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Grindstone Campground is tucked in the Fairwood Valley among pastures and wooded hillsides. The surrounding Mount Rogers National Recreation Area provides endless opportunities for fun and relaxation in the nature setting. The Campground will be closed until further notice due to facility repair needs. Opossum Loop will be open for tent campers. There will be no available water. No Dump Station available.
The area offers excellent hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and hunting. Recommended hiking trails include the Mount Rogers Trail at 7.5 miles and the Whispering Waters Nature Trail at 0.6 miles.
Several streams pass by just beyond the campground, with trout fishing available in abundance.
The campground boasts a water play area in the creek, an amphitheater, a playground and volleyball courts to entertain families.
All sites have a fire ring with a cooking grate, lantern post, picnic table, and tent pad. Domestic pets are allowed as long as they are attended and kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Standard electric sites have 30 amp service and a water hook-up. PLEASE NOTE ALL CAMPSITES IN COTTONTAIL AND GROUNDHOG DEN WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. NO AVAILABLE WATER IN OPOSSUM, COTTONTAIL, AND GROUNDHOG DEN LOOPS.
At 3,800 feet, Grindstone is surrounded by mixed hardwoods, hemlock and rhododendrons. The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area spans 200,000 acres of National Forest, with four wildlife-rich wilderness areas.
The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, which traverses more than 50 miles with views of forestland and open rural countryside, is accessible nearby.
From Marion, Virginia, take exit 45 to Highway 16 south. Continue for 17 miles, then turn right onto Highway 603. After 6 miles turn left into the Grindstone Campground entrance.
Nice campground. Usually pretty good hosts. Good amount of sites with privacy. Very woodsy and natural. There is a few easy trails and even a amphitheater. It's kinda on the side of a deep forested mountain. Typically busy on the weekends but fairly quiet during the week. I think they close during the winter.
This is hands down one of the best National Forest campgrounds we've been to. Large secluded spaces, great amenities and helpful staff. They have a trail head for Mt. Rogers, s beautiful 1 mile walking trail, playground and water feature. The bath houses are nice, although small. We can't wait to come back I the summer.
They have one section open. Just for tents. Which is fine. But please mow the place. Looks like camping in a horror movie. And it's still cost more than the shrouding campground's. Come on Virginia you are looking bad. Hey governor we need our campground's!! Need grandkids to have some real memories. Not playing play station all the time.
Drove through on May 15th 2023… hoping to stay but did not. Only one section open with 20 spots all completely overgrown and abandoned. Maybe they clean it up this week before real summer starts? Hope so. But Id kept driving to either bear tree or hurricane campgrounds depending which way you’re heading!! They are MUCH nicer!!
It's very depressing driving through Grindstone (Federal Park) now because it looks absolutely deserted. We've camped here several years ago & loved it, so while we were staying at Grayson Highlands (VA State Park), we wanted to visit an old favorite. OMG, the Feds have let us down... dropped the ball. After research, we see they are planning to replace the sewage/water system since it's about 50 yrs old. Also, appears it will take them YEARS to accomplish this. As other reviews stated, there are a few tent sites, but we didn't feel comfortable getting out of our car. It's 😔 !!
