BIKING WITH A FAT BALD WHITE GUY: THE VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL

 The Virginia Creeper Trail runs from Abingdon Virginia to Whitetop Station near the North Carolina line.  It is a linear recreational park that follows the abandoned railway right of way of the 1880 Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad.  I profiled the ride from Whitetop Station to Damascus previously. Whitetop Station to Damascus On a hot July day, my faithful Biking Companion and I biked the "Road to Damascus"!

The Virginia Creeper Trail begins in Abingdon, Virginia.  You can find it right off Interstate 81. A charming welcoming station is next to the trailhead where you can get maps and information about the history of the trail. The trail is about 34 miles long and is divided into two sections with the hamlet of Damascus lying exactly at the halfway point.  Most folks take the shuttle at Damascus and coast 17 miles down the mountain from Whitetop Station.  Been there done that...we wanted a new ride...we chose 16.5 mile ride from Abingdon.

On this day I was repping The Great Cycle Challenge, a charity ride we have participated in for the last five years.  The Great Cycle Challenge raises money to fund childhood cancer research.  We ride in memory of our great nephew Beau Stanley.  Check us out and join us if you can, donate if you are willing but pray for a world without children suffering from cancer! Beau's Buddies

There are 47 trestles along the length of the entire creeper trail.  The first trestle is at the start of the Road to Damascus.

The trail is a crushed gravel the width of a railway right of way that snakes its way downhill throught the farmland of Southwest Virginia.  Very shaded, very pleasant and very scenic.  

The many scenic vistas of farmland, mountain meadows and rivers are separated by very uniquely reconstructed trestles.  This one has a nice curve.

My favorite is Trestle #7.  The angled supports are most interesting and the pastures surrounding it are very picturesque.

One crosses Lake Holston and offers a beautiful view of this mountain lake.

Halfway to Damascus there is a wonderful rest stop Alvarado Station.  There is a small park along the Holston River with a memorial gazebo with several shaded swinging benches where you can rest, watch the river creep by and listen to wind chimes....and oh, by the way there are bathrooms too!

Along the route there are many riverside cabin rental opportunities.  But at Alvarado station there is a very unique opportunity in a restored railway building.

The trail also offers many scenic vistas.  I have always been fascinated by the rock cuts created in the railroad right of way.  The difficulty of cutting the right of way in the 1880's is a marvel of the ingenuity of 19th century engineers.  One such cut was along a curve in the right of way.

The serenity that surrounds you as you ride this trail is uplifting.  Don't rush the ride, enjoy the sounds, the smells and the beauty that surrounds you. It is a rare treat in a busy world!

Some trail notes to consider. Abingdon to Damascus is downhill to Alvarado Station.  From Alvarado Station to Damascus is a moderate incline. Anyone can make this ride. Going from Damascus to Abingdon, the rider will be faced with an 8 mile ascent from Alvarado Station to Abingdon. It is a manageable climb, similar to what we encountered on the New River Trail but beware as on a hot summer day, the ascent may ruin your ride if you are not up for the experience.

Rating this trail is pretty easy.  It may be the best bike trail I have ever ridden.  The access is very easy to find. Just off I-81 in the wonderfully scenic town of Abingdon, Virginia...the trail is meticulously maintained with smooth crushed gravel with ample signage.  This trail unlike the Whitetop Station to Damascus is not social. You encounter very few people. The scenery is not overwhelming breathtaking but is a continuous serene vista.  A few warnings though...in the summer the trip from Alvarado Station to Damascus can be very hot, so hydrate and take your time. Also, make sure you have a commitment for a shuttle back to Abingdon. Most outfitters in Damascus are not set up to do this ride. Sundog Outfitters accommodated us nicely but they only offered one time slot.  This ride is a solid 10...a bucket list experience.  We will be back in the fall for sure!