Horseback Riding around Damascus, VA
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area offers outstanding opportunities for horseback riding, including over 200 miles of trail open to equestrians. With the exception of the Appalachian Trail (marked with white painted blazes) and a few others (clearly marked), all trails in the MRNRA are open to horses.
Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
Traversing the High Country of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (orange paint blazes) stretches for over 67 miles from Highway 600 at Elk Garden to Route 94 not far from Ivanhoe, Virginia.
The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area offers outstanding opportunities for horseback riding, including over 200 miles of trail open to equestrians. With the exception of the Appalachian Trail (marked with white painted blazes) and a few others (clearly marked), all trails in the MRNRA are open to horses.
Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
Traversing the High Country of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (orange paint blazes) stretches for over 67 miles from Highway 600 at Elk Garden to Route 94 not far from Ivanhoe, Virginia.
Guided Horseback Riding
Vertical Divider
Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures, located in Grayson County, offers guided horseback riding trips in the Mt. Rogers and Pine Mountain areas. Guided Day or overnight camping trips are available. Visit their website or Facebook page for more information, or contact Doug Cregger at 276-783-4136 or [email protected].
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Horse Camps
High Country Horse Camp
Located in Troutdale, adjacent to Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The High Country Horse Camp has a variety of packages available — visit the camp’s website for more information.
Fox Creek Horse Camp
Located between Troutdale and Konnarock (about 18 miles east of Damascus), at the junction of Highways 603 and 741, this primitive facility is favored by horse campers. Features include hitching posts and access to horse watering. Portable toilets, but no drinking water or showers. Showers are available at Grindstone Campground for a fee. The camp offers access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, Iron Mountain Trail, and trails to Mount Rogers High Country. Open year around. This camp is a fee area. A very popular destination on weekends and holidays from April-September. Visit Recreation.gov for more information.
Hussy Mountain Horse Camp
Located on Forest Road 14, two miles east of Highway 21 on the east end of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Features include hitching rails, horse trailer parking, and chemical flush toilets. Open year-around; fee area. The camp offers access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. Visit USDA.gov for more information.
Raven Cliff Horse Camp
The camp is about a mile east of Raven Cliff Campground, just south of Highway 642. Its features include hitching rails, chemical flush toilets and horse trailer parking. The camp offers access to Virginia Highlands Horse Trail and is open year-around. Visit the Hillsville website for more information.
Located in Troutdale, adjacent to Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The High Country Horse Camp has a variety of packages available — visit the camp’s website for more information.
Fox Creek Horse Camp
Located between Troutdale and Konnarock (about 18 miles east of Damascus), at the junction of Highways 603 and 741, this primitive facility is favored by horse campers. Features include hitching posts and access to horse watering. Portable toilets, but no drinking water or showers. Showers are available at Grindstone Campground for a fee. The camp offers access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, Iron Mountain Trail, and trails to Mount Rogers High Country. Open year around. This camp is a fee area. A very popular destination on weekends and holidays from April-September. Visit Recreation.gov for more information.
Hussy Mountain Horse Camp
Located on Forest Road 14, two miles east of Highway 21 on the east end of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Features include hitching rails, horse trailer parking, and chemical flush toilets. Open year-around; fee area. The camp offers access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. Visit USDA.gov for more information.
Raven Cliff Horse Camp
The camp is about a mile east of Raven Cliff Campground, just south of Highway 642. Its features include hitching rails, chemical flush toilets and horse trailer parking. The camp offers access to Virginia Highlands Horse Trail and is open year-around. Visit the Hillsville website for more information.
Other Information
- Virginia State Law requires that all horses must have proof of a negative Coggins Test within the past year. Horses from other States must also have a valid certificate of health. Recommended, but not required, immunizations are: influenza, rhinopneumonitis, and eastern and western encephalitis.
- Always tether or hobble horses properly. NEVER tie horses to a tree, even for a few minutes. Camp and tether horses at least 100 feet from streams or springs. Wash horses and dishes well away from streams & springs.
- Always stay on trail. Cutting across switchbacks is illegal, and taking shortcuts will quickly destroy the beauty you came to enjoy.
- The Virginia Creeper Trail is a very popular multi-use trail. Trailer parking is limited. Horseback riders should expect heavy bicycle traffic on the section from Whitetop to Damascus, from April to November, and especially on weekends.
- Practice Leave No Trace principles while in the backcountry. Pack out food, drinks, gear, and waste (including cigarette butts). When trail surfaces are wet, avoid using fragile trails — use hard packed forest roads instead. Keep in mind that most maintenance work on trails is done by volunteers, and if you’d like to have better trails, volunteer!