The Virginia Creeper Trail Experience
A popular adventure destination for visitors from across the US and a treasured asset for the locals, the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is best known as a biking trail, is a multi-use trail for those who want to bike, walk, run, fish, horseback ride, people watch, cross country ski, and geocache. The region is rich with diverse native flora and fauna and many historical and cultural opportunities.
The Virginia Creeper Trail, located in Southwest Virginia, is a 34-mile rail-to-trail path running from the historic town of Abingdon to Whitetop Station (near the North Carolina border).
The most popular section of the Virginia Creeper is the eastern section that goes from Whitetop Station, which has an elevation of 3500 feet, to Damascus, Virginia, which is about 1900 feet.
That means you get to ride downhill for 17 miles. The Creeper Trail travels downhill through some spectacular mountain scenery, through Christmas tree farms, dense forests, and along rushing streams.
The Whitetop to Damascus section crosses nearly 50 wooden trestles. It intersects the famous Appalachian Trail at several points along your trip. The stream the trestles cross over, Whitetop Laurel Creek, is one of Virginia’s largest and most beautiful trout streams.
This 17-mile downhill section takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to take in the beauty. The ride can be completed in less time but make your plans according to time constraints. Call one of the Damascus shuttle companies to get advice.
Most visitors opt to pick up a shuttle from one of the seven bike rental and shuttle service outfitters in Damascus, VA (population 845). Damascus is located at the crossroads of seven (or more) national, regional, and local trails. Because of this proximity to all the trails, Damascus has quite a variety of lodging and dining options. The much larger town of Abingdon has many name-brand hotels and local and chain dining options.
You can bring your bike or rent one at one of the local bike shops, which can also provide shuttle service to the many access points along the trail. The price of a Virginia Creeper adventure is reasonable, and all the bike shops friendly and accommodating.
Whether you are up for the downhill bike ride or pedaling through the countryside, you will find many fabulous places to visit, eat, and rest in the best part of Southwest Virginia (SWVA).
