The virginia creeper national recreation trail is a 34. Virginia creeper trail guide virginia is for lovers. Creeper trail adventures in swva adventure damascus. To write about the history of the virginia creeper trail requires more space than i can offer at this time, so i will try to be brief. The virginia creeper trail is a multipurpose rail trail. The virginia creeper trail is a 35mile 56 km multipurpose rail trail, located in the mount rogers national recreation area of southwestern virginia. Virginia creeper trail information for your family vacation to beautiful abingdon and damascus virginia, from creeper trail shuttle and rental, creeper trail lodging, camping, maps. Welcome to appalachian ghostwalks damascus virginia area ghost and history tours page appalachian ghostwalks presents sixteen different single afternoon and evening lanternled ghost history and bigfoot adventure tours in the damascus virginia area to include haunted historic ghost walks and ghost tours in the tennessee and virginia towns of elizabethton jonesborough etsu greeneville.
The virginia creeper trail is a great place to plan a trip for family fun or a group outing. The vctc website provides car gps addresses for the trail access points. But thanks to the rails to trails conservancy that old railway was turned into a beautiful 32mils stretch of pathway. The length is 34 miles from abingdon to the nc state line, with the town of damascus located about half way between. With picturesque scenery always at hand, the virginia creeper trail takes you through some of the most rugged country and across some of the most beautiful mountain streams in the eastern united states. An insiders guide to the virginia creeper trail abingdon virginia. From abingdon to alvarado the trail crosses rolling farmland, and then slowly changes to a high mountain trail between damascus, va and whitetop station, inside mount rogers national recreation area.
Complete information resource for bike rentals, bike shuttle, for the virginia creeper trail. Buy a cheap copy of the virginia creeper trail companion book by edward h. Full kitchen, central heatair, large yard, wrap around porches, deck, high speed wifi. Fantastic bike trail the damascus portion of the trail is 17 miles mostly. Around the midpoint of the virginia creeper trail, youll reach the damascus trailhead. If you havent seen them yet, check out the rails to trails series of books for a great on the trail resource. Virginia creeper national recreation trail virginia trails traillink. The virginia creeper is a shareduse trail connecting abingdon, va. Suitable for any age, the virginia creeper trail can be enjoyed by all.
Virginia creeper trail damascus 2020 all you need to. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Nature and history along southwest virginia s national recreation trail. The trail runs from abingdon to whitetop, virginia, near the north carolina state line through national forest and crossing numerous restored trestles and crossing the appalachian trail. Virginia creeper trail questions, answers shuttle shack. The appalachian national scenic trail, the virginia creeper national recreation trail, the transcontinental bicycle trail, the iron mountain trail, and the daniel boone trail all intersect in damascus. It is in this storyline that the virginia creeper trail vct was born. Virginia creeper trail guide to virginias mountain biking. History virginia creeper crossing south holston lake in 1965 interview with dr.
The virginia creeper trail was once a railway that over time became unused. My kids and i did the virginia creeper trail last weekend. On your if you want a great outdoor weekend with your family, biking the scenic virginia creeper trail and visiting nearby grayson highlands state park is an excellent combo. The creation of the virginia creeper trail al bradley. Virginia creeper trail history whitetop va, damascus va. Virginia creeper trail damascus to whitetop mountain. Virginia creeper trail damascus all you need to know.
Virginia creeper trail faq frequently asked questions 1. The trail began as a native american footpath, later became a railroad and, with the closing of the railroad in 1977, is now a popular footpath once again. This is actually two maps one showing the east side of the trail from whitetop station to damascus and the other running from abingdon to damascus. His books included securing open space in america, cluster development. Adventure damascus virginia creeper trail bicycle rental and shuttle information family vacation to beautiful scenic damascus. We pass weathered log cabins, fields of perfect, coneshaped christmas trees and miles of.
For those unsure about biking the trail, the 17mile stretch from whitetop to damascus is almost all downhill which may be the perfect introduction before taking on the full 34mile trail. This is despite the fact that we were completely drenched in a downpour. Click here to see the destruction of trestle 7 and its rebuilding. Virginia creeper national recreation trail spans 32. The virginia creeper trail is a 35mile 56 km multipurpose rail trail, located in the mount. Within the heart of the blue ridge mountains, the corridor was first conceived during the late 19th century to haul coal and iron from the region, although financial troubles ended these initial dreams. We are the premier bike rental and bike shuttle service for the virginia creeper trail.
While the town does have other diverse interests, the natural world and the legacy of trail blazing still influence the course of the future. Nature and history along southwest virginias national recreation trail davis, edward, morgan, edward on. Virginia creeper national recreation trail history traillink. The virginia creeper trail is rich in beauty and regional history. We have maps and guide books as well as lots of advice on where to head, whatever you mode of. The creeper trail even has a shuttle option for those who want to hitch a ride up the mountain and coast their bike downhill. View photos of the virginia creeper national recreation trail on traillink. The local residents and businesses were extremely friendly and helpful. West jefferson did not exist until local entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to run the tracks from whitetop mountain in virginia to north carolina. The virginia creeper trail, a cinder and crushed gravel trail, travels through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in the eastern united states.
Spring, summer, and fall weekends get very crowded on the trail, with reservations necessary for the shuttle companies. Construction of the railroad was begun in 1887 by the. I cannot say enough how much fun and how gorgeous it was. The trail runs from the abingdon through damascus to whitetop, va, near the north carolina state line through national forest and crosses numerous trestles. The bike station is located in beautiful, southwest virginia, in the town of damascus. The railroad began in abingdon, virginia as the abingdon coal and iron railroad company. This trail runs from whitetop, virginia, near the north carolina state line through national forest and crossing numerous restored trestles and crossing the appalachian trail at several trail junctions through damascus, va trail town usa and onto its end point in abingdon, va. Photo gallery includes detailed images of the trail, surroundings, and activities.
The virginia creeper trail guide is your comprehensive online information and services resource for your enjoyment of virginia s premier mountain biking trail. High quality virginia creeper trail gifts and merchandise. Virginia creeper national recreation trail hiking trail. The appalachian trail meets the virginia creeper trail in two places, and runs along the same path for short distances. The va creeper trail is open year round to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. This customdesigned map shows you everything you need to know about the virginia creeper trail from whitetop to the bike station. This sites most prominent feature is the long trestle that leads over a small creek and back 3. Summer photography photography tips product photography virginia creeper virginia is for lovers bike trails creepers the great outdoors places to see. Virginia creeper trail back country horsemen of east. The trail can get pretty crowded during busy summer weekends and, while most folks are just out to enjoy themselves, a few simple rules have. Virginia creeper trail photos is a collection of photographs by john grogan illustrating the beauty and the experience of the virginia creeper trail in southwest virginia. Damascus va area historical ghost history walks tours. Stepping in to fill that void, the railstotrails conservancy was formed in 1986 and began to convert old railroad tracks into multiuse paths. It has been described as the best mountain bike trail in the.
The virginia creeper trail vct is an excellent railstotrails conversion features forested path with 47 wooden trestles and bridges over creeks and rivers. The virginia creeper trail is the retired corridor of the virginia carolina railroad. The virginia creeper trail stretches 35 miles from abingdon to the north carolina state line. It ran from abingdon in washington county, virginia to todd in ashe county, north carolina. T he virginia creeper trail is a 34 mile multipleuse trail rail trail in southwest virginia swva. A 34milelong trail beginning in abingdon, va and ending at whitetop mountain, near nc. T he virginia creeper trail is a 34mile railtrail that is considered one of the best bike trails in the nation. The birthplace of country music museum is in downtown bristol and is a must stop for country music and history buffs.
This former rail bed passes through the mount rogers national recreation area and the highland country of southwestern virginia. Parking is available at several locations along the trail, including abingdon, damascus and along hwy 58 east of damascus. The history of the vct is as long and twisty as a railroad itself. The town was very quaint and all the restaurants had great food.
Just call us to book a shuttle and bike rental reservation 2764756262 or 8885952453. The creeper trail is perfectly nice, just not amazing. At nearly 3,600 feet, its the high point of the virginia creeper national recreation trail and is thought to be the genesis of the virginia creeper nickname for the railroad, because the trains had to. Nature and history along southwest virginia s national recreation trail davis, edward, morgan, edward on. The virginia creeper trail is a 34mile railtrail running between abingdon and whitetop, virginia. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Nature and history along southwest virginias national recreation trail. Who wouldnt love a bike ride where you mostly coast. Virginia creeper trail invites bikers to take it easy. Whether you want to ride the now famous 17 mile downhill ride from whitetop station to our front door or continue the ride to historic abingdon, we can arrange a trip to suit your needs. Virginia creeper trail bike rentals, bike shuttles damascus virginia, whitetop va, abingdon va trek mountain bike rental, bike shuttle service for virginia creeper trail ride.
The mountain merz is referring to is whitetop, part of the blue ridge range in southwestern virginia. Virginia creeper national recreation trail photos traillink. Many believe it to be one of the most picturesque railtrails in the country. Virginia creeper trail photos damascus, virginia facebook. The virginia creeper trail is a 34mile 56 km multipurpose rail trail in southwestern virginia. The virginia creeper is a shareduse trail mountain biking, hiking, equine connecting abingdon, virginia, with the virginianorth carolina border 1. The line charted a complicated course through the mountains of the area, crossing the blue ridge not far from mount rogers history. I was origianlly quite looking forward to the damascus area after reading all the good things about the virginia creeper trail and how it is one of the nicest railstrails in the country. The virginia creeper trail companion book by edward h.
William whyte was a landscape architect specializing in open space. Virginia creeper trail faq learn about the virginia. The virginia creeper in ashe county images of rail ashe county historical society on. I ts a bright august morning, and every seat on the virginia creeper trail shuttle is filled.
Welcome to the virginia creeper trail a national railto. Virginia creeper trail news newspapers books scholar jstor july 2012 learn how and when to remove this template message. A converted railroad bed with smooth, wide, level tread. The 34milelong virginia creeper trailer, which runs from abingdon, virginia, to the north carolina line near whitetop mountain, is the most poplar trail in. This 17mile section of the trail runs from damascus, va to whitetop station. Youll find the official map of the virginia creeper trail club, which is considered the most accurate of all trail maps for the 34milelong virginia creeper trail. One of the more scenic rail trails in the eastern united states is surely the virginia creeper trail in southwestern virginia. Riding the virginia creeper trail a poke with a sharp stick. The virginia creeper trail is a dirtcinder rail trail which runs from abingdon, va to whitetop, va. Creeper trail bike rental and trail information adventure damascus. The virginia creeper in ashe county images of rail. Nature and history along southwest virginias national. The trail is a steady climb the entire way, gaining 1600 feet in elevation. The virginia creeper trail weekend getaway guide simply.
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