Scales Campground – Wise Shelter – Grayson Highlands State Park – Appalachian Trail VA

Описание: This was a two-day hike to finish some Appalachian Trail miles that I needed North of the Grayson Highlands State Park. The easiest way for me to accomplish this was to take Forest Road (route) 613 up to the Scales Campground. The Scales Campground is about 4.1 miles up a rough, narrow, forest road. There are lots of pointy rocks, some mud, and a few sections with very low clearance. My Ford Explorer dragged bumpers a few times. I would suggest only doing this with a 4x4 and to also air down a bit to avoid puncturing a tire. I ran about 22lbs. Once up at the Scales, you will need to let yourself in to the corral and find a spot to park. There is lots of room for parking and it appeared many people car camp and use this as a base camp for exploring. About a half mile down the hill from the camp is a spring running out of a skinny black plastic pipe. The spring at the Scales is pretty sad and I’d suggest either filling up at the pipe or just bringing water in your vehicle. There is a bear box there as well as a toilet vault for those seeking a Bathroom in the Forest for You (BIFFY).

The Appalachian Trail runs right through the middle of the camp. We proceeded to hike South Bound (SoBo) up over the ridge and through the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness to get over to where we left off near the official backpacker parking lot. There were a few ponies on the North side of the wilderness and very few people. Very much unlike the area South by the tourist parking lot where there are a zillion people oogling over ponies.

There were a number of nice camping areas with bear boxes near Big Wilson creek, just North of Wise Shelter. Wise Shelter was a cute little shelter and very well kept and clean. Note, there is NO TENTING near the shelter or inside Grayson Highlands State Park. The section is short (just a couple miles or so across Wilburn Ridge) and before you know it you’re back into wilderness areas with open tenting.

We decided to loop back to the Scales via the Pine Mountain Trail through the Lewis Fork Wilderness area, making a loop, rather than backtrack. It’s roughly the same distance and you get to see more ponies…although is it quite a bit harder.

Whether you are hiking through, or driving to camp at the Scales, note the following:
The water is poor at the Scales.
There is a bear box there, but NO PICNIC table. Don’t forget to bring a chair if car camping.
The toilet vault did have TP and disinfectant spray.
There are LOTS of families with kids, which can be a bit noisy. This is not the quietest camp.

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AT Miles 508.6 – 500.1
AT Miles Hiked – 8.5
Trip Miles Hiked – 11
Annual Total – 182.8

0:00 | Drive up Route 613 (Forest Road)
1:49 | Scales Campground: AT Mile 507.2 – 4634’
4:39 | Little Wilson Creek Wilderness: AT Mile 506.0 – 4689’
5:18| Wilson Creek: AT Mile 504.5 – 4350’
5:40 | Big Wilson Creek: AT Mile 504.3 – 4384’
6:47 | Wise Shelter: AT Mile 504.2 – 4407’
7:19 | Privies
9:51 | Fatman Squeeze: AT Mile 500.7 – 5429’
10:30 | Pine Mountain Trail: AT Mile 500.1 – 5382’
11:55 | Water source at Scales

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