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Grindstone Campground

Description

Elevation: 3702 ft.

Grindstone Campground is a large campsite, nestled in the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. This site offers shower facilities, flush toilets, drinking water, dump station, swimming area, and an amphitheatre. Interpretive programs are offered seasonally and two hiking trails that interconnect with other area trails can be accessed from this site. It is approximately 6.0 miles along the Mount Rogers Trail to Virginia’s highest peak. The Whispering Waters Trail is a short 0.6-mile loop that meanders through moist, mixed deciduous woodlands. In the woodlands surrounding this campground, especially along the trails, are ample opportunities to see wildlife. Visitors may find several kinds of warblers, least flycatcher, wood thrush, and along the creek, Louisiana waterthrush. During migration, this area can be filled with songbird activity. These moist woodlands and creeks are also wonderful places to spy other wildlife. Yellow-bellied sapsucker nest within the campground area. Salamander diversity can be amazing here; look for black-bellied, mountain dusky, northern spring, and red-backed salamanders. The campground trails are popular among naturalists who enjoy spending their days hiking the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area trails. While this is a large campsite, accommodating up to 100 families, reservations should be made in advance.

Wildlife Sightings

107 species have been reported at this site to date.

Birds Recently Seen at Grindstone Campground:

    Recent Checklists:

    Date# of SpeciesSubmitted By
    17 Oct 20251Stella Busby
    9 Sep 20257Allen Boynton
    9 Sep 20257Marsha Pate
    3 Aug 20255Adrianna Nelson
    27 Jun 202526Cathy Spencer

    See more recent checklists…

    Amenities & Accessibility

    Amenities

    • On-site Parking
    • Restrooms

    Other Amenities: Camping/Lodging, Hiking Trails, Interpretive Program/Events

    Accessibility Considerations

    This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time

    Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces

    Maps & Directions

    View on Google Maps

    From Rt. 603/Fairwood, travel west 2.2 miles to Grindstone Campground on the left.

    Managed By:

    • National Park Service

    Access Requirements:

    • Daily, sunrise-sunset; admission fee required for camping

    Contact Information:

    • US Forest Service Mount Rogers National Recreation Area District Office, 276-783-5196, sm.fs.mrnra@usda.gov
    • Visit Website
    • Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.

    About the VBWT

    The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail is a network of over 600 greenspaces and blueways throughout the Commonwealth selected for their wildlife viewing potential. Walk a nature trail, paddle a river, or enjoy a scenic overlook and you’ll soon see why Virginia is a premier destination for birding and wildlife viewing.

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