Northeast - VA Creeper Trail

Is there any in this forum that rides on the VA Creeper Trail and if so and they need someone to ride with send me a msg.

I envy you living so close to the Va Creeper. I have ridden it several times but it is a 6 hour drive for me to get up there. We usually get up there once or twice a year and ride the New River Trail at the same time.

I have not riden the New River Trail yet been working on getting the whole Creeper Trail in one trip by the end of July at the rate I am going I should be able to make it.

A good ride on the New River Trail is from Galax to Fries, stop for lunch and return. I think this ends up being about 30-35 miles. I have ridden all of the New River Trail at one time or another. When I ride the Va Creeper, I usually stay in a hotel in Abbingdon and have a shuttle service in Damascus take me to the White Top Mountain end and I ride back to my hotel in Abbingdon. I think this comes out to about 35 miles as well. I usually stop in Damascus for lunch. I also parked in Damascus at one time and rode the 17 miles to the top of the mountain and back down to Damascus. It isn't really too steep anywhere along this part and seldom even used my little chain ring.

So far I have ridden to the 18th mile marker but this weekend I am planning on going from Abingdon to the 20th mile marker, and now that I have a odometer on my bike I will see how close they are, and return that should make it around 40 miles and that will be the longest I have ridden so far as I am only been serous about riding this year so far. I have the time now that I am not married any more :).

I've ridden from Damascus up to the end. I like to start early, like 6:00 am, before other riders, hikers, and horses are out. This is a good time of year to do it. The laurel might still be in bloom, and there's still lots of water in the creeks.

Then afterwards, you can go out to Backbone Rock and go for a dip in the river!

Never done that but that is a good thought.

I haven't ridden either of these trails but I'd like to someday. Are they suitable for skinny road tires, or do you have to have something wider?

The New River Trail is really nice. My girl friend and I rode it last year and camped out one night and returned the next day. There is a little bike shop at the end of it and we talked to the owner who said that the trail was still one of Virginias best kept secrets, it’s not very crowded. I live only about ½ hour from the Pulaski side. I have heard of the VA creeper where is that?

jfmckenna - The Virginia Creeper runs from Whitetop Mountain through Damascus and continues on for about another 17 miles to Abingdon. The first half is mostly downhill and the second half is much flatter. It is in places only about single track in width and is rather hard packed most of the way.

va_cyclist - I wouldn't try either of these trails on skinny tires. MTB's are available for rent in Damascus along with a shuttle to the beginning of the trail. The website www.trailexpress.com will give you details on this.

jabike I normaly ride the part of the trail from Abingdon to just past Damascus and back. Today the trail was muddy around Alvarado but other then that it was a nice ride.

I used size 32 cyclocross tires on my touring bike for the New River Trail.

Hay jfmckenna I will be honest I am very new to riding bikes so I don't understand what you mean by "size 32 cyclocross tires" what are those?

I believe it's a tire with a 32mm width (3.2 cm, about 1-1/4") and a somewhat deeper tread than a road tire, made for cyclo cross (trail & offroad) riding. Does that sound right to you guys?

I've ridden most of the VA creeper trail and have ridden portions of the New river trail. Both are very fun, mellow rides. I actually like the New river trail more, unfortunately it is a minimum of three hour drive to get to the start.

It looks like the New river trail is about an hour or so away from me so I might try to ride it one weekend soon.

Hey, I am new here but I am from Bristol,Va also. I have never ridden the Creeper trail, but I've run it. I am seriously thinking about heading out there this weekend. I would love to ride with someone, but I am not sure I would be able to keep up with anyone at this point. I am such a newbie I am surprised that I remember how to ride my bike. I introduced myself in the intro forum so if you are interested in knowing about me look there. It is exciting to see someone here from my area. I see lots of cyclist out there and now I will be wondering if it is you. ;) I am looking forward to getting out there and seeing the area from my bike.

I don't think the Creeper is the kind of trail where you have to worry about keeping up with anyone. There's too much scenery to look at to go racing through it at a high rate of speed. The next time I get the urge to make the 6 hour drive up there, maybe I can find some of the forum members in the Creeper area to share the ride.

I will be riding Sunday starting in Abingdon and riding to Damascus I am plaining to be there around 10 am let me know if you wont someone to ride with. I was up there Friday morning and had a flat tire by running over a fishing hook of all things to run over :) so make sure you have a pump, spare inertube, and any tools you will need to take a wheel off and but back on.

Let me know next time you are going. I would love to ride with someone. Today was my day for my first flat tire so it was great that I was close to home. Since I am a newbie, I did not have any tools with me nor did I have the skills to deal with it anyways. I did aquire that skill later though along with some tools & supplies to get me through. So I am still learning. I appreciate the offer and heads up.

Patellapedler the next time I will be on the trail will more then likely be next Friday morning and/or Saturday and Sunday afternoon as those are the only days I have the time to ride 20+ miles on the trial for the next 4 or 5 weeks. Let me know how far you wont to ride and when.

Hey, I am leaving Friday morning for a trip to NY. I will not be back till wens/thurs. of next week. Have a happy and safe 4th of July. Maybe we can catch up next week.

You have a safe trip and I just happen to be off from work all next week so I will be able to ride more often.

Hay Patellapedler did you have a good trip to NY? Send me a msg if you still wont a riding partner on the Creeper Trail the week after next as I have that week off from work.

I've just moved within a couple of miles of the Creeper. I haven't ridden any of it yet. If anybody needs a ride partner, let me know.