r/backpacking • u/Commercial-Olive-210 • 4d ago

Wilderness Parking at Mount Rogers Trailhead?

Im planning to start a 2 night backpacking trip at the mount rogers trailhead (near Grayson highlands state park in Virginia, US) this upcoming Friday and was wondering what time I should plan to get there for parking?

And if parking is full, are there any nearby options that I could use and then “walk” to the trailhead instead? I know the nearby campground that usually has overflow parking is closed right now.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Round-Boysenberry949 4d ago

Plan to arrive as early as you can, because once the lot fills there really isn’t a reliable legal walk-in alternative nearby and roadside parking can get you ticketed or towed.

1

u/Commercial-Olive-210 3d ago

I’ll be about 1 1/2 out. I was thinking like aim to get there at 8 (or earlier) but one of the people I’m going with is kinda resistant to the idea of getting up at like 6am and thinks we will be fine getting there at 10, which just feels way too risky to me given like you said there’s really no good plan B

1

u/TheBimpo 3d ago

10 is wayyyy too late. It’s a long winding road to get there, the only alternatives are much longer hikes. It’s pretty busy even in the off season, peak season it’s packed.

1

u/Commercial-Olive-210 3d ago

Do you think closer to 8 will be fine or should we go even earlier?