Grayson Highlands State Park invites adventurers to step off the beaten path and meet the wild spirit of southwest Virginia’s highlands. Among its variety of trails, three less-frequented routes stand out for their unique blend of challenge, scenery, and history.

The Twin Pinnacles Trail offers a moderate 1.6-mile climb over the park's highest points: Little Pinnacle (5,089 feet) and Big Pinnacle (5,068 feet). As you ascend, the hardy metamorphic rock outcrops hold firm beneath your feet, daring you to reach their summits. Here, the wind carries the mountain’s voice, sweeping across a full 360-degree panorama of rugged ridges and rolling valleys. Clear days deliver some of the most expansive views in the park—an exhilarating reward for the steady pace uphill.

For those who crave a more intense descent, Wilson Creek Trail challenges with a steep 1.2-mile drop into the creek’s basin. Originating high on Pine Mountain, Wilson Creek rushes over massive sandstone boulders, each splash echoing the creek’s fierce independence. The waterway is a special-regulation wild trout stream, requiring respect for its delicate ecosystem. The trail’s technical steepness demands careful footing, especially after rain, as the rocks and roots become slick agents of the mountain’s raw power.

Less rugged but rich in story, the Rock House Ridge Trail winds through 1.2 miles of forested slopes with frequent views of Mill Creek and the rural community of Rugby. This moderate trail brings hikers past a homestead area where wooden structures recall the lives carved out of these highlands. The mix of natural and cultural elements invites reflection as you move through the quiet woods, the creek’s chatter punctuating the still air.

Planning for these trails means preparing for shifting mountain moods. Wear supportive footwear with solid traction to handle varying terrain, bring sufficient water to stay energized on climbs and descents, and time your hike so you can enjoy cooler morning air or afternoon light. Weather can turn swiftly at these elevations, so layers and rain protection are wise companions.

Each step on these trails connects you with a landscape fiercely itself—shaped by geology, water, and centuries of human and animal presence. The challenge is not to conquer but to engage thoughtfully: to listen to the creek daring you forward, to feel the rock beneath your boots, and to stand quietly where sky and earth widen to the horizon.