A Modified Backpacking Loop Through Grayson Highlands 

A three-day, two-night backpacking trip my son and I took to Grayson Highlands in August 2024 starting from Fox Creek Trailhead parking lot off Fairwood Road (VA603) near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.
Route
16.97 miles | +3,169′ Gain | -3,226′ Loss
From the Fox Creek trailhead, we the Appalachian Trail (AT) past Old Orchard Shelter and up to the Pine Mountain/Crest Trail Junction. Turned right/west on Crest towards Rhododendron Gap where we stayed the night. From Rhodo Gap, we followed the AT over Pine Mountain, picked up Wilburn Ridge Trail until the Rhodo Gap/Wilburn Ridge/AT junction where we continued on the AT to Wise Shelter. After Wise we picked up Wilson Creek Trail to VA Highlands Horse Trail up to Scales where we took Crest Trail back up to Pine Mtn/Creat/AT junction and followed the AT to Old Orchard for night 2. From Old Orchard we followed the AT back to the Fox Creek Trailhead parking lot.
Notes
Saw the Milky Way from Rhodo Gap which was amazing. There are 52 piles of turds for every pony in Grayson Highlands. At the time of this trip, the spring at Old Orchard (our camp 2) was bone dry so we filled up at Wilson Creek.
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