The gentle grade and easy access points make the Creeper Trail fun for all members of the family, young and old. Anyone looking to see spectacular scenery and cover a lot of ground with minimal effort, especially families seeking an outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy.
With options to make this trail extremely easy or very difficult, anyone can find their perfect activity and have a great time on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Anglers use the trail to access some of the best trout fishing in Virginia.
Equestrians take advantage of the easy footing and wide path available to horses a code of conduct mandates that cyclists yield to horses so they don't get spooked. Railroad historians search for date spikes and relics from the days when the trail was a working line that hauled people and timber from deep in the southwest Virginia mountains. This national honor has only been given to 27 trails. The Rails to Trails Conservancy singled out the Creeper Trail for its remarkable scenery, fascinating railroad history, and excellent trailside amenities.
Thinking about a visit to the Virginia Creeper Trail? It's one of the most accessible trails you'll find, with plenty of outfitters, lodging and dining nearby. In addition to the Virginia Creeper Trail, the Appalachian Trail runs through town, making Damascus a focal point for both hikers and mountain bikers.
To get to the top of Whitetop, to begin your Virginia Creeper Trail adventure, you can use one of the many cycle companies based in Damascus to rent a bike and a shuttle ride to the top. Route 58 from Damascus to Whitetop is an asphalt roller-coaster — two lanes of hairpin turns and switchbacks that run along some of the highest countries in Virginia.
Nearby is Mount Rogers, which at 5, feet is the highest point in the Virginia Commonwealth. The ride takes around 35 minutes.
The only way to the beginning of the Creeper Trail is to ride from Damascus to Whitetop. The ride from Damascus to Whitetop is all uphill, and you can understand why cyclists except for the most hardcore cyclist prefer to bike from Whitetop to Damascus, and not the other way around. Whitetop stands at about 3, feet, and Damascus is at 1, Given the downhill gradient, some have the temptation is to speed through the trail, but to do so would mean missing out on some spectacular scenery.
Yes, of course. Or you may rent a bicycle and equipment from us. Is riding the creeper trail strenuous? What are your store hours? We are open daily from 8am to 5pm. What time does your creeper trail bike shuttles leave? Do cell phones work on the trail? How much does it cost? From Alvarado to Damascus 7mi is gradually uphill.
From Damascus to Whitetop 15mi is a strong uphill. Most people park in Damascus and take a shuttle to the top, and then coast most of the 15 mi back to Damascus. A great family outing. Going uphill from Damascus to Whitetop is a real thigh burner only for the athletic. But don't overlook the other half of the trail. Then when you turn around, it is an easier ride back to the car.
In and , they will be working on some of the bridges. Call a local Chamber or one of the bike shops in Damascus to find out if there are any detours before you head out. Path is not paved, but the small gravel is very easy for a hybrid bike.
It was very diasappointing in that it, in no way, compares to the many nicely maintained trails, which are asphalt or concrete surface, that we have ridden in other parts of the country. The portion from Abingdon was a more enjoyable ride. We don't plan to return to this trail. We biked this trail for the first time in May of this year.
We ride Trek Hybrid bicycles. There were a few rough spots at the beginning, but no problem. Beautiful trail and we loved it. Rode the entire trail and would do it again. We are from Arkansas and were there hiking and biking.
I failed to mention the ride between Abingdon and Damascus -- it is just as wonderful. Just around 7 miles from Abingdon is a long bridge -- it is picture perfect view of two rivers coming together.
I highly recommend this ride of the trail. On this part of the trip there are fewer places to stop for food and drink so be prepared with plenty of water and snacks to keep up energy. Remember to be considerate of others riding the trail by staying on the left when riders are coming around you or you see riders coming toward you. Please remember to put your trash in a trash can and not on the ground along the trail.
This is a wonderful rails to trails. Iron Horse has individual connected cabins with just a bed and place to hang some clothes. The clean showers are in a different building just a short walk or 1 second bike ride. It is really nice sitting on the deck enjoying the peaceful setting with a nice creek running close by.
We really enjoyed staying at the Iron Horse. Now, to the bike trail. It is a wonderful trail. If you happen get a ride up to White Top and don't feel ready to head down the hill, try going the other way for a few miles.
That part of the trail isn't kept up as nicely but it is a easy ride all the same. There are lots of places going down the hill to catch your breath to get a bite to eat, an ice cream cone, almost anything really, or just enjoy the view.
Just remember one thing - watch yourself when crossing roads, stay to the left when people are riding by you, give people a nice heads up to let them know you're passing, and last but not least -- please do not litter. We arrived at the Whitetop Station just as several bus loads of elementary school children were preparing to start their ride downhill. Hoping to give them a head start, we cycled in the opposite direction toward the VA-NC line.
The trail in this direction looks rarely used and is in poor shape. After weaving our way through the remainder of the group we headed downhill toward Damascus. The trail between Whitetop and Damascus is quite steep, rough in spots and contained numerous wash-outs.
There are long stretches that require no pedaling at all. The scenery is stunningly beautiful but unfortunately the quick descent makes site-seeing somewhat difficult.
We were fortunate to arrive in Damascus during the Appalachian Trail Days celebration. The town plays host to hundreds of trail folk and hikers as well as food, craft and equipment vendors. Leaving the celebrating crowds behind, we continued our ride toward Abingdon.
The trail west of Damascus is quite different from the previous section. The trail flattens considerably and takes you through the rolling farmland of southwest Virginia.
After reaching about Milepost 9 the trail ascends gradually, but noticeably, into Abingdon. Although the surface is not as smooth as many rail-trails, my daughter had no trouble navigating with her narrow tired, no-suspension fitness bike. Despite the distinct differences, the two halves of the trail are both nice and would recommend riding the entire trail for your first visit.
I suggest that the shuttle companies educate their customers a little better on trail etiquette. Those going uphill shouldn't have to be blocked constantly by coasters on the left wrong side of the trail. This situation not only impedes the momentun of those who actually seek exercise from this trail, it also creates a dangerous situation for the coasters who would have to stop quickly in case of a crash.
We made a round trip between Alvarado and Damascus. Parts of it were quite rough and could be considered off-road. There were sections that were just single track and very narrow at that. It is obvious that the best part of the trail is between Damascus and Whitetop. It's a totally different ride than the one from Damascus to Whitetop.
It's a nice easy ride with some good ""refreshment"" stops along the way. We actually went down a piece of the river by the trail the day before on tubes that we rented from the Ironhorse Campground. They do the shuttle for you. As with the the rest of the businesses we visited, they were the most accomodating people imaginable. My only dissapointment was at the Abingdon end. It very hard to know where to go once you reach the end of the trail. They need a few signed to direct us tired bikers to food and water.
Other than that, it was another nice piece of the Creeper Trail. Again, don't miss the local flavor in Damascus. The people are the dictionary definition of southern hospitality. It's not that tough and even if you have to stop a few times, the pride of having earned the downhill is a great feeling. My wife on her bike and our six year old on a trail-a-bike behind me had an awesome day of riding. The trail is beautiful and if you miss the opportunity to take a dip in the stream, you've missed a piece of the experience.
Do watch for the going-a-little-to-fast downhill crowd as I agree that there are a few riders who missed their drivers test. All in all it was a great ride. Don't miss the ""local"" music as the townpeople call it, the good eats at several places, and the great attitude of the people who live in the ""friendliest town on the trail"". All of the other 6 days of the week are recommended. It was a great week of riding and pleasant scenery. By far the most spectacular scenery is on the Creeper.
The 38 mile roundtrip from Damascus to the NC line and back was definitely the highlight of the week. The 17 mile climb was fantastic. We wouldn't make it more than a mile or two before hopping off for photos. We spent about 4 hours going up and 1. We were also impressed with the people we met in the area. At every stop that week the townspeople were justifiably proud of ""their"" trails and made us feel welcome. Obligatory word about the shuttle downhillers: Beware.
Most of these people are novices, not bike tourers who put thousands of miles a year on their tires. A few could barely ride, much less comprehend the rules and courtesy of trail riding or touring. We knew to expect this, compensated accordingly, and did not let it detract from our enjoyment of the climb or descent. But it was still a bit unsettling having semi-controlled tonnage freights roaring downgrade at us, or trying to pass people who couldn't track a straight line on a smooth trail.
The Virginia Creeper is truly a national treasure and any cyclist would do him or herself a huge favor by riding it. I'll certainly be going back in the future. Barry from GA , with Mike Ala. I want this trail in my backyard!!! It was cold, misty rain but what a ride! I had the trail almost to myself because of the rain. Just got off the the trail this weekend. Left Abingdon intending to ride to Damascus and back the flatter lower end of the trail but by the time I got to Damascus, I could not resist the challenge of seeing how far UP the mountain I could go.
Made it 10 more miles up the mountain. This trail is incredible. Ranges from lush pastures with cows on the trail to steep mountain terrain in the middle of a forest. Saw three deer standing in the middle of the trail in no particular hurry to move and then on a rest stop under a rock bluff on the return trip between Damascus and Abingdon, I heard a rustling above my head followed by a swish of falling leaves as a wild turkey flew off of the cliff above my head and down into the river valley a hundred feet below!
I will do this trail again. This was a great ride except for the crowded trail with lots of children and people standing in the middle of the trail this was the most enjoyable ride ever. My husband and I did the whole 34 miles. Many places to stop to grab a snacks or lunch!!
Definitely plan to do again! Lots of great people we met on the trail! We will definately be returning asap! What a fun and beautiful ride! We have not stopped talking about it since we returned last week, and are conviencing some friends to go next weekend!
If you ride only one rail-trail in your life, make it this one! Well we two old folks have now rode it all! Both ways! It is great. The uphill to White top was the best! Finished it all in day and half, we cheated kind of, went from White Top to Taylors Valley downhill then had lunch, then to Alvarado mostly downhill on the first day.
Then started at Abingdon and went to Alvarado the second morning mostly downhill. Well, they were true, and then some. We detoured from Virginia Beach on our way back to Montreal, Canada yep! We stayed in Abingdon at the Summerfield Inn Janice and Jim are among the best hosts we have ever met and the Inn is top-class. We decided to take the shuttle to White Top Station and ride all the way back to Abingdon. The White Top Station to Damascus section of the trail is absolutely breathtaking.
The trail meanders through the country side right along the river for a good part of the way, crossing from one side to the other. There a a good number of very impressive bridge crossings. The Damascus to Abingdon section is a complete change of scenery. Although not as impressive as the first section, it has its definite charm. Also, be aware that some of the bridges are getting a new deck surface and rails on this section of the trail and you are advised by work crews that you cross the bridge at your own risk.
A recommendation for occasional bikers. The Damascus to Abingdon section goes uphill although ever so slightly most of the way, which can become tiresome for the unexperienced. All in all, this was one of our most memorable trail rides this year. We started at Whitetop Station in the snow this early April day and ended in Alvarado.
The scenic spots and trestles along the trail really kept the interest up. The Damascus to Alvarado segment had much beauty along the river. There are many shear rock cliffs in that section.
It was a wonderfull week spent outdoors with my wife. There were many scenic spots and it was a very relaxing ride from Whitetop to Damascus. Separate yourself from the rental riders and ride the second half of the trail from Damacus to Abington.
This portion of the trail is less traveled. It only has one store and rest stop along the way. There are some fantastic views as you follow the rocky rolling river and pass over the old, wooden railroad bridges.
My wife is physically challenged with fibromialga, yet she managed the journey just fine. It was an excellent adventure to reconnect with nature to and get away from all the hustle and bustle of modern day life. It's really peaceful and quiet when you ride the trail on a weekday. It's a very scenic ride with a very slight uphill into Abingdon. The scenery is fantastic and filled with delightful views. There were a few gates that we did have to stop for but that just added to the experience.
The only drawback was no water along the trail. I must emphasize up. It is a steady uphill climb for the best part of 17 miles with the steepest from Green Cove to Whitetop. The scenery is of lush forest land and creeks. There is an especially pretty waterfall about halfway up that was a refreshing stop.
At about 2 miles from Whitetop there is a trail that cuts off to the right and leads out to a fantastic view of the surronding area, a great spot for a snack stop on the way up or for lunch on the way back down. We brought our own food that we purchased at a Subway in Damascus; we were told that there was no place to purchase lunch on the trail. Be especially careful going up the last three miles or so from Green Cove. The trail becomes narrow in some places and it seems that most people take a shuttle up to the top and ride back down.
My wife was run into by a younger rider going quite a bit out of control coming down the trail. Thankfully no one was hurt but, for some reason her parents saw nothing wrong with riding abreast.
This was a common sight for us. We could always tell when a shuttle had just left. Please make sure to stay to the right of the trail and keep a sharp lookout.
It was about a 4 hour round trip and all in all a delightful ride. I don't know if that was because of the threat of rain or because it was a weekday. We called upon the fine folks of Adventure Damascus for a shuttle ride to Whitetop.
Whitetop to Damascus was very enjoyable and required many stops just to admire the scenery. With very little work we reached Damascus where we stopped for lunch. My wife drove back to our hotel in Abingdon while I rode the Damascus to Abingdon portion of the trail. This section was also scenic and relatively flat with a slight uphill toward the end. All in all, it was a very enjoyable ride. The drive along route 58 from Galax is also a visual treat -- it's a constant series of visual and sound delights.
Make sure to take the time to look and listen. As a result of the downlhill slope, very little energy will be required to peddle so take some food and enjoy! I'll return soon to finish the ride from Damascus to Abingdon. One minor complaint is that some sharp embedded rocks caused a pinch flat about 5 km downhill. I recommend carrying an extra tube. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and the ride was quite easy.
On the 21st we rode from Damascus to White Top Station. I didn't have a problem with this uphill ride but it was the first time I've had to ride in gears two and three for any extended period of time.
I believe my wife would disagree with John Rocap see ""Our trip on the Creeper"" review about the difficulty of this part of the ride as she walked and pushed her bike off and on for about thre miles of the 17 mile climb. It took us about one hour and would have been quicker had we been brave enough to hold off using our brakes. But then life is more important than foolhearted bravery.
I would encourage folks who ride the Creeper to take their cameras. We did and will do so next time too. We took our bike to Abingdon not realizing the Virginia Creeper trail was right there. We hooked up with a shuttle service called Blue Blaze. We rode from Damascus to Abingdon, about 17 miles. We loved it! We heard the real thrill is from White Cap Mountain to Abingdon, but we were novices and had a great time.
The scenery, once you got past the city of Damascus, was gorgeous. It was a thrill to ride on the trestles and by pastures and cows and over rivers. We didin't even mind the opening and closing of gates that ran through farms. We are ready to try another trail! There was a nice little store about halfway between Damascus and Abingdon Alvardo?
The trails were mostly tree-lined. A few rocky areas that jarred your head a bit, but we had a ball. On the first day we road from Damascus to White Top Station. The grade is gradual and steady and a good but very manageable workout.
The trail is beautiful. There is only one downside. There seems to be a couple of shuttle companies that rent people bikes and then carry them to the to White Top Station and disgorges them 25 at a time to ride downhill for fifteen miles. Many of these folks are inexperienced and many are children.
Our experiece was seriously diminhished by out-of-controll groups running headlong into us. It's an accident waiting to happen. I guess it's good that folks are getting out and enjoying the trail. But I don't see what they are accomplishing.
It is being treated as if it were an amusement park ride. This is a beautiful trail and in my opinion this type of use is a perversion. Our second day, we rode from Damascus to Abington. This is a very easy trip 31 miles round trip. It is also a very beautiful ride. There were very few people on the trail until after noon. We went to a very nice restuarant in Abington, had a nice lunch and then rode back to Damascus at a leisurely pace.
A very enjoyable trip. To avoid the amusement park aspect of the Damascus to White Top run, I'd suggest that you do it during the week. But if you haven't experienced this trail, please do so. But don't ride they ""weenie bus"" to the top and glide down effortlessly to the bottom.
Also, if you have the time, spend a little of it in Abbington, Va. This is a very scenic city with a lot of great amenities. My wife and I didn't really have the time to spend, but the next time we go you can bet that we will stay in Abbington and ride to trail from there. However, only about half the trail is that difficult and only if you're going uphill. At Abingdon, the elevation is ft and gradually drops to ft at mile 8.
The elevation rises gradually to ft as you come into town of Damascus more on the town later. Then, the grade up to Whitetop Station mile Since my riding partner and I were up for a challenge, we decided to start at Abingdon and ride past Whitetop Station to the end of the trail.
Then turn around and go back downhill ending at Damascus, making a mile ride. Things started out well enough. We found the trailhead in Abingdon and marveled at the old locomotive that was there.
Parking here is more than adequate, but we could see it could fill up on nice days and weekends. Since this part to mile 8. It would switch from lush hilly forest to wide open pastures and farmlands. There was a fly in the ointment, however. While the public has legal right to use the trail between Abingdon and Damascus, much of the land is privately owned.
Therefore, we had to dismount quite often to open and close gates along this part of the trail. Still, there were two huge, curving trestles along this stretch that you don't want to miss. There were two places I saw which you could find something to eat or drink - the Riverside Market, not too far after mile 8, and the Ironhorse Campground and Restaurant, think not too far after mile The trail begins to parallel route 58 somewhere around this point and it becomes narrow in places, only enough for single file riding.
In addition, between miles 13 and 15, the trail surface went from gravel to soft almost sandy material. This made for a fairly slow ride. At mile 16, we came into Damascus. Around mid-point, this quaint town caters to cyclists and hikers. In addition to the Creeper going through the town, the Appalachian Trail also runs through it. This event is a celebration to honor the Appalachian Trail, the many trails that surround Damascus, and all the people who use the trails.
The great thing about this town is that it has 3 bike shops which have rentals and offer shuttle services to Whitetop Station. If you're looking for an extremely easy 17 miles of trail riding, this is it! You can practically coast the entire way down from Whitetop Station to Damascus. You can also pay for shuttle service, separately or with a rental.
There are plenty of other services as well at Damascus. The happening food place was Quincey's Pizza and Callie's Dining. Reportedly pretty good and featured entertainment. However, it was too crowded the night we went due to Trail Days. On Sunday morning, I ate at Vicki's Restaurant.
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