Virginia Creeper Trail

he Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34-mile rail-trail that is considered one of the best bike trails in the nation. 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. The most popular activity on the trail is a pleasant, 17-mile bike ride from Whitetop Station to Damascus. With a 5% downhill grade most of the way, the ride is easy for beginners and families. Hikers and horseback riders also frequent the trail.

Numerous outfitters in Damascus and Abingdon offer bike rentals and shuttle service to Whitetop Station. The towns also offer plenty of dining, lodging and entertainment for trail riders. For more information, visit the town websites linked above.

The trail got its unusual name from the early steam locomotives as they struggled slowly up steep grades, carrying lumber. Having failed to turn a profit since the Great Depression, the Creeper ran its last train on March 31, 1977. The trail gained new life in 1984, when it was designated a National Recreation Trail. Over 150,000 people use the trail annually, and in 2014 it was inducted in to the national Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.

Virginia Tourism Corporation

he site of present-day Abingdon is located on a well-traveled wilderness route called the Great Road, which many pioneers traveled through the Blue Ridge Mountains on the way to settle the new American frontier. In 1748-1750, the land was surveyed by Dr. Thomas Walker, who would later be partners with Peter Jefferson – father of Thomas Jefferson – in the Loyal Land Company. According to local legend, the area was named Wolf Hills by Daniel Boone in 1760 after his dogs were attacked by a pack of wolves.

The Town of Abingdon was established by an act of the Assembly of Virginia in 1778. Two short years later, Abingdon played a role in helping the young nation gain its independence. Patriots from Virginia and North Carolina gathered at the Muster Grounds to begin a 300-mile march to Kings Mountain, South Carolina. The ensuing battle was a turning point in the Revolutionary War.

In 1860, Martha Washington College opened in a former private residence in Abingdon. The college closed in 1932, but the grand building affectionately known as “The Martha” re-opened as a hotel in 1935.

Town of Abingdon

ocated halfway between mile marker 0 in Abingdon and mile marker 34 near Whitetop Station, Damascus is not just centrally located, it was once the historical hub of activity that birthed a rail line that later became the Virginia Creeper Trail. Damascus is a picturesque town with locals so friendly that through-hikers on the Appalachian Trail gave Damascus the moniker "Friendliest Town on the Trail". Damascus is also known as "Trail Town, USA" and for good reason – it is traversed not only by the Creeper Trail and the AT, but also by the Trans-America National Bicycle Trail, the Iron Mountain Trail, the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, the Crooked Road Musical Heritage Trail, and Virginia's Birding and Wildlife Trail to name a few.

Virginia Creeper Trail

hile other small towns have grown into cities or simply faded away, West Jefferson has remained the small town that is quintessential Americana. Our town is nestled within the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of northwest North Carolina. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, West Jefferson not only presents beautiful landscape and cool mountain breezes, but also gives visitors a sense of history as well as a mix of modern culture. Simply stroll about our town and discover what is so special about West Jefferson.

Long celebrated for the arts, West Jefferson is known for its arts district featuring an array of interesting murals, distinctive public art and numerous galleries. In addition to art galleries, West Jefferson offers a bustling downtown district featuring an eclectic selection of boutiques, exceptional eateries, antique shops, coffee and wine shops and even a craft beer brewery.

Town of West Jefferson