Featured Park in Southwest Virginia:
Grindstone Campground
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Tucked away at the foot of Mount Rogers, Grindstone Campground
sometimes seems overwhelmed by its giant neighbor. But don’t miss
out on one of the most pleasant campgrounds in the area. 
The nature experience is what invites me to return to this spot each spring. This year purple trillium graced the entrance to many campsites, as if they had been planted there for our pleasure. In past years, I discovered a carpet of Spring Beauty growing in the forest behind my campsite.
The campground also hosts a variety of birds including the Scarlet Tanager, with its bright scarlet red body, black wings and black tail; the deliberate singing Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo, and the Least Flycatcher, which is well known in the area.
Favorite Trails
For the nature lover, this campground offers opportunities to explore on a large- or small-scale.
Mount Rogers Tie Trail (0.4 miles)
This is a spur trail that quickly connects to the 4 mile long Mount Rogers Trail. The Mount Rogers Trail climbs through Lewis Fork Wilderness Area to the Appalachian Trail and eventually provides access to Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest mountain. This is a difficult hike, but winds through a beautiful forest with an under story of potential nature exploration.
Whispering Waters Trail (0.6 miles)
For an easier hike, the ½-mile long Whispering Waters Trail offers its own potential for discovery. This trail is perfect for those looking for a leisurely hike of exploration. It is especially fitted for families wanting to introduce their children to the wonders of nature. Each time I walk this trail I discover new wildflowers. On one hike during the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally, we identified over 40 wildflowers, including Painted Trillium, Rattlesnake Plantain, Patridgeberry, and Trout Lilly.
Things to Know About the Campground
100 well-placed campsites are located along three loop roads. Take your choice of sites with electric and water or more primitive sites without either convenience. About half of the sites are reservable, but don’t wait too long to sign up. For the spur of the moment camper, the other 50 or so the sites are first come first served.
There is plenty of space between each campsite, many with hemlocks and thickets of rhododendron which provide a nice privacy barrier. Each time we have visited the area it has been enjoyable, with minimum noise. The camp hosts live on site and are available to give directions. The hosts we have met truly enjoy the area and are willing to share their knowledge.
Nice clean bath houses have flush toilets and hot showers, and are conveniently located throughout the campground. However, there is no camp store and the nearest store is five or more miles away.
Points of Interest
Mount Rogers
Appalachian Trail
Nature (a partial list)
Trees and Wildflowers
Purple Trillium
(Trillium erectum)
Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Trout Lilly (Erythronium americanum)
Patridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)
Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens)
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
Vasey's Wake Robin (Trillium vaseyi)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Bluets (Hustonia caerulea)
Indian Cucumber Root (Medeola virginiana)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Squirrel Corn
(Dicentra canadensis)
False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina racemosa)
Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
Buckeye (Aesculus sp.)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.)
Frasier Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri Walt.)
Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata L.)
Hemlock (Tsuga sp.)
Birds
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Animals
Deer
Bear (put away food, especially at night)
Photo locations
Whispering Waters Trail-primarily wildflowers
Contact Information:
1946 Laurel Valley Road
Troutdale, VA 24378
(276) 388-3983
Link to Official Website
Grindstone Campground-Mount Rogers NRA
Reservations
Grindstone Campground Reservations