Virginia Creeper Trail

Amazing experience biking down the Virginia Creeper trail. All of our group of six had ridden this trail before except me. This was my first experience. The autumn leaves were very colorful and the Whitetop Laurel River was fast and full with beautiful rapids. The trail is all down hill with several bridges to stop and view the landscape and river. Additionally, there are stops available along the way for souvenirs, snacks and supplies. Also, several outdoor bathroom facilities are available. The views were breathtaking and made the 17 mile ride seem much shorter. Had a nice lunch at the Creeper Café, then finished the ride. I would recommend this amazing bike trail experience to anyone. It is a bucket list must do!

Riding the Virginia Creeper Trail was a wonderful experience. One I can’t wait to do again in the Fall cause I can only imagine how beautiful the trail will be at that time.
We decided to be crazy (i.e. stupid) and ride the trail uphill from Damascus to White Top. I run a couple days a week but hadn’t been on a bike in at least 9 months. The ride uphill was beautiful and wasn’t really painful until the last 5 miles. I definitely recommend getting gel seats in addition to padded shorts. I struggled through the last 5 miles but finally made it to the top!
At the top of the mountain, there is a book in the store where you can sign your name if you rode uphill. After getting recharged, we made our way back down to Damascus. The downhill ride was thrilling and fast. Absolutely loved it. However, riding uphill made me appreciate the beauty of the trail more since I was going slower. Riding uphill also enhanced the downhill experience.
About 35 miles later, I was more appreciative of the diversity and beauty of nature. It made me more purposeful about my intent on traveling and seeing the world. And definitely sealed the fact that I will be back to ride this trail in the fall.
Happy riding!

Obviously tons of fun. Great place to walk, run, bike, even horseback ride. Wonderful for kids anf adults.
Always fairy flat surface and reasonably smooth’ except patches of mud after rain. Mile markers help keep track of progress from trail head.
My kids love all the «giant bridges.»

I’m not going to squander my 1000 review on just any place. It’s justly reserved for the Virginia Creeper Trail. Make this a fall tradition! Make it a spring tradition… heck, go in the summer even.
I heard about this place from one of my colleagues; she kept raving about how wonderful it is. This past October, I planned a trip to check this trail out for myself.
A lot of planning was involved: to take my own bike or to rent, to get a hotel or find a vacation rental, to take my Westie or to leave him at home. There are plenty of bike rentals in the area so if you don’t want the hassle of adding a hitch to your car and getting a bike rack, like me, you don’t have to. My husband and I decided to take our own bikes, get a vacation rental, and take our pup. What an adventure!
We hired one of the rental companies to take our bikes to the top. I highly recommend that you park in Damascus and take the shuttle up to Whitetop. It was much better to have our car waiting for us when we were done, rather than have to take the shuttle at the end after the long ride. The shuttle ride will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes. Also, if there is rain or has rained, make sure to take towels. You will finish with a bunch of mud all over. If you ride too closely behind another biker, you will get a lot of mud on your face. It was hilarious to see little kids tandem riding with their parents with their faces covered in mud.
Plan ahead and bring a backpack full of snacks and lunch. Otherwise, there is one stop halfway that serves food, but everyone else goes there too. If you have your own, you can stop wherever along the trail. Dogs are allowed on the trail, but as long as you have them on a leash (and clean up after them), which is pretty tricky while you are riding your bike. We had a doggie cart attached to our bikes, but for the ENTIRE 17 miles, our short-​legged Westie wanted to run alongside. Never once did he get in the cart. It took us approximately 3.5−4 hours, stopping many times to let other bikers pass so our pup wouldn’t block their way.
The ride is leisurely and maybe a few times we ended up actually pedaling because it is a slight decline most of the way. Take in the scenery and make sure to bring your camera. You’ll see pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, and if it’s the fall you’ll see the most brilliant colors of the leaves changing.
It was absolutely the highlight of the fall and a trip that we plan on making an annual tradition. It’s great for the solo traveler, duo, or families with children of all ages.

Great views, and can either be a pleasant walk or a day trip. About 30 miles to Whitetop Mountain, uphill if you’re walking from Abingdon. Nice wide trail, convenient for walking the dogs or with a group. Also could be good for marathon/​ultramarathon training!