
Continue straight ahead to parking on the left near the red caboose. Follow US 58 East for 10.5 miles to Beaver Dam Ave in Damascus. Location: Adjacent to Damascus Town Park, located at 301 South Beaver Dam Ave., Damascus, VA 24236.įrom I-81, take Exit #19 onto US 58 East. In 2014, the Virginia Creeper Trail was inducted in to the Rail-to-Trail Hall of Fame. Since the demise of the railroad, efforts by volunteers as well as state and federal governments have been concentrated on developing the trail into its present state as a National Recreational Trail. The Creeper had failed to make a profit since the Great Depression and ran its last train on March 31, 1977. The railway hauled passengers and supplies into and lumber and iron ore out of the mountains for over 70 years. By 1914 the rail line was extended to Konnarock and Elkland, North Carolina. Repeat the process over the course of several days to kill the root system. Pour boiling water at the base of the Virginia creeper. Cut the Virginia creeper down to its base as you would when pruning it. It is invasive in some regions yet grown as an. This, in addition to the rugged and picturesque scenery, has helped to solidify the Virginia Creeper Trail’s reputation as one of the most beautiful trails on the continent.Īlthough used for centuries by Native Americans, the trail took on its more recent look just after 1900 when the Virginia-Carolina railroad was built to link Abingdon with Damascus. Follow these steps to get rid of Virginia creeper using boiling water. Round blue autumn berries on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), a glossy-leaved woody vine. The trail traverses through a diversity of habitats that make it a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. The lower stretches of the trail follow Whitetop Laurel Creek, where great blue herons gather. These residents include house finch and chimney swift. Rogers national recreation area, which is public land.ĭamascus Town Park, where the trail passes through Damascus, is home to several bird species that are uncommon or absent in more heavily wooded areas. The trail between Damascus and the North Carolina border runs through the Mt. The trail from Damascus to Abingdon runs primarily through private lands for which the two towns own the right of way. Open to walking, biking and horseback riding the 34.3 mile-course crosses numerous trestles and bridges as well as passes through towns and private residences. The trail follows the course of a former railway line used to extract timber from the surrounding mountains. The Virginia Creeper Trail stretches from Abingdon to the North Carolina border 0.3 miles east of Whitetop Station.

This information is typically posted on a site's own website. The official Creeper Trail map is available for purchase onlineor at the Welcome Center in Abingdon, as well as at many of the retail bike shops and shuttle services in Abingdon and Damascus.Important Notices COVID-19 & the VBWT Before heading out to visit a site on the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail, be sure to check if that site has any COVID-19 policies or closures in place.
#Virginia creepr plus
You’ll also find designations for access points, picnic shelters, restrooms, info kiosks, seasonal services and other vital information plus the elevation profile of the entire trail. All 34 mile markers are indicated along with each of the 47 trestle bridges. The official Virginia Creeper Trail map is printed by the Virginia Creeper Trail Club. One side details the Abingdon to Damascus section and the reverse side maps out the trail corridor from Damascus to Whitetop.


The leaves change to a variety of colors in the fall, and wild birds are attracted to the berries. Also known as woodbine and five-fingered ivy, this species is common in the eastern United States and Mexico. When using a GPS for access points, directions and/or parking, the following addresses may be useful: Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is a fast-growing native vine in the Vitaceae or grape family.
