Fun Fact: The wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park descended from a herd released in the park in 1975 to graze on its overgrowth.

Download this handy map of Grayson County.

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After visiting Grayson County, our pack compiled the “Grayson County caNine List” to showcase our 9 favorite dog friendly “Spots.”

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1. Grayson Highlands State Park

829 Grayson Highland Ln., Mouth of Wilson

If you want to see the ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park, take the Rhododendron Trail.

We were thrilled to see ponies during our hike but we kept our distance, especially because one member of our pack started barking rudely at them.

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If you want to see a waterfall, hike the Cabin Creek Trail.

Hiking for 3/4 of a mile will get you to the waterfall. The trail gets a bit narrow and rocky in some places…

…but it is well worth the effort.

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I like this video because it captures so much of the park’s wonder, beauty, and multiple ecosystems in just a few minutes, and because it features a dog.

Tip: Even if it’s a hot day, bring a jacket. I knew that I would not need a jacket on such a hot day, but Grayson Highlands State Park was cold and windy when I arrived jacketless. Thankfully, Mack was smart enough to bring his jacket and he offered it to me.

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This beautiful, Instagram-worthy photo has a backstory.

After leaving the park, I realized that I had been so focused upon the waterfall and the ponies that I did not take photos of the breathtakingly stunning views that surrounded us. The next morning, I saw my chance to correct this when Mack wanted to sleep late. I gave him some peace and quiet by loading the dogs in the truck and driving back to Grayson Highlands State Park.

Shortly before reaching the park entrance, I both heard and felt a horrible grinding and realized that the brakes weren’t, well, braking, Keep in mind that I’m on a twisty, turny road in the mountains. I managed to enter the park and make my way to a nearby scenic overlook which, thankfully, had cell service. While I waited for the tow truck to arrive, I took some photos, including the one above. So, mission accomplished.

Even better, during this scary and vulnerable time, I received offers of assistance—from park rangers, a park police officer, and several park visitors—for which I am extremely grateful.

Epilogue: The brake issue turned out to be an easy, cheap and quick fix. A bolt in the caliper had come loose and dropped away. Thank you, Lightning Lube in Independence for expediting this repair and Roger’s Towing in Marion for providing dog friendly towing.

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2. Comers Creek Falls

State Route 741, Troutdale

Our visit to Comers Creek Falls remains a highlight of our trip.

We learned about this waterfall from Eben Schoeman’s Great Virginia Waterfall Trail. Thanks to this resource, we knew that once we parked on the shoulder next to the trailhead, the falls were only a quarter of a mile away.

The short hike in the woods served as a mood elevator and then we experienced the delight that occurs every time we see a waterfall.

Finally, when we returned to the truck to eat our packed lunch, maybe it was our imagination, but the egg salad sandwiches were the best ones I’ve made yet.

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3. Powerhouse Falls

1506 Powerhouse Rd., Independence

Need a quick waterfall fix?

This waterfall involves no hiking at all. It’s located next to the parking area.

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4. Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter

200 Fair St., Galax

The Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter website states that:

“We are currently overwhelmed with animals in our care and urgently need adopters and fosters. As part of the Empty the Shelters event, all adoption fees are discounted for a limited time. Not ready to fully commit? Ask about our Foster-to-Adopt Program that is a 2-week trial period to make sure you and your pet are the perfect match.”

Here are some of the cuties we met during our visit to the shelter:

The shelter needs the following items:

• canned cat food
• canned dog food
• kitten chow
• puppy chow
• puppy potty pads
• cleaning supplies
• towels
• blankets
• dog beds

Here is the donation page. Any and all donations to the shelter are much appreciated.

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5. This AirBnb

Independence

We awarded five stars to this delightfully dog friendly AirBnb in Independence. I especially loved watching glorious sunrises from the deck, and we both enjoyed some fabulous stargazing.

& as if that’s not enough awesomeness for one AirBnb, the Stone’s Throw Cabin is just a stone’s throw away from the New River boat launch.

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6. Appalachian Trail

Fox Creek Trailhead Parking, Fairwood Rd./Rte. 603, Mouth of Wilson

We hiked a bit of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Grayson County.

We liked the Fox Creek Trailhead with its parking lot next to the trail, but other access points include Grayson Highlands State Park, Elk Garden, and Whitetop Mountain.

If we were feeling more ambitious, we could have kept going to Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia.

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7. Blue Ridge Music Center

700 Foothills Rd., Galax (Blue Ridge Parkway-Milepost 213)

Photo from Facebook | Blue Ridge Music Center

The Blue Ridge Music Center features both free and ticketed live outdoor music for the enjoyment of dogs and humans.

The center closes each year for the winter but every day that it’s open, visitors get a treat from noon to 3 when musicians put on a show in its breezeway.

View this post on Instagram

Petiquette: Dogs must be attached to their well-behaved human companions by leash. For concerts, dogs and their companions must sit on the hillside behind the main seating area.

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Amos, our pack’s historian, wants to say a few words about the region’s music history.

Amos: Grayson County boasts a rich music heritage. For example, the Galax Dulcimer, shown in this video, was developed in this area during the mid-1800s.

Amos: Today, visitors can find Grayson County on the Crooked Road, which includes over 300 miles of music venues and other cultural highlights. Each year, events featuring local and visiting musicians occur throughout Grayson County and the town of Galax hosts its annual Old Fiddlers Convention.

The Crooked Road. There’s an app for that! Image from https://thecrookedroadva.com/

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8. New River Trail State Park

Trailheads located at: 323 Firehouse Dr., Fries & 212 East Stuart Dr., Galax

The oldest river in North America, the New River flows north from North Carolina to West Virginia.

Built on a former railroad, the New River Trail State Park provides 57 miles of things to sniff across:

• four counties, including Grayson,
• several towns, including Fries, and
• the city of Galax.

The river widens at Fries and the park provides a large area (with a beach vibe) to relax and enjoy the view.

The trailhead at Galax features a caboose and a Galax Bass Fiddle.

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9. The Galax Smokehouse

101 N. Main St., Galax

Jake, our pack’s restaurant reviewer and gastronome extraordinaire, thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Galax Smokehouse.

Jake: I consider myself a barbecue snob and I’m always a bit skeptical when I enter a barbecue joint. But Holy Smokes does this place serve some good food! The chicken, ribs and thinly sliced potatoes were perfectly cooked and seasoned and I especially enjoyed sampling the different flavors of barbecue sauce that arrived with our order. I couldn’t decide between sweet, hot or tangy so decided to go with sweet, hot, AND tangy.

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Thanks for all the LOVE, Grayson County!

112 W. Main St., Independence

Felts Park, 601 Main St., Galax

Galax Department of Tourism, 110 E. Grayson Street, Galax

Galax Outdoor Swimming Pool, 501 S Main Street, Galax

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P. S. We recommend the following audiobooks during your trip to Grayson County.

Be sure to listen for when the author and his 4-legged partner encounter some ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park.

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Here’s a cool factoid from this book: Today’s country music largely originated from the contributions of Appalachian musicians.

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Until I listened to this book, I did not realize that barbecue had a history, much less a fascinating one, rooted in Native American traditions and very much tied to Virginia.

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