Get Your FREE Ultimate Weekend Packing Cheat Sheet!

Planning Your Trip to the Virginia Creeper Trail PullOverandLetMeOut.com
Anna Marie

Anna Marie

Planning Your Trip to the Virginia Creeper Trail

Explore the Virginia Creeper Trail with Pull Over and Let Me Out and discover some of the best advice for organizing your mountain biking vacation.
A woman sipping coffee outside
Hi, I’m Anna Marie. I’m a wife, mother, Irish dancer, and pug mom living in North Carolina. I also love to travel. Come along for the ride! If you see something you like, don’t be afraid to say, ‘Pull over and let me out.’

The Virginia Creeper Trail is tucked into the mountains where Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina meet. The trail that takes its name from days when the railroad would creep along the terrain is today a popular destination for nature lovers and cyclists of all skill levels. The well-traveled route follows a rail right-of-way constructed during the 1880s industrialization of the United States. The Creeper Trail is a beautiful place to bike, and tourists from all over the world come here to ride and take in the landscape. Here are some suggestions for organizing your vacation to the Virginia Creeper Trail.

What is the Virginia Creeper Trail?

A 34.3-mile rail-to-trail connecting two counties, the Virginia Creeper Trail begins in Abingdon, Virginia, travels through Damascus, and then ends just above Whitetop Station in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, on the Virginia-North Carolina boundary. Hikers and cyclists both enjoy the historic trail, with the Whitetop to Damascus ride segment being the most popular.

The trail is especially favored because of its downhill trajectory. Riders of all skill levels can easily navigate the bike trail because of the gradual decline down the mountain that only flattens out near the end. As a result, there isn’t much pedaling required, and even if one hasn’t been on a bicycle in a long time, it’s just like riding a bike! 🙂 

What is the Best Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Rental?

In Damascus, there are numerous shuttle services, outfitters, and bike rental businesses that cater to tourists. We rented a bike from Bicycle Junction for our trip. We made reservations in advance online, so all we had to do was show up, get fitted for a bike, and board the shuttle van that would take us to the Whitetop starting site.

The ride to Whitetop is about a half hour and along the way, our friendly driver filled us in on some of the important facts about the trail. We learned the origin of the name of the trail, about the various stops along the trail, and where the comfort stations are. In addition, he informed us about the area animals, including black bears, and gave us advice on any slick patches we could come upon.

Cycling enthusiasts can bring their own bikes and choose to only pay for the shuttle, but renting a bike is a simple alternative if you don’t have one or just prefer it for convenience.

The majority of rental businesses also provide a variety of bikes, from beach cruisers to mountain bikes. For the younger children, they also have trailers and tag alongs. The shorter 17-mile route is preferred by most people because it is just half as lengthy, while a 34-mile version is also available.

A white van with a trailer attached that's full of bicycles
We rented from Bicycle Junction in Damascus for the day.
A bike rental business
Bicycle Junction on Douglas Drive in Damascus

What Is it Like to Cycle the Virginia Creeper Trail?

A white building with the words White Top in green
Begin the trail at Whitetop

Riding the trail is an incredible experience. When we started out, the incline was relatively simple and stayed that way for most of the ride. At times, the canopy of trees covering us and the breeze from the downhill course made it a little chilly. We began our ride at about 11:00 am on a sunny July morning, so to feel cool, was pretty incredible.  If you’re hitting the trail in the fall or spring, let this be an indicator. It’s a good idea in the non-summer months to dress in layers for the ride. 

While most riders are traveling from Whitetop down to Damascus, believe it or not, there will be bikers traveling in the opposite direction. It’s crucial to follow trail protocol. Ride in a single line, always keep to the right, and shout out when you want to pass. The customary call-out is “To your left.”

As for the trail itself, it’s made of crushed gravel and is relatively smooth. However, there are bumpy patches and rocks to navigate. Along with that, Laurel Creek is crossed by a number of trestles. A little steering expertise is helpful because some of these trestles have large on-and-off bumps.

a trestle in the woods
Beautiful scenery is a highlight of the trail, much of which runs through Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.
PullOver Pro Tip picture

Remember that you are in a mountainous area! There is extremely limited and "spotty at best" cell service. Service is available in Damascus and Abingdon, but not from Whitetop to Damascus. 

Stops along the trail

a red barn with a mountain behind it
Stop frequently and enjoy the scenery.

The scenery along the Virginia Creeper Trail is breathtaking. The trail traverses some beautiful mountain countryside and winds along Laurel Creek which offers its own stunning backdrop to the ride. We stopped several times to drink in the beauty and take pictures. There are also multiple places to rest and have a cool drink, enjoy a picnic lunch, or get a souvenir from the trail. Green Cove Station has a charming spot to get a snack or a t-shirt. I found a Christmas ornament to add to my collection here.

Also along the journey, there are numerous picnic pavilions, restrooms, information kiosks, seasonal services, and other crucial amenities in addition to the elevation profile of the entire trail. There is also Green Cove Collective and Hellbender’s Café if you want to take a break and get a bite to eat or a hot coffee. 

Food and Drink in Damascus, Virginia

If you don’t dine on the trail, there are several places to eat at the end of the trail. There is a range of dining options in Damascus from Subway Sandwiches to Damascus Diner to Trails Grill to Wicked Chicken Wing House & Tavern, to name a few. We went to Mojo’s Trailside Café across the road from Bicycle Junction and enjoyed an awesome post-ride lunch. The smoked BBQ was AMAZING!

For a more grown-up post-ride cooler, the Damascus Brewery is a delightful spot to unwind. The charming craft brewery founded by Adam Woodson serves sixty different kinds of beers and is constantly rotating taps to bring the best brews to the people. The “Beaver Rage IPA,” the brewery’s signature brew, is its best-known offering. Which is as they say, “deliciously hoppy but NOT bitter.”  

My husband and I stopped in after dropping the teen back at the cabin. We had a delightful visit with some of the locals and our server, Melissa, couldn’t have made us feel more at home. I especially got a kick out of some of the more creative names on the beer list which included Beaver Fever Porter and Barely Legal Irish Red. Even if you’re not a big beer drinker, this is a warm, welcoming place to set a spell and relax after a 17 or 34-mile ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail. 

Inside a restaurant
We enjoyed a late lunch at Mojo's Trailside Cafe & Coffee in Damascus, VA
a chalkboard with a beer list
The beer list at Damascus Brewery

Virginia Creeper Trail Lodging

Along and nearby the Virginia Creeper Trail, there are numerous accommodation alternatives. There are several great options in Damascus, Abingdon, and nearby towns, ranging from camping to cabins, lovely bed and breakfast inns to Airbnbs to chain hotels.

We reserved a pet-friendly cabin through VRBO close to Mountain City, Tennessee, for our stay. We enjoyed the solitude and comfort of being a short 15-minute ride from Damascus and the trail while being nestled away in the trees on the slope of a mountain. We also toured around Mountain City, which was just as wonderful as Damascus.

the interior of a mountain cabin
Our cozy mountain cabin rental.

What I liked about cycling the Virginia Creeper Trail

I loved so many aspects of riding the Virginia Creeper Trail. The mountain scenery, the fresh air, sunshine, and family time were beyond belief. I also loved how easy it was to ride the trail. Despite the fact that I hadn’t been on a bike in a long time, I was still able to mount it and start riding down the trail.

I also loved how easy the folks at Bicycle Junction made the trip. Because I’d booked in advance and completed the paperwork online, we got our bikes and were on our way quickly. I also was happy I’d chosen them because they are the first rental place at the end of the trail. 

Another winning element of the trip is the area. The people we met in Damascus and Mountain City are so incredibly friendly and welcoming. It was a joy meeting and chatting with them. They extend the red carpet to welcome guests and sincerely appreciate visitors.

SHOP ON AMAZON
a woman riding a bicycle

Parting Thoughts

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a fun, family-friendly, outdoor adventure that is suited for all bike riders, young and old. We turned our three-hour ride along the scenic trial into an enjoyable weekend getaway.

The magnificent mountain setting, friendly locals, and fresh air made for a lovely escape from our everyday hustle and bustle. It was a fantastic way to unwind, unplug, and relax. The Virginia Creeper Trail is the ideal outdoor weekend retreat.

The Virginia Creeper Trail

a man and woman in a selfie
Creeper Trail selfie!

Hey Pinners, Pin this for later!

► Plan Your Trip to Damascus, Virginia Now!

It makes it simple to plan your trip.   We’ve pre-filled the destination from the article and if there are multiple places mentioned in the article, we’ve put the one that is best used as your base to see all of the places mentioned.

Just select I’M STAYING and enter the travel dates and hit SEARCH.  It automatically uses the first place in the article.  

For a multi-day trip, if you stay near that location, you should be able to use it as your base.

Super simple.  Just click on the pencil and enter the name of any place mentioned in the story.  Or you can enter any address or even the name of a company if you are mixing business and pleasure.

Just click I’M DRIVING and you can see how long it will take, get driving directions and even rent a car if you need one.

Yes, we guarantee the best published rates on hotels.  Click on the link for BEST RATE 110% GUARANTEE for details.

Share your experiences  

Hey pinners, save this for pinning after your trip

After you get back from your trip, please use these images to post to social media or post your own photos.  Please tag us on your post #pulloverandletmeout
 
You can also use the social sharing links on the SmartTrip tool.
Paws for Purple Hearts logo

More travel stories you'll love reading!

Cover photo two pints of Guinness

What You Need to Know Before You Order That Pint of Guinness

Few beverages are as closely linked to a location as Guinness is to Ireland. Rich in heritage, the creamy dark stout is a daily staple at pubs and bars across Ireland and the world. Travel along with Pull Over and Let Me Out to the Emerald Isle and learn what you need to know before you order that pint of Guinness.

Read More »
a cover photo of a stone bed and breakfast

Seven Simple Steps For Selecting a Bed and Breakfast

The term B&B encompasses a wide variety of guest houses and is a form of lodging which provides a very different mood and atmosphere for an over night stay. Travel with PullOverandLetMeOut to discover 7 simple steps for selecting a bed and breakfast that is perfect for your next stay.

Read More »

Let’s Get Social!
Click below and join the conversation on social media

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

FREE Access to Exclusive Travel Tips and Deals

Get the latest travel news, tips & information from PullOverandLetMeOut.com!

Save on Membership with

Coupon LIFECHANGER25

don't leave empty-handed

Get your FREE Ultimate Weekend Packing Cheat Sheet

Happy Travels