Women's Beginner Backpacking Trip- Grayson Highlands, VA (2026)
Women's Beginner Backpacking Trip- Grayson Highlands, VA (2026)
A minimum of 2 hikers is required for this trip. If the minimum is not met, you will be contacted 2 weeks before the trip to discuss options.
Guided trips are limited to 6 hikers per trip. If your group has 4 or more, please contact us to plan a private trip.
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Trip Highlights:
- Explore the Grayson Highlands: Hike through open grassy balds, rhododendron-lined trails, and lush forests, soaking in 360-degree views of Virginia’s highest peaks, including Mount Rogers, the state’s highest point.
- Wildlife & Wild Ponies: Encounter the famous wild ponies that roam the highlands, along with diverse flora and fauna native to the Southern Appalachians, including vibrant wildflowers and migratory birds.
- Beginner-Friendly Adventure: Perfect for beginners, this trip includes all the gear you need, on-trail meals, and expert guidance to ensure a safe and memorable experience.
- Camp Under the Stars: Sleep in tents under the vast Virginia sky, wake to the sounds of nature, and enjoy the camaraderie of a women-only group around a crackling campfire.
Difficulty Level: Beginner / Novice
This Beginner/Novice backpacking trip is considered Moderately Strenuous. A moderately strenuous hike is considered to be generally challenging for an unconditioned person. It is suitable for those with some hiking experience on a mix of terrain and elevation gain and loss. While this trip is great for first time backpackers, you should be comfortable hiking at least 6-8 miles with a weighted day pack on varying terrain.
Daily mileage on this trip ranges from 3 miles to 6 miles, with up to 1,500' of elevation gain. The terrain on this route is very rocky and rooty, so you should be comfortable hiking on uneven terrain and have good traction on your shoes. There are some steep inclines and large rock steps, as well as a few log bridge creek crossings.
You will be expected to carry your own backpacking gear for the duration of the trip (gear rental included). Your fully loaded pack should be under 20% of your body weight, or around 25-30 pounds. You will receive a detailed packing list after booking, and your guide will discuss what to bring (and what not to bring) during your virtual orientation. It's important to keep your pack weight low to reduce your risk of injury and to make your hike more enjoyable.
What's Included:
- Virtual Orientation and Q&A session with your guide before the trip
- Backpacking Gear Rental (backpack, trekking poles, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cook kit, water filtration system)
- Backcountry camping permits
- On trail meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Expect advice, tips, and planning from an experienced backpacking guide
Not Included:
- Guide gratuity (recommended 15-20% of trip cost)
- Lodging before/after trip
- Transportation from airports or hotels
- Parking permit (may be required, depending on route)
- Personal items such as clothing, water bottles, and medications
What to Bring:
Your guide will provide you with a detailed gear checklist before your trip that’s tailored to your trip location and expected weather. You’ll be expected to bring your own personal items such as clothing, footwear, and medications. You will also have the opportunity to ask specific gear questions during your Pre-Hike Virtual Orientation with your guide.
- Shoes: Comfortable trail shoes or running shoes are recommended over heavy hiking boots for the varied terrain of the Grayson Highlands. Consider lightweight sandals or camp shoes for evenings. Test all footwear at home before the trip!
- Toiletries: Pack only the essentials: toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, a small bottle of soap, and hand sanitizer. Leave scented items like deodorant, makeup, or lotions at home to embrace your natural self and minimize wildlife attraction.
- Clothing: Weather-appropriate layers (moisture-wicking base layers, fleece, rain gear), wool hiking socks, and a hat for sun protection.
- Personal Items: Water bottles (2-3 liters), sunscreen, and any personal medications.
Meeting Location and Itinerary:
You will be meeting your guide in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, which is about a 1 hour drive from Damascus, VA, a charming trail town known as “Trail Town USA.” We recommend booking lodging in Damascus or nearby Abingdon, VA, the night before to start well-rested. The nearest airport is Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) in Blountville, TN, about a 1-hour drive from Damascus.
Meeting location is TBD, depending on the trip route and itinerary. There are several public parking locations in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and in Grayson Highlands State Park where you can park overnight. Your guide will provide you with the parking location, hiking route, and a detailed itinerary during your Pre-Hike Virtual Orientation a few weeks before the start of the trip.
Day 1: Meet your guide in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Here, we’ll distribute rental gear (backpack, tent, sleeping pad and bag, cook kit, trekking poles) and do a gear “shakedown,” where your guide will help make final adjustments to your pack.
Then hike approximately 5-6 miles to your campsite through open meadows dotted with wildflowers and rocky outcrops offering sweeping highland views. Keep an eye out for the area’s iconic wild ponies grazing nearby. Set up camp at a scenic ridge or forested site, enjoy a group dinner, and unwind with campfire stories under a starry sky.
Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, pack up camp and continue hiking about 5-6 miles winding through lush forests, open balds, and rhododendron thickets. Pause for lunch at a picturesque overlook with views toward Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest peak. Continue hiking, soaking in the diverse flora and potential pony sightings, before arriving at your second campsite. Set up tents, share a group dinner, and enjoy games or stargazing.
Day 3: Savor a leisurely breakfast, break down camp, and hike the final leg, about 3-4 miles, back to the trailhead. Take in lingering views of the highlands and reflect on your adventure with newfound friends, finishing the hike around mid-afternoon.
Travel Insurance:
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We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance with appropriate coverage. Travel insurance may be used to reimburse the cost of an unexpected trip cancellation, for reasons such as illness, injury, a death in the family, or travel delays. Wildwood Hiking Company does not offer travel insurance, but you can search online for a provider that fits your needs.
Our guides work hard to provide you with excellent service, professional guidance, and a safe and memorable backpacking trip. If you feel your guide has done an exceptional job, please consider showing your appreciation with a tip. The industry standard for tipping backpacking guides is 15-20% the total cost of the trip.
At Wildwood, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Payment plans and scholarships are available for those in need. Please email us to request more information.
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Cancellation Policy
- Your trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable booking fee.
- Participants may cancel a trip up to 60 days before the start date of the trip for a refund, minus the 15% booking fee.
- If a participant cancels a trip between 59-30 days before the start of the trip, a 50% refund will be offered.
- If a participant cancels a trip between 0-29 days from the start of the trip, no refund or trip credit will be offered.
- We hike rain or shine! Backpacking is a challenging endurance sport, and it can be uncomfortable during inclement weather. We do our best to make sure hikers are adequately prepared for adverse weather. However, safety is our biggest priority. In the case of severe weather that could affect the safety of our hikers, our guides have the discretion to cancel a trip. In this case, a full refund or transfer credit will be offered.
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Trip Transfer Policy
- A participant may request 1 transfer from one trip to another according to the Transfer Policy. A second transfer request will be treated as a cancellation according to the cancellation policy.
- A participant may make a transfer request more than 60 days from the start of the trip with no additional fee.
- A transfer request made from 30-59 days before the start of the trip will incur a $100 per person transfer fee.
- No transfer requests can be made from 0-29 days prior to the start of the trip. This will be treated as a cancellation, with no refund or transfer credit offered, according to the cancellation policy.