Aerial view of the Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia, United States
© Eifel Kreutz/Getty Image
Trailing through time. Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia, United States
Some railways retire. The Virginia Creeper Trail in the United States simply changed gears. Stretching 34.3 miles through southwest Virginia, this trail follows a former rail line once used to haul lumber and iron ore through the Appalachian Mountains. Its unusual name traces back to the steam locomotives that laboured up steep grades in the early 1900s.
Centred around Damascus, known as 'Trail Town USA,' the trail is famous for its 47 wooden trestles, sweeping mountain views and outdoor adventures. Damascus is also one of the few places where the Appalachian Trail passes directly through a town's Main Street.
One of the trail's highlights is a 17-mile downhill ride from Whitetop Station, the route's highest point at more than 1,000 metres, to Damascus. Riders can coast nearly 490 metres downhill with little pedalling. Another standout feature is the High Trestle, a 168-metre bridge that rises 30 metres above the valley below. Following damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, the upper section remains closed for restoration, while the Damascus-to-Abingdon section continues to stay open.
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