A three-day, two-night backpacking trip my son and I took to Grayson Highlands in August 2024 starting from Fox Creek Trailhead parking lot off Fairwood Road (VA603) near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.
THE ROUTE
16.97 miles | +3,169′ Gain | -3,226′ Loss
From the Fox Creek Trailhead, we took the Appalachian Trail (AT) past Old Orchard Shelter and up to the Pine Mountain/Crest Trail Junction. Turned right/west on Crest Trail towards Rhododendron Gap where we stayed the night. From Rhododendron Gap, we followed the AT over Pine Mountain, picked up Wilburn Ridge Trail until the Rhododendron Gap/Wilburn Ridge/AT junction where we continued on the AT to Wise Shelter. After Wise we picked up Wilson Creek Trail to Virginia Highlands Horse Trail up to Scales where we took Crest Trail back up to Pine Mountain/Crest/AT junction and followed the AT north to Old Orchard Shelter for night 2. From Old Orchard we followed the AT north back to the Fox Creek Trailhead parking lot.
NOTES
- Rhododendron Gap offered an amazing view of the Milky Way.
- The spring at Old Orchard (our camp 2) was bone dry during this visit so we filled up at Wilson Creek near Wise Shelter.