Grayson Highlands State Park 3-22-112

Grayson Highlands State Park, located near Mouth of Wilson, VA.

The 'Spring' mentality has hit me.  I'm ready to start getting out into nature again and breathe that fresh mountain air, if you consider a 5,000 ft high hill to be a mountain:)

The winter here was mild and boring, it just wasn't enticing for me to go outside.  I'm not sure why, but I'm glad it's over. 

This park takes me about an hour to get to, it is home to wild ponies(not photographed on this trip), many cool trails and streams, and a trailhead to the highest point in VA, Mount Rogers.  This day I concentrated on hiking the southern park of the park, including Cabin Creek, Big Pinnacle, and Listening Rock trails.  About 7 Miles total, and all accessible from one parking spot.  

I got to the park just before sunrise.  Sunrises over the Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful to say the least.  Fog fills the valleys and the warm sun slowly rises to give us awesome scenes.  They are nice to just sit and watch:)

First shots of the day(HDR)

Sunrise over the Blue Ridge

After watching the sunrise, I hiked down the Cabin Creek Trail.  It has this name for an old hunting cabin that is along its bank.  Today I was focused mostly on the falls.

I enjoy the lines on the rocks at Cabin Creek Falls

A 'weeping' wall(sort of)

Cabin Creek runs through...

A tighter comp on Cabin Creek

After hiking Cabin Creek and having two very wet feet, I drank a slimfast shake and rang out my socks.  I then set off to hike Big Pinacle, the highest point in the park.  This trail ends at the start of Listening rock, so no driving needed:)

The view from the highest point in the park, Big Pinnacle(looking South)

Looking North from Big Pinnacle

Weathered Trees on the trail

There is a smaller 'Pinnacle', with views that are just as nice.

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From here, I went to the trail called Listening Rock, I didn't take as many photos on this part of the hike.  And when you hike it, you will know why.  It's a very quiet hike, the only sounds are from birds.  You're walking through a forest that seems to go forever.  With the sun high in the sky, circling turkey vultures' shadows were dancing across the forest floor. I did shoot a photo of some small flowers starting to bloom, and a small overlook.  Thanks for reading:)

Flowers about 1cm in diameter are starting to come out.

A small opening to the horizon.

Trail Markers make it easy to get around.