Type: Trail, Point-to-point
Difficulty: 3 / 10
Altitude: 2,065 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Cycling, Hiking, Running
Virginia's finest rail-trail, the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail occupies the bed of what was once a rugged mountain railroad between Abingdon and the Virginia-North Carolina border about a mile east of Whitetop Community. At the trail's lowest point, where it crosses South Holston Lake on a huge curving trestle, it is 2,000 feet above sea level, but, by the time it reaches Whitetop Community, it has ascended 1,600 feet, some of it at nearly 7 percent grade!
The Virginia Creeper Trail began as a Native-American footpath. Later, the European pioneers, as well as early explorer Daniel Boone, used the trail. Shortly after 1900, W.B. Mingea constructed the Virginia-Carolina Railroad from Abingdon to Damascus. In 1905 the Hassinger Lumber Company extended the line to Konnarock and Elkland, North Carolina. In its day, the line hauled lumber, iron ore, supplies, and passengers. It got its nickname, Virginia Creeper, from the early steam locomotives that struggled slowly up the railroad's steep grades.
With 100 trestles and bridges, sharp curves, and steep grades, the Virginia Creeper was the quintessential mountain railroad. Train crews faced wash-outs, rock slides, and other hazards, but it was economics that sounded the line's death whistle. Having failed to turn a profit since the Great Depression, the Creeper ran its last train on March 31, 1977.
Less than a century after the railroad arrived, the Virginia Creeper once again became a quiet trail. The circle was complete.
There are 3 visitor centers along the trail: one at the Damascus Caboose, the old Green Cove Station, and the rebuilt Whitetop Station. All are open weekends May-October. Mount Rogers Interpretative Association has a variety of items for sale at each center.
Bathrooms are available at the Abingdon parking lot, in Damascus near the caboose, Straight Branch parking lot, Creek Junction parking lot, Green Cove train station, and Whitetop train station.
Refreshments can be purchased at several places along the trail. Communities along the trail such as Abingdon, Alvarado, Damascus, and Taylors Valley have businesses that offer refreshments. Bottled water and drinks are for sale at Green Cove on weekends from May-October. Free water is available at Whitetop Station during frost-free months.
The only public phone along the trail is in Damascus. Cell coverage is poor.
Between Abingdon and Damascus, the trail right-of-way belongs to the two towns. Please note that although the public legally has the right to use the trail, most of the actual land between Abingdon and the Iron Bridge east of Damascus is privately owned. Stay on the trail, close gates, respect property owners and livestock, and be courteous to landowners and other trail users.
Abingdon Trailhead
Mile 0.0 (33.4) Limited parking. The locomotive on display was the last steam engine on the Creeper.
Highway 677
Mile 2.9 (30.5) Limited parking.
Dry Branch Trestle
Mile 3.7 (29.7)
South Holston Trestle
Mile 7.2 (26.2) Very scenic trestle over the conjunction of the south and middle forks of the Holston River at the head of South Holston Lake. This is the lowest point on the trail-1900 feet.
Alvarado
Mile 8.5 (24.9) Limited parking.
Damascus
Mile 15.5 (17.9) The red caboose is a seasonal USDA Forest Service information station. Parking. Restrooms are in town park.
Iron Bridge
Mile 17.5 (15.9) Enter Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.
Straight Branch
Mile 19.5 (13.9) Parking lot.
Taylor's Valley
Mile 21.0(12.4) Parking. Snacks.
Konnarock Junction
Mile 24.0 (9.4) Parking.
High Trestle
Mile 25.0 (8.4) 550 feet long and about 100 feet tall.
Green Cove Station
Mile 29.3 (4.1) Seasonal USDA Forest Service information station. Portable toilets. Parking.
Whitetop Station
Mile 32.3 (1.1) Highest point on trail. Parking.
Virginia-North Carolina border
End
Mile 33.4 (0.0) Beyond here, both the right-of-way and the old railroad grade itself is private property. The trail officially ends here.
To access the trail, head to Abingdon in the southwest corner of Virginia, just off Interstate 81. From there, the trail heads southeast to Whitetop Station, where you can be picked up near Highway 58 if you have arranged transportation
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