Listening Rock Trail

File:Placeholder.jpg Trail Name Listening Rock Trail Park Grayson Highlands State Park Nearest City Mouth of Wilson State Virginia Trail Marking Yellow Blaze Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Easy Hiking Time 1 Hour0.0625 Days <br />60 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 1.4 mi2.253 km <br /> / 1.4 mi2.253 km <br /> Trail Type Loop Climb/Descent Elevation / High Point Parking 36° 6' 15.43" N, 82° 7' 59.50" W Trailhead 36° 37' 24.42" N, 81° 30' 1.44" W Nearest Medical Damascus Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.10428499999999729652699897997081279754638671875,"lon":-82.1331950000000006184563972055912017822265625,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

A hike in the forest past large boulders to an overlook. Listening Rock is reported to have received its name because settlers would climb here to listen for the bells of their animals when it was time to herd them back to the homestead.

How to get there

Driving direction are given on the Grayson Highlands State Park page.

Trailhead is the southwest corner of the large parking lot below the visitors' center.

Route Description

The yellow-blazed Listening Rock Trail starts at the southwestern corner of the lower parking lot at a kiosk sign. The rocky path heads into the forest and downhill quickly with a broad switchback to reach an elevation below a line of cliffs. The tread becomes dirt as meanders through the woods. Listening Rock is reached at 0.7 mile by a short climb at the furthest western point of the trail. The slot view is rimmed by the trees.

The return leg is above the prior trail through the boulders. Some views may be available when the leaves are down. The 1.4 mile trail finishes at the picnic area, which is adjacent to Buzzard Rock overlook.

Note that the state park map incorrectly lists the trail distance as 1.28 mile, but measured to be 1.4 mile as consistently reported elsewhere. Another difference is that the park rates this trail as Difficult for the general public, while per guidelines for this trail wiki it is rated as Easy for the short distance and limited elevation change.

Typical Conditions

Maintain park trail. Sturdy footware is recommended as parts of the path are rocky, while trekking poles may be useful for some. The park did cut back the thick growth of stinging nettle.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Day use entrance fee is listed on the Grayson Highlands State Park page.

After the Hike

Visitors Center has restrooms.

Maps

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Photos

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