www.vacreepertrail.us
Interesting Facts
The last Virginia Creeper train ran in 1977.
Three agencies own and manage the Virginia Creeper Trail: Damascus and Abingdon administer the trail from Abingdon to Damascus (mile 0-16); and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (United States Forest Service) manages the trail from Damascus up to the NC line (mile 16-34).
September 27 2024 Hurricane Helene raged through the Appalachians Mountains, destroying towns and killing more than 250 people. One of the losses was the upper half of theCreeper Trail, between Whitetop and Damascus, with 19 bridges and trestles destroyed and the trail's surface washed away for miles.
There are 3 visitor centers along the trail: one in Alvarado, one at 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.
There are 47 trestles on the trail. The U.S. Forest Service and Virginia Creeper Trail club volunteers have refurbished the decking & railings on 23 trestles in the last several years.
Bathrooms are available in alvarado, in Damascus near the caboose, Straight Branch parking lot, Creek Junction parking lot, Green Cove train station, Whitetop train station, Alvarado and at the Abingdon parking lot.
Refreshments can be purchased at several places along the trail. Communities along the trail such as Alvarado, Damascus, Green Cove and Taylors Valley have businesses that offer refreshments. Bottled water and drinks are for sale at Green Cove on weekends from May-October.
The only public phone along the trail is in Damascus. Cell coverage is poor or non-existent. There is some coverage in Taylor's Valley.
Over 250,000 people enjoy the trail each year.
The U.S. Forest Service operates a bike patrol along the Creeper from Damascus to Whitetop Station during the summer.
A fast moving biker or a hiker with a large backpack can easily spook a horse. Bicyclists and hikers should yield to horseback riders. When passing a horse, a biker should yell out that they are “passing left”.
When the Virginia Creeper ran from Abingdon, Virginia, to West Jefferson, North Carolina, it was 55 miles long and had 108 bridges and trestles.
Virginia Creeper vine.
"The fruit of this plant is poisonous to humans and should not be eaten."
