Virginia Creeper Trail [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

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Bearpaw

07-04-2009, 22:55

After four days of hiking, I decided to relax over the weekend and ride the Virginia Creeper Trail. AT hikers know the smooth level trail from the mile or so they hike on it while heading north out of Damascus (or south hiking in).

The Creeper Trail was a railroad line for bringing timber out of the Jefferson National Forest to Abingdon, Virginia, from the 1920’s to the 70’s. In the 1980’s the railbed was converted to a 34-mile bicycle path. The 18-mile ride from Whitetop Station (at 3700 feet) toDamascus is wildly popular due to its excellent scenery, pleasant riding alongside Laurel Creek, and its downhill of level ride the entire way.

I fully planned to ride this section, but I also wanted to ride the much less travelled Abingdon to Damascus section as well.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

I enjoyed breakfast at the Trails Diner, just up the road from the Abingdon trailhead of the Creeper Trail. At the trailhead, the original train engine and historical displays informed riders of the trail’s past.
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The Abingdon to Damascus section is much different from the mountain forest path from Whitetop. It might be called the “Town & Country” section. I pushed off up the wide smooth path.
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After riding under I-81, I headed into confirmed farm country.
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I also ran into an inquisitive fox in one of the more wooded portions of the trail.
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I also began to cross the first of 46 trestle bridges along the Creeper.
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The longest was by far the massive bridge over the Holston River.
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By this point, Dewey Bear and I were ready for a break.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/077.jpg

But we continued on in just a bit. In Abingdon, most of the folks we saw were runners. But by the time we were well out of town, I began to see a number of riders. The riding began to become just a bit of a workout as I began the ever so gradual uphill in the last five or six miles into Damascus. At the same time, the trail itself began to leave behind some of it country feeling as I rode past more backyards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/079.jpg

On the outskirts of Damascus, I got one last taste of the country as I passed Taylor’s Orchard.
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Immediately afterward, I hit the town line and headed into Damascus to await my wife’s arrival.
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Sunday, June 28, 2009

On Sunday, I joined the crowds making their way from Whitetop Station to Damascus. Except for a small stretch in Taylor Valley, five miles from Damascus, this portion is pretty much all inside the Jefferson National Forest and has much more of a mountainous wild feeling about it. My wife was shuttling me and would meet me at three points along the way: Green Cove Station, Creek Junction, and Straight Branch parking areas. Historic Whitetop Station marks the high point along the entire Creeper Trail.
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Quite literally, except a couple of turns to get the bike rolling, I didn’t need to pedal again along the entire three miles to Green Cove Station, complete with historical displays and a gift shop with souvenirs and snacks.
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The downhill ride was such a treat that I insisted on driving my wife back to Whitetop so she could ride down to Green Cove as well.
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Once I headed on from Green Cove, I made great time along the still-mostly downhill trail to Creek Junction. There I rode the access trail ½- mile up to the parking area next to one of the biggest trestle bridges on the Creeper.
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Throughout this ride, I consistently passed small family groups.
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At Straight Branch parking area, I added Orville, a second teddy bear to my pack. This was in addition to my constant companion Dewey.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/095c-1.jpg

From there, it was a mellow 4 ½ miles to Damascus and Fattie’s Diner to celebrate with a great burger and fries.
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The Creeper Trail is a joy to ride and very easy for anyone with even the most basic riding ability. There were plenty of kids happily cranking along 18 miles later as they rolled into Damascus.

JJJ

07-04-2009, 23:14

MOWGLI

07-04-2009, 23:25

Bearpaw, your reports are reliably excellent! And much appreciated. My wife read the report, and wants to ride the trail with me. :banana

Bearpaw

07-05-2009, 00:52

Bearpaw, your reports are reliably excellent! And much appreciated. My wife read the report, and wants to ride the trail with me. :banana

Neither of you will regret it. It's a real gem, with easy access and great leisure options in both Damascus and Abingdon.

Bearpaw

07-05-2009, 00:53

Great report, Bearpaw.
I live about half a mile down-river of the confluence bridge.
I run on it 4-5 days a week -year round typically and bike occassionally too.
It's a real treat. Glad you guys had an enjoyable trip.
jjj

I may well have passed you while I was out there last Saturday. It was just a great ride all around.

World-Wide

07-05-2009, 01:30

Been overseas way too long (7 out of the last 9 years) and your report above makes me home-sick!! The ride above has been added to my "to-do" once I get settled in Georgia. (will be stationed there in less than a month) Thanks for sharing!! World-Wide

World-Wide

07-05-2009, 01:31

"to-do" list....oops

Big Dawg

07-05-2009, 09:35

Thanks for the trip report. Nice pics. I rode White Top to Damascus for the first time this year. Awesome ride!! I want to bring the family up for the ride next year.

modiyooch

07-05-2009, 09:50

My daughter and I spent my 50th birthday riding from Whitetop to Damascus. It was a wonderful day. After lunch in Damascus, we started toward Abington, but she couldn't hang. We had to turn back. I am interested in going back for the Abington to Damascus leg. Possibly very soon. Thanks for the pics.

humunuku

07-05-2009, 20:06

we usually do a yo-yo of the creeper each year Abington-whitetop and back to Abington...quite a days ride

Lone Wolf

07-05-2009, 20:12

we usually do a yo-yo of the creeper each year Abington-whitetop and back to Abington...quite a days ride

not for this guy. no big deal http://www.vacreepertrail.org/dye.html

JJJ

07-05-2009, 20:26

Bearpaw, you probably would've passed me but I was out of town.

Bearpaw

07-05-2009, 21:03

we usually do a yo-yo of the creeper each year Abington-whitetop and back to Abington...quite a days ride

Cranking up to Whitetop would make it quite a ride all by itself. The whole route even moreso.

Doing it every day is a great obsession.

ShelterLeopard

07-06-2009, 07:23

Wait, so this trail leads from the AT into Damascus? So a thry hiker could leave the trail via this trail, and come back the same way? (I'm not sure if I got that right) It looks like a really nice walk- besides, I really like trains, and that cool old steam train would be neat to take a look at.

Lone Wolf

07-06-2009, 07:36

StarLyte

07-06-2009, 08:26

You folks in Damascus and Abingdon are very lucky to have such beauty in your back yards.

This is a fun bike ride and I encourage everyone that is able.

You can rent your bikes in Damascus, shuttle up to Whitetop and be on your way for a beautiful and fun filled day.

One time my family and I brought our bikes down to Damascus from Cleveland-I'll never do that again. I knew I could rent a bike in town but I was trying to save money. The bike rentals were nicer than my bikes too ;)

I had a lot of fun photographing.

Thanks for posting- I sure wish I was there now.

Ewker

07-08-2009, 13:50

I have ridden the Va. Creeper trail from White Top back to Damascus. We also took the Creeper down to NC from Whitetop then came back up. I am pretty sure we stopped at Taylor Valley and had some ice cream
Thanks for bringing back some good memories

Chif

07-08-2009, 15:14

Is the trail uphill or downhill from Damascus to Abingdon?

Ewker

07-08-2009, 16:38

here you go. A trail map with elevation

http://www.vacreepertrail.com/trailMaps/CreeperTrail.pdf

ShelterLeopard

07-09-2009, 17:08

ShelterLeopard

07-09-2009, 17:09

Actually, I'll look on a map- so don't answer all that- just the bike rental question...

Lone Wolf

07-09-2009, 17:16

Actually, I'll look on a map- so don't answer all that- just the bike rental question...

all the rental joints are in damascus

Bearpaw

07-09-2009, 18:23

Hey- is there any way to get a bike at/near the AT, then ride to Damascus and back? (I'm assuming you can only get bikes in Damascus, right?) Can you treat this like a blue blaze? Go into Damascus on this trail, and get back another way?

Well, if you're hiking the AT, you're going to hike right into Damascus. The AT follows the sidewalk on Laurel and Douglas (the main drags). As it leaves town to the north, the AT joins the Creeper for about a mile. Then it goes up a bunch of PUDS and drops down to rejoin the Creeper for a few hundred yards, about 5 miles from Damascus. Then it goes back up for MORE PUDS, then drops down to rejoin Damascus about 10 miles from town.

You can hike about 13 miles of ups and downs on the AT or walk about 10 almost perfectly smooth miles on the Creeper heading out of Damascus. They both bring you to the same place at Creek Junction.

There are probably half a dozen outfitters you can rent bikes from in Damascus and get shuttles.

Bearpaw

07-09-2009, 18:26

Is the trail uphill or downhill from Damascus to Abingdon?

This stretch forms a bowl, but it's kind of deceptive. I never really felt like I was riding uphill on the way from Abingdon to Damascus. I thought I was getting maybe a little tired. As I arrived in town, I realized I'd been riding up the VERY slight uphill. You won't perceive it as uphill when you ride. Just level.

humunuku

07-09-2009, 18:30

Damancus is the low spot.
Abington to Damascus is slightly downhill. More farm country and a few long trestles to cross. good stuff
Whitetop to damascus is a little more slightly downhill. More mountainy scenery. Also good stuff

can't say which i like better, they're very different from each other.

Lone Wolf

07-09-2009, 18:36

the creeper is best to do at night in the fall with a full moon and no leaves on the trees. rent a baby buggy to put the beer cooler in and take off, stopping every 3-4 miles for a cold one or two. good times

Puppy

07-09-2009, 18:36

Bearpaw

07-09-2009, 19:24

Well Bearpaw

After looking at all your pictures I realized how much I miss the fun available around Damascus biking and hiking.....so I just reserved the Hike Inn bunk for a week in Sept. !

I am so looking forward to it....Thank You !

You're welcome. And enjoy the Hike Inn. It's well worth the money you'll spend on it. Quiet, clean, and cool. The AC works great and Suzanne is an excellent host.

Egads

07-09-2009, 20:41

Planning to ride the Virginia Creeper with the family in Sept.

Will barely miss the full moon. ;)

Staying at the Lazy Fox Inn for the legendary breakfast. :D