I recently camped at Grayson Highlands State Park near Mouth of Wilson, VA. What a beautiful location, and a perfect
escape from the sweltering summer many of us have endured. Temperatures in the campground topped out in the mid 70s, helped in part by the canopy of trees providing full shade to most sites.
We had a "non-specific" standard site reservation, meaning we got to choose our site upon arrival. This made me a bit nervous, since I normally like to know exactly where I'm going to be parked. After surveying the campground, I actually tend to like the non-specific sites better than many of the reservable sites. Note that standard sites have no water and no electric, but I used a
solar generator over a 6 night stay without any issues, even though I didn't even attempt to do any
solar charging.
We explored the Rhododendron and Wilburn Ridge Trails, along with a portion of the Appalachian Trail (my first time setting foot on that fabled path). These trails provide excellent views of the surrounding mountains, including Virginia's highest peak, Mt. Rogers. Of course, the most popular attractions are the wild ponies grazing these hills and valleys. There are also a number of "boulder problems" for those who enjoy climbing.