Hike Mount Rogers

Best Backpack In Virginia

Such a beautiful hike with so many different terrains and landscapes! I felt like I was somewhere far far away from Virginia! There are tons of great backcountry campsites as the trail is located along the AT. It's super dog friendly and the ponies come right up to you!

Our Favorite Hike To Date

We hiked in from Massie Gap to Mount Rogers in late June and we quickly decided this was our favorite hike we've ever done. This hike offers the most beautiful views I've ever seen in the United States, and hiking among the ponies is one you won't soon forget! Plenty of beautiful camping spots. We hope to come back one day.

Gorgeous Scenery

I seriously loved this hike and it easily tops all the other hikes I've done this far in Virginia!

Plenty Of Ponies

Absolutely a must-do hike. Went for a nice weekend trip in Virginia after day hiking McAfee Knob. We went on a Sunday and Monday and it made a world of difference with the crowds.

One of the Best Hikes in Virginia

As other reviews have hinted at...hiking here feels more like being in the Scottish Highlands than in Virginia. The wild ponies are definitely a plus, just please resist the urge to feed them. There are many places to pitch a tent if wanting to turn this hike into a backpacking trip. Though the summit of Mt. Rogers is forested, this is one of only a few mountains in Virginia with high enough elevations to have a spruce-fir forest, making the trail to the summit quite enchanting.

First Backpacking Trip

Came here as a part of a group for my first true backpacking trip and now I'm hooked! We stayed near shelters both nights so the easy access to water sources and privys made things a little easier for a beginner. Covered about 15 miles over the weekend and couldn't believe all the different scenery we saw. Loved the challenge of the rock scramble sections! Getting to see the ponies made the weekend absolutely perfect. Can't recommend this enough.

Ponies and the highest point in VA, a unique hike for sure

Just go. We got to see the herds of wild ponies three times on our day hike up and back. The scenery is some you would never imagine in Virginia. The horses manage to keep a lot of the hike well grazed leaving for countless incredible views all along the hike. The summit itself is well forested, so it doesn't have any view, but if you there you might as well make it to the highest point in VA. This hike is a must!

My Go-To Backpacking Loop

I've backpacked Mt. Rogers/Grayson Highlands three different times in the past two years, and it never gets old. The scenery is spectacular, solitude is easy to find, the trail is easy to follow, and you get some of the most unique wildlife you could ask for with the herds of wild ponies on the mountain balds. I'm certain that I'll backpack Mt. Rogers again this year, and for many years to come. Whether you're a backpacking veteran or setting out on your first backpacking trip, I cannot recommend the Mt. Rogers Highlands enough.

Best Views On The East Coast

Amazing high country views for Virginia! Mount Roger's forest is incredible (literally looks like a forest in the North Pacific)! Beautiful wild ponies and most of them are extremely friendly. Awesome area, when the reach the top around mount Rogers you won't believe you're in Virginia with the amazing views! Must do hike if you live in or near Virginia!

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

This section of the AT is absolutely beautiful! I went during labor day weekend, the weather was perfect. I highly, highly recommend going to Scales (the old cattle ranch), and rather than camping directly at Scales, to walk up the horse trail, and camp up there. It is very secluded (minus the cows) and the camp overlooks the mountains, which makes for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Also, take a look up at the sky at night, you won't be disappointed.

Hiked here for the first time in June 2015. I agree with review before me - good time to see all the foals out with their moms. Would love to camp next time, lots of well maintained areas as well as a shelter close to Mt. Rogers and surprisingly not that many people were out. We ended up doing this as a day hike and started a little bit later in the day (around 3). Had plenty of time to explore and complete the hike to be back at the car by dark. The weather is notorious here for changing quickly so always be prepared whether for just a hike or camping overnight (of course there is a huge sign at the park warning you of this as well). We finished this hike just in time before a huge summer storm moved in.

Did a very similar trip to this one (this section was incorporated into a longer backpacking trip) in late July. Many of the ponies had babies, and all were very inquisitive! We only met one other group of hikers making the experience all the more special. The views from the balds were simply spectacular, but hiking through the wooded sections also proved to be magnificent. Continuing along the AT to Buzzard Rock (great 360 views of surrounding ranges) would be a good addition to this hike.