Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is part of Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest and is built around the tallest point in the state. Having said that, it is much more than a mountain and offers some or the most spectacular mountain views you will find anywhere in the Appalachian chain.

Offerings

To get a sense of the area, you need to get out of the car. There are hundreds or miles of hiking and horse trails. Numerous fishing streams can be accessed throughout the area and many are stocked with trout. Some of the water can be paddled with a canoe or kayak. Part of the state’s premier bike trail (Virginia Creeper Trail) passes through the Recreation Area. Many campgrounds are also available in and around Mount Rogers.

Hiking

Hiking Mount Rogers is highly recommended and hikes can begin from numerous trailheads. I always recommend beginning from Grayson Highlands State Park. It will be necessary to pay to enter, but the is ample safe parking and the approach to the lacks any significant incline. It’s the easiest place to begin and you don’t need to hike far to capitalize on all the mountain has to offer.

Views

From vantage points all over the Recreation Area, one can find amazing mountain views. Mount Rogers is very near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, so visitors will be looking at some of the highest Appalachian peaks.

The southern slope of Mount Rogers is grazed to keep down vegetation, which contributes to unobstructed vistas. In fact, the very peak of the mountain sits in a pine forest and a bit anticlimactic. The rest of the hike, however, is absolutely stunning.

Wild Horses

Wild horses are everywhere on the southern slope and contribute to reduced vegetation. Touching or feeding the horses is not permitted, but you will see people doing it. Be aware that the Forest Service does employ rangers to police the slopes, so it is best to obey the rules.

Other Local Offerings

The Virginia Creeper Trail has repurposed an old logging railbed to create an incredible bike trail running through the mountains. Bike rentals and shuttle services can be found in Abingdon, Virginia.

Bristol Virginia is the original “Birthplace of Country Music.” The Carter Family and other original country musicians got started in the area and a museum and music venues fill the town. The city also straddles the Virginia and Tennessee state lines with the border running down the center of State Street. Virginia flags line the north side and Tennessee flags run along the south side. It makes for a good photo opportunity.

The Channels are located at the highest point on Clinch Mountain and consists of an intricate system of sandstone formations created during the last ice age. It is likely one of Virginia's most rewarding hikes. Visitors can explore the deep, labyrinthine rock crevasses. Be aware that there is limited parking at the main trailhead and local police do ticket cars parked illegally.

The Crooked Trail, connecting numerous points significant to Bluegrass, also winds through the hills of Southwest Virginia. Nearby Galax, Virginia is a local center and the surrounding mountains have produced many of the genre’s biggest names.