Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail
add photosThe Virginia Creeper Trail is open year-round. If severe weather occurs, parts of the trail may be closed for repairs.
3 Reviews for Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail
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4 families found this helpful
"Easy ride in beautiful Virginia"
On 7/2/11, we made our second trip to the Virginia Creeper Trail. This time, my daughter was able to ride her own bicycle instead of a tandem bike with Dad. We ride the 17-mile segment from Whitetop to Damascus, which seems to be the most popular run with visitors.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is an old railroad line where the tracks have been removed and transformed into an excellent trail for biking or walking. Most of the distance, its width can comfortably accommodate 2 bikers riding side-by-side. Almost the entire run is shaded by a canopy of trees, which makes for a comfortable ride even on a hot, humid day.
Now, don't let the distance scare you because you are coasting down the first 10 miles, and the last 7 miles are a casual pedal. We saw children as young as 5 on their first 2-wheeler pedaling with confidence, seniors taking a leisurely cruise and families pulling toddlers in bicycle trailers. I do not recommend you bring a child who is still using training wheels, or has difficulty riding in a straight line on 2 wheels.
We rode the Creeper Trail at an average of 10 mph, so if we didn't stop we could finish in about 90 minutes. However, being surrounded by the beautiful scenery you just have to stop for photos, dip your toes in the cool waters of the Whitetop Laurel River and stop for your own picnic lunch or a burger, hot dog or sandwich at the Creekside Cafe in Taylor's Valley (approx. 11 miles from Whitetop along the Trail).
Bring your own bike or rent one from one of several bike shops in Damascus. The shops also offer shuttles to the start of the Trail at Whitetop, which is a 30-minute ride. We use JC's Outdoors (jcsoutdoors.com) and were able to make our shuttle reservation online. Everything was in order when we arrived, the shuttles departed on time, and the van's A/C worked. This was not the case when we used Adventure Damascus on our prior trip. Nothing's worse than riding in the back seat of a 15-passenger van on a winding road with no air-conditioning.
If you want to stay overnight, Damascus has some cottage and cabin retreats along with a small RV Campground, but there are no hotels. If you are looking for a more traditional hotel setting, stay in Abingdon just 15 minutes away. On our first visit, we stayed at Damascus Cabins (damascuscabins.com) and were very pleased. This last time, we stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites in Abingdon. While I highly recommend the hotel, the town offers little for families to do, so we would probably stay in Damascus when we return.
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0 families found this helpful
"It's a hiking trail"
Maybe I'm jaded due to living near the Smoky Mountains, but I wasn't overly impressed with the Creeper Trail. For one, it is always very busy with bicycles when I go, and it makes me nervous having to listen for cyclists when I am walking/hiking with small children. One nice thing is how flat the trail is, which is probably why it's so popular with bikes!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
Now a multipurpose recreational trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail starts in Abingdon and extends southeast for 34 miles to Whitetop Station at the Virginia–North Carolina border. A free brochure with a map of the trail is available at the Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This scenic trail, a former Native American path, was used by pioneers and Daniel Boone. At the end of the nineteenth century, the trail was a mountain railroad that received its nickname, Virginia Creeper, from the early steam locomotives that struggled slowly up the railroad’s steep grades. Now the railroad bed serves as a path for walkers, bikers, hikers, joggers, and equestrians and is off-limits to motorized vehicles. The trail eventually enters Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. You don’t have to go too far to enjoy the trail’s scenic splendor. Near the trail’s beginning, you’ll pass farmland and go over a small mountain range and creeks.
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