outdoors

Keep Virginia Beautiful often partners with the Virginia State Park system. Virginia is blessed with beautiful parks that are environmentally conscious. We thought we’d take this time to share an example of what Virginia has to offer, while there’s still a little Summertime left and it’s good weather to visit.

(And remember, we are giving away a free one-day parking pass to any Virginia State Park with a donation of any size!)

Grayson County, Southwest Virginia, holds one of the jewels of the Commonwealth. Grayson Highlands State Park features sweeping views of the Blue Ridge and provides an access point to Virginia’s highest peak, Mt. Rogers, as well as the Appalachian Trail. The park offers a variety of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. And speaking of horses…

Grayson Highlands State Park and its neighboring Mount Rogers National Recreation Area are home to more than 100 wild ponies – that’s something to neigh about! Twenty ponies were introduced in 1974 to help graze patches of land that were cleared before the area was made into a park. Today, their populations have grown and 10-15 herds in the Highlands.  Though the herds roam free most the year, they are rounded up annually to be checked by veterinarians. At that time, some foals are separated from the herd and sold at auction. This is a humane way to keep the ponies from overpopulating, which would threaten both ponies and native wildlife.

The ponies are accustomed to being around humans at Grayson Highlands, but park officials warn against feeding or touching them. Human foods can be potentially fatal to ponies, and wild horses can become aggressive when overstimulated. They’ve been known to bite humans who get too close, so observing them from a safe distance is best. For those willing to follow these rules, they can be seen by taking the Rhododendron Trail across Wilburn Ridge to Rhododendron Gap, a favored pony hang out. This hike is considered moderately challenging, so be sure to bring some water and take frequent breaks.

Grayson Highlands has a lot to offer whether you’re interested in walking or wildlife. We encourage everyone to get outdoors and see some of the outdoor beauty in Virginia!