罗杰斯山国家游乐区

海拔： 5729英尺。

从格雷森高地州立公园的 Massie Gap 出发，徒步前往杜鹃花小径 ( 0 。 8英里），到其与阿巴拉契亚国家风景步道的交汇处，再到罗杰斯山支线步道，您将沿着威尔伯恩山脊行走约3 . 0英里，直到到达弗吉尼亚州最高峰特有的云杉森林。（注意：从杜鹃花小径和阿巴拉契亚小径的交叉口到罗杰斯山顶，这是一条中等到困难的小径，徒步距离还有4 . 5 - 5 . 0英里。）

The blackberry tangles on the edge of this forest are filled with chestnut-sided warblers and eastern towhees. Once you step into the cool mossy spruce woods you enter an entirely different world. The forest here appears ancient with every limb dripping with mosses and lichens. These same mosses carpet the trail and cushion each step as you slowly climb to the summit of Mt. Rogers. The birds here are very different from the first few miles of the climb. The always-present Appalachian subspecies of dark-eyed junco is still here, but the other skulkers in the undergrowth have changed. Winter wren, veery and hermit thrush can be heard twittering from the forest floor, but it takes a patient observer to get decent views of them. The familiar chickadees calling in the trees sound a little hoarser, a little raspier and when they are finally seen, the brownish cast down their side alerts you that these are different. The chickadees on Mt. Rogers are the black-capped from farther north, not the Carolina, which are found at lower elevations throughout the state. Many of Mt. Rogers’ other birds are from parts farther north as well. Golden-crowned kinglet, red-breasted nuthatch and red crossbill can all be found regularly at these high elevations, as can magnolia warbler, and hairy woodpecker. Mt. Rogers is also home to one of the highest diversities of salamanders in the world. Aside from the multitude of wildlife, Mt. Rogers’ beauty lies in all its moss. A careful observer will find an incredible diversity of tiny plants, mushrooms, and insects on almost any trunk or fallen branch. Look for the intricately patterned wood sorrel and a variety of gallerina mushrooms intermingled within these acres of deep green moss. The peak is marked by a small brass plate embedded in the rock. Those hoping for a view from the top of Virginia’s highest peak may be disappointed since, at the summit, one can only see forest in every direction. Fortunately, the amazing views seen from along Wilburn Ridge on the hike up and down more than compensate.

笔记：

• 所列设施仅位于格雷森高地州立公园 (Grayson Highlands State Park) 内的 Massie Gap。
• 对于想要在山上轻松徒步旅行的游客来说。罗杰斯国家游乐区，帕特詹宁斯游客中心的停车场后面有几条小径，包括阿巴拉契亚小径的一部分。