i will lay out some basic info on getting to wise shelter.
hwy 58 in VA. will take you to the entrance to greyson highlands state park.
http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/graysonh.htm
GHSP phone#... (276) 579-7092
area ranger... (276) 783-5196
when you enter the park, it's all up hill & for a good ways.
1st you will come to the check-in booth which will be un-attended this time of year.
there's a fee for overnight parking & you'll find envelopes there to put your cash or check in. it has a tear-off to put on your mirror or dash w/ a number that matches the number on your payment envelope.
this just lets the rangers know that you paid the parking fee for that vehicle. you don't have to put the info about arrival/departure date, & destination if you don't want.
the cost is $8.00 for a two night stay (per vehicle).
as you continue up the park road you will pass the entrance to the picnic area on the right. keep going.
a little ways farther, you will turn into the paved road leading to the camp ground. these are easy to see because of the normal, brown park signs.
as soon as you turn onto the campground road, you will see the gravel parking area for overnight backpacking on the left, but unless you plan to hike in by a longer route, keep going on the camp ground road.
as you begin to enter the campground, you will see a small building (divided by a breezeway) on the right, w/ a sign that says "country store".
strait across, on the left, is the parking area that will get you closest to wise shelter.
last time i was there, they had a port-a-john in that little parking area, but i don't know if they leave those out all year or not.
at the back-side of the parking lot, you'll see a wide, multi-use trail (like a forest service road) that you'll follow by foot.
there are a couple trails that go off of that trail, but the main trail is obvious & you just stay on that.
you will cross two creeks that are not deep but just wide enough that they could make it a challenge to keep your feet dry... depends on the water flow & if there is snow or ice on the rocks.
after 20-30 minutes, the AT will cross the trail/road that you have been walking.
take a left on the AT. you'll soon cross a creek on a wooden foot bridge (w/ hand rails) & a couple minutes later be at wise shelter.
the whole walk took me about 40 minutes.
extra note...HOI told us last year about a short cut on the trails that saved us from having to make that last creek crossing.
when you see the 2nd wide creek just down the trail in front of you, there will be a zig-zag pony gate up on the bank to your left.
if you go through the gate & continue up the hill, you will come to the AT near wise shelter in about 5 minutes.
there may not be much of a trail to see, but just go strait up hill away from the road through an area that's mostly open w/ grass & a few shrubs.
if there's any snow on the ground & others have already used that path, it will be easy to follow their tracks.
Originally Posted by slowhike
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