Travel Review: The Virginia Creeper Trail
vacreepertrail.org
This past weekend I, along with a group of 11 others, visited the Virginia Creeper Trail. For some in the group, it was their first time experiencing it, but it was my fourth time going. Like always, we had a good time riding bicycles on the trail and it was a day well spent. But before I get into reviewing it, let’s take a closer look as to what it is for those of you who may not have heard of it.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.3 mile-long recreation trail that winds through the mountainous Virginia woods from Abingdon to Whitetop Station. It is mostly used by bicyclers who leisurely ride through the woods, whether traveling the entire length of the trail or just half of it. But it is also used by those who would rather walk/run the trail as well.
fs.usda.gov
The trail began in the late 1800s as a railway connected to the Norfolk & Western Rail as a way to help mine the iron ore in the area. But once it became clear that the mining boom the builders had hoped for would not occur, the railway went out of business. It was then purchased again in 1898 and revived as a way to transport timber across much of the eastern United States. As a successful railway for the next several decades, it even began hauling passengers as well. But then by the 1960s the railway became largely unused when the ways of transportation in the country were rapidly changing. The last passenger train on this railway made its journey in 1962. After a few decades of trying to figure out what to do with it, in 1987 the Virginia Creeper Trail was dedicated by Congress as a National Recreation Trail.
Like the vast majority of people, we used the trail to ride our bicycles on. Some of us brought our own bicycles to ride and others rented from one of the several bicycle rental shops in the small town of Damascus, Virginia. Damascus is the mid-way point of the trail and is where most people decide to park their cars and begin their journey. After we parked, rented our bikes, and the rental company loaded them up on their shuttle, we took the 35-minute shuttle ride up the mountain to the very beginning of the trail at Whitetop Station. At that point the bikes were unloaded and the ride began.
vacreepertrail.org
Our plan was to ride all the way back, about 17 miles, to where we rented our bikes in Damascus. 17 miles sounds like a lot, but it goes by a lot quicker than you think it would. This is because the trail is basically all flat or slightly downhill. For this reason, anyone who can ride a bike can ride the trail with no issues at all. You don’t have to be in shape to ride because not a lot of pedaling is required. The trail is wide enough for two lanes of traffic (whether bicycle or foot traffic) and is very flat with no roots, bumps, or holes of any kind. It is very much a beginner trail.
Even though it would be considered a beginner trail, it is enjoyed by everyone. This is mainly because of the beauty of nature that surrounds you the entire time. The trail is not meant to be one that provides a workout, but instead one that provides a nice, relaxing cruise through the mountains. There are many opportunities to pull off to the side to take pictures, whether it’s of the valley below, old picturesque barns, or of the Whitetop Laurel River that runs parallel to much of the trail.
For riders who get hungry along the way, there is a diner located just beside the trail, about halfway from Whitetop Station to Damascus. Many people stop here to eat lunch, so be prepared for a 30-minute wait or more. But at least you can sit outside and enjoy the beautiful Appalachian Mountains while you wait.
flickr.com, via JR P
Like I’ve already mentioned, the entire plan for most people is to just cruise throughout the trail while they soak in their surroundings. There are a few people that want to go fast, but they will go around you since there is plenty of room on the trail to do so. Just make sure to be aware of other riders and stay to your right, as people who want to pass will do so on your left. It took us about three and a half hours to complete the trail, but we stopped along the way quite a bit to take pictures of the scenery and to keep our group together. Once we got back to Damascus, we rode straight to the bike rental place we started from, returned the bikes we rented, and were on our way back home.
This is a day-trip that I would recommend to anyone who knows how to ride a bicycle. It is not the least bit strenuous and will provide a great opportunity to get in touch with nature. For photographers, it provides many opportunities to get great shots of the beautiful mountains and everything it encompasses. My few recommendations are to take your time riding the trail and go sometime mid-September to mid-October. The weather will be pretty chilly as you get close to mid-October, and anytime after that it can be too cold to enjoy the ride. But there is nothing like the fall in the mountains. And take your time as you ride the trail because that’s the best way to soak in everything the trail has to offer. If you rush, you’ll miss some things and you won’t get the entire experience. If you live within three hours or so, it’s a great day-trip, and if you live farther away than that, there’s several hotels and campgrounds in the area to make it a great overnight trip. Either way, you’ll have a great time!
For more information, visit the website: https://www.vacreepertrail.org/
Garett