Where is the best place to start the Virginia Creeper Trail?

The trail officially begins at the Virginia–North Carolina border, but the easiest place to start the Creeper is from the Whitetop Station trailhead. (However, to cover the entire trail, simply ride the extra mile from Whitetop to the North Carolina border before turning around to begin your journey.)

How long does it take to ride the Creeper Trail?

5.5 hours
How long does it take to ride the entire creeper trail (34 miles) from Whitetop back to Abingdon? The average time is 5.5 hours. This includes taking time for lunch and taking in all the scenery!

Are bathrooms open on the Virginia Creeper Trail?

For the protection of trail users and employees with limited personal protection equipment (PPE), all restroom facilities, visitor and welcome centers and certain picnic shelters are closed.

How crowded is the Virginia Creeper Trail?

The Virginia Creeper can get pretty crowded during busy summer weekends and, while most folks are just out to enjoy themselves, a few simple rules have proven necessary to protect the environment and to make sure everybody has a good time. The trail is for non-motorized traffic only.

Is Virginia Creeper Trail safe for kids?

The hike included some scary cliffs, so I actually would not recommend it to others with young kids like us.

Can you get a rash from Virginia Creeper?

And contact with Virginia creeper is unlikely to leave you with the severe, itchy rash associated with poison ivy. But the leaves of Virginia creeper do contain needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals (raphides) that occasionally cause skin irritation after prolonged handling of the plant.

Can a 5 year old do the Virginia Creeper Trail?

The WT to D section is mostly downhill with the last 5-7 miles as flatlands where there is much more peddling. The outfitters there rent tag-a-longs for the youngest two but the others should be okay. Depends on how active the 5 year old is. But there are lots of places to stop and rest if needed.

How do you prepare for the Virginia Creeper Trail?

Quick Tips for Families About the Virginia Creeper Trail

1. Decide which portion of the trail you are going to do, and which way.
2. Set up bike rentals and a shuttle.
3. Find lodging in Abingdon or camp in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.
4. Pack provisions, and wear layers (it can be cold in the mornings at Whitetop).

What is the grade of the Creeper trail?

History of the Virginia Creeper Trail 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!

What is the prettiest part of the Virginia Creeper Trail?

The stream the trestles cross over, Whitetop Laurel Creek, is one of Virginia’s largest and most beautiful trout streams. This 17 mile downhill section takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours depending on your pace and how many times you stop to take in the beauty.

How do you stop Virginia creeper from itching?

Use a topical cortisol steroid like hydrocortisone, available over the counter, to treat the rash. Calamine lotion serves as a soothing agent and promotes drying of the skin to heal the rash. Aluminum acetate paired with a cool compress provides relief during the blistering stage.

How can you tell a poison oak from a Virginia creeper?

While both plants are vines, they can be distinguished by their leaves. Poison ivy has three leaflets while Virginia creeper has five. Virginia creeper vines are thick like poison ivy vines, but will be covered in light-colored tendrils rather than rough hair.

How far is the Creeper Trail from Abingdon to Alvarado?

IF you’re looking for a more peaceful, leisurely ride, with a payoff at the end, you’ll enjoy a nine-mile stretch of trail from Abingdon to the tiny community of Alvarado.

Will Virginia creeper break you out?

Often, the two plants grow together. Although it is not as allergenic as poison ivy, raphides, the sap of Virginia creeper, can cause skin irritation and blisters in sensitive people when it punctures the skin.

What is Virginia creeper good for?

Virginia creeper is extremely useful to wildlife. A variety of birds feed on the berries and many animals (squirrels, mice, deer, chipmunks, etc.) feed on the stems and leaves. The thick foliage provides shelter for wildlife.

How many miles is the Abingdon Railway Trail?

This popular rail-trail was named after the steam engine that crept up the rails into the Iron Mountains. The rail-trail runs 34 miles from Abingdon to Whitetop Station, carving through farmland, mountain streams, and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area’s wooded splendor.

What are some of Virginia’s rails to trails?

Below are highlights of Virginia’s Rails to Trails. The mellow grade of the Virginia Creeper Trail makes a perfect relaxed, two-wheeled mountain adventure. The rail trail runs 34 miles from Abingdon to Whitetop Station, carving through farmland, mountain streams and the wooded splendor of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.

What is the oldest rails-to-Trails Park in Virginia?

New River Trail State Park is the oldest rails-to-trails state park in Virginia. The 57 miles of trail parallel the scenic and historic New River for 39 miles and pass through four counties and the city of Galax. The trail’s gentle slope makes it great for visitors of all ages to hike, bike and ride horseback.

What are the best rails-to-rails in Virginia?

(Source: Rails-to-rails Conservancy) We are fortunate that Virginia is home to some amazing rail trails, and two of the best are Virginia State Parks. High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and suitable for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.