This wasn’t exactly a hike or a backpack trip but instead it was a bike trip on the Virginia Creeper Trail which is just as good if not better in some ways.  The total length is about 34.3 and like a lot of trails across the country it’s a converted old railroad bed.  It starts at Abingdon and goes to Whitetop Station and passes through a few towns along the way.  The midpoint is Damascus and this is known as a trail town because the Appalachian Trail passes right through it.   The trail surface ranges from crushed gravel to dirt so a hybrid or mountain bike is a good idea.

I have always used Sundog Outfitters, which is located in Damascus and they happen to be awesome.  They are incredibly friendly and a ton of information so I strongly recommend them.  You can tell when someone wants your business and whenever I call them to make reservations it’s obvious.  You can either rent a bike with them or bring your own.  If you bring your own you just pay a shuttle fee and they will be more than happy to take you to your starting point.  Click here for other shuttle and bike rental providers.

The most popular section runs from Whitetop Station to Damascus so that’s the main focus of their shuttles and they run like every hour on the hour from around 8 AM to around 3 PM.  I think most people like this section because it’s nearly all downhill and in the shade.  A lot of this trail runs alongside creeks and is absolutely gorgeous.

The section from Abingdon to Damascus is quite a bit different and tends to run on the outskirts of neighborhoods and through/around a few farms.  Not as many people bike this section so the shuttles are a lot more limited.  This section is exposed to the sun so it’s highly recommended to bike it early before it gets too hot.  One of the coolest things about this section is the bridge you cross that runs over the Holston River.  It’s looks like it’s about as long as a football field and quite a ways about the river.  As you ride across it you hear a clack clack which is similar to a wooden roller coaster ride and pretty cool.

Since we did the full trail we took on the Abingdon section in the morning and biked to Damascus where we had just enough time to eat lunch and relax a bit before the shuttle was ready to take us up to Whitetop for the other half of our ride.

I’m not sure what I like best about this trail because there are so many great aspects like lots of wooden bridges over gorgeous creeks; historic towns; old train stations; fields of cows; wildlife; biking fun and lots more.  It’s a beautiful trail and well worth a long drive to check it out.

There are several campgrounds within an hour to choose from but the only one I’ve stayed at is the Grindstone Campground which is where I have stayed whenever I visit the creeper.  I also use it as a starting point when I hike the Grayson Highlands.  We did find a different campground however on this last trip called Beartree Lake Campground that is very nice and secluded.  It’s also quite a bit closer to Sundog Outfitters than Grindstone Campground so I think we will explore that place the next time we visit.  I only know of one other campground and it’s the Grayson Highlands State Park Campground which I’ve yet to stay at so I can’t speak for it.