and connected to the Appalachian Trail.
The trail system passes through highland meadows where semi-wild ponies roam freely as part of the landscape for decades. These animals move between rocky outcrops and graze on the high plateaus where visitors often observe them at close range.
The trails remain accessible from spring through autumn, while winter weather occasionally brings temporary restrictions. Camping sites and horse trails are available, and visitors should prepare for rapid weather changes at higher elevations.
Around 150 ponies live without fixed fences in the park and graze on the mountain meadows, keeping the open areas intact. These animals have been here for generations and prevent trees from overgrowing the highland plateaus.
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