Grayson Highlands in Winter (Virginia)

Grayson Highlands State Park in winter is a challenging but gorgeous setting for hardy hikers. Don't forget to look for the wild ponies!

Fluffy brown and white pony grazing in between patches of snow-covered ground, with several more ponies in background.

I’ve been wanting to visit Grayson Highlands in Virginia for years, ever since my friend Elizabeth went and shared about it here.

So when some friends got in touch and suggested a weekend together in the area, we said yes! The only catch? It was the middle of winter — but that didn't stop us, and I'm glad to say it was actually a great experience.

Hiker using trekking poles on icy trail.

Here's what to know if you happen to visit Grayson Highlands in winter!

Pros of Visiting in Winter

The park was not crowded at all! In contrast, friends of ours said that when they visited in summer it was very crowded.

The park is (understandably) a popular spot for bringing children to see the wild ponies, so during summer vacation there are more visitors. But in January we only saw a handful of other hikers.

Fluffy pony bending its head near the snow-covered ground.

Plus, seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains covered in snow is just incredibly beautiful.

Complications of Visiting Grayson Highlands in Winter

While the snow is beautiful, it does have the potential to make travel more complicated.

The main roads had been treated when we visited, but side roads still had not.

Before arriving, be aware that this is a rural mountain area. Shops and grocery stores are limited, especially during the winter off-season.

Plan to be somewhat self-sufficient during your stay. If you need a full-size grocery store, plan on driving to Jefferson, North Carolina, (about 30 minutes away) or Damascus, Virginia (about 45 minutes away).

Will I Have a Cell Signal?

Cell service is limited. On Verizon towers in 2025, my service was spotty. I had occasional signal in the park, mainly when we hiked to overlooks.

On the drive there, long stretches had no cell signal.

While it’s not strictly necessary, if you already own a satellite communication device (such as a Garmin inReach), bringing one along in case of emergency is a great idea.

If you have an iPhone, remember that iOS 18 and up can send texts via satellite if needed.

Lodging Near Grayson Highlands

The state park campground closes for winter, and hotel options are limited.

The easiest option is to stay at a local cabin or house rental (such as an AirBnB), or stay in a neighboring town around 30-45 minutes away.

If you’re staying in a rental home, I recommend communicating with the host ahead of time to make sure the driveway has been plowed of snow if needed. The steep curvy gravel road to our rental had not been touched, and as we drove past other rental houses I noticed that very few driveways had been plowed, with at least six inches of snow on them.

Do I Need 4-Wheel Drive?

This will depend on the weather conditions, but if possible, I’d recommend arriving in a vehicle that can handle snowy roads, such as an all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicle. (Our Subaru did fine.)

Is There an Entry Fee?

When we visited there was a $7 admission/parking fee. The station was unmanned when we were there so you needed cash (or check).

What Gear Should I Bring?

Since there was quite a bit of snow when we visited, I wore my EXOspikes over some waterproof hiking boots. (I use an older model of these Altra Lone Peak mids.)

Hiker coming down rocky, snow-covered crevice in trail.

I also wore my thick Kuhl Klash pants, an alpaca half-zip and a wool headband, plus I stored a down jacket in my backpack as backup. I also found my trekking poles to be incredibly helpful over the snowy terrain.

Hiker knee-deep in snow on trail in winter in Grayson Highlands State Park.

For more suggestions, see my post on winter trail running.

Hiking in Grayson Highlands in Winter

When we arrived, we drove to the Massie Gap parking area and headed onto the Cabin Creek Trail to see the waterfall.

Hiker using two trekking poles on trail covered in several inches of snow. — Cabin Creek Trail

We went as far as we could to the lower falls and decided not to go farther since the path became extremely icy.

Snow-covered banks of creek in Grayson Highlands State Park. — Cabin Creek Falls

Next, we went to see the ponies! From the same parking area, we hiked out to Wilburn Ridge via the Appalachian Trail.

As we walked, we saw wild ponies everywhere!

Ponies grazing in between patches of snow-covered ground at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Visitors to the park are asked not to approach, touch, or feed the ponies, but when we visited the ponies came fairly close to us of their own free will, which was really cool.