Virginia Creeper Trail: Biking all 34 Miles in 1 Day

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
  • We loved our recent trip to Damascus, VA and the Virginia Creeper Trail. This video shows highlights from our one-day bike ride covering the entire Creeper Trail from the White Top Station area to Abingdon, VA. We start off on the popular 17-mile, all-downhill portion of the trail that goes from White Top to Damascus. Then from Damascus, we biked over the remaining 16 miles of the trail to Abingdon. Throughout the video we provide maps and elevation information. We also provide informative narrative and history about various points of interest along the trail. We hope you enjoy, 'like', and share! And we encourage you to ask questions or provide comments below.
    Chapters:
    00:00 Opening and Title
    00:50 Introduction and Brief Trail History
    01:43 Overview of Our Bike Ride and Shuttle to Whitetop
    02:31 Start of First Half of Trail
    03:14 Map and Elevation of the First Half of Trail
    04:34 Trestles Information
    05:22 Scenic Overview Near Tennessee Border
    05:59 Green Cove Station
    06:31 Christmas Tree Farm
    07:38 Exploring a Waterfall
    08:18 Bathroom and Food Break at Hellbender's Cafe
    09:03 Arrive in Damascus
    09:16 Start of Second Half of Trail
    09:51 Map and Elevation of the Second Half of Trail
    10:38 Damascus Caboose
    11:34 Bathroom Break at Alvarado Station
    11:52 Holston River Bridge - Longest on the Trail
    12:45 Trestle Number 7: Interesting History!
    13:38 Origin of “Creeper” Name
    14:25 Arrival in Abingdon
    14:51 Steam Engine Parked in Abingdon Next to Trail Entrance

Komentáře • 38

  • @randycraig978
    @randycraig978  Před rokem +6

    Thanks very much for watching this video. We hope you enjoy, ‘like’, and share! And we encourage you to ask questions or provide comments below.

  • @ZillaYT
    @ZillaYT Před 5 měsíci

    Nice area.

  • @hemaccabe4292
    @hemaccabe4292 Před rokem +2

    I love how you explain so much about the details of taking the trip if we want to follow. I also like how you made your trip into a story. Great video. Thank you.

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Thanks for watching and for your nice comments! It’s a great trail and I highly recommend it. 👍 😃

  • @user-wx3sh1gt5w
    @user-wx3sh1gt5w Před rokem +1

    I loved this video for the mini history lesson, fun old-timey explorer music, smiling friends, and maps with pedaling-difficulty-expectations. Most of all I loved the grandpa-esque geeky narration. ❤ This little video made me want to strap on my bike helmet and hop on the Virginia Creeper Trail! Thank you Randy

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Hey Kathy, thanks so much for your very nice comments about this video! 😀 You made my day! 🤗 I had a lot of fun making this video and you picked up on a lot of the nuances that I am proud of. Best of all, you are now interested in experiencing the Creeper Trail yourself. Best complement of all! ♥, Randy

  • @sferguson11809
    @sferguson11809 Před rokem +2

    Wow-Looks like a fun day! I bet when the Fall leaves are changing it would be even more stunning! Good job Karen and Randy for finishing the ride!

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem +1

      Thanks Stacey! And yes, I have seen pictures of this area in the fall. It really does look great. We have already considered that our next trip to this area would be during the time when leaves are changing colors. 🙂

  • @karencraig3990
    @karencraig3990 Před rokem +2

    Great job Randy!

  • @Tony-Riley
    @Tony-Riley Před 7 měsíci +1

    Amazing! I try to ride this several times a year! One of my favorites! Great video. Loved it 😊

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před 7 měsíci

      Alright! A fellow Creeper Trail enthusiast! 👍 😃. I rode the entire trail again 2 more times this year. It was great as always. Especially with the fall colors in mid-October. Thanks for watching, and thanks also for kind words!

  • @robertpoole9136
    @robertpoole9136 Před rokem +2

    Looks like fun!

  • @alisondonnelly5053
    @alisondonnelly5053 Před rokem +1

    Love how you change the music to match the mood of the trail. Might just put the VCT on my bucket list!

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Thanks for watching Alison, and for the kind words! 😀 And yes, I had a lot of fun lining up background music for this. 🎵 Hope you do get there someday. It's a great, inexpensive vacation activity.

  • @stevehague3836
    @stevehague3836 Před rokem +2

    I was lucky enough to get to ride from Abingdon to the top and back down in 1 day using a mountain bike, in 2001. Still have the bike and the memory of a great ride ! Great work on your presentation !

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Interesting Steve! Would love to know if you see changes since your ride in 2001. Thanks for watching, and thanks for the nice comments!

    • @stevehague3836
      @stevehague3836 Před rokem +1

      @@randycraig978 there doesn't appear to be as many gates to stop at and open as before. And the new bridge too ! That's all I could see different

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      OK, interesting. Thanks for following up on that Steve.

  • @dannyboy7765
    @dannyboy7765 Před rokem +1

    Well done! That was a good video!! I’m going on the Creeper Trail next weekend. Your video was very informative and I think I’m going to do the 34 mile bike ride. I had no idea that was an option. Thanks!

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Thanks for watching and for your nice comments! 👍 Hope you have a great trip next weekend. And hope you do the whole 34. It is a great feeling of accomplishment! 💪 😃

  • @LifesSweetJourney
    @LifesSweetJourney Před rokem +1

    AHHH how did I miss the Christmas tree farm?! I will have to be on better lookout for that next time!!

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      😀The Christmas trees are pretty cool. Thanks for watching our video!

  • @is3260
    @is3260 Před 9 měsíci +1

    So many safe and respectful biking rules broken during this video. Share the trail. Don't assume you are the only ones using it. Amazed no one got hurt.

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před 8 měsíci +2

      Thanks for watching our video! Interesting that you feel like we are breaking safety rules in this video. I feel like we were being very safe. I do think it is quite possible that the video masks over how safe we generally are. For one thing, some of the video scenes are sped up for effect. For another, the actual sound is often overshadowed by music or narration. For example, the video does not show us shouting “Hello, on your left!!” and waiting for acknowledgement as we approach and pass others. Perhaps you are seeing issues that are not really there?

  • @darylcarty6979
    @darylcarty6979 Před 5 měsíci

    Sundog Outfitters Damascus -full service bike rental/shuttle service

  • @scotthanback4530
    @scotthanback4530 Před rokem +1

    Plan to go in the fall

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Yes, good plan. It is supposed to be beautiful when the leaves are changing colors. I, and the same crew in this video, plan to make a return visit this Fall as well. Thanks for watching!

  • @butchie2752
    @butchie2752 Před rokem +1

    Nice vid. See many e-bikes on the trail?

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Thanks! Glad you liked our video. And I do remember seeing a few e-bikes. This would be a great trail for that. Especially if you were riding the 17 miles uphill from Damascus to Whitetop. Also, I ran across another Creeper video from someone who was on an e-bike. Search for "RIDING THE CREEPER TRAIL ON MY LECTRIC XP!!". Looks like fun!

  • @bridgetz851
    @bridgetz851 Před rokem +1

    Which half of the trail did you enjoy the most question? And which half has the best scenery? Also, do you know of a shuttle from abington to whitetop? I'm thinking of doing it in one day, but how do you get back. 😊

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem +2

      Thanks for watching our video! As pointed out in the video, the first half from Whitetop to Damascus is more popular as it is all downhill. It is a little more woodsy and nature-esque as well. But the second half from Damascus to Abingdon has nice, rolling farmland and the long trestle bridge over the scenic Holston River. And you get more exercise riding the 2nd half as well. 💪 Personally, I do not have a preference as I liked both halves for different reasons. 😀
      Riding all 34 miles if you can is definitely the best way to get the full experience. And if you are doing that, staying in Abingdon the night before makes good sense. I believe Abingdon has a little bit more to do than Damascus with respect to restaurants and things to see. Also, I believe it is straightforward to rent bikes and get a shuttle to Whitetop from Abingdon. E.g., vacreepertrailbikeshop.com/trail.html . And here is a site with more general info and lots of links to more stuff including lodging options: visitabingdonvirginia.com/. Hope you do plan a trip and ride the trail. It is a great, inexpensive vacation activity!

    • @bridgetz851
      @bridgetz851 Před rokem +1

      @@randycraig978 Great, thank you so much! Definitely planning a trip.

  • @charlesphelps2730
    @charlesphelps2730 Před rokem +1

    It's more fun if you ascend then reward yourself with the descension.

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      I am sure you are right about that! I would love to try that sometime. Thanks for watching our video.

  • @ElysianProjects
    @ElysianProjects Před rokem +1

    Is there a shuttle to take you back to Damascus at the end?

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Yes, the same shuttle service picked us up in Abingdon and returned us to Damascus. I should have included that in the video. The shuttle service I am talking about is 'Adventure Damascus'. You can read about their various options on this page: www.adventuredamascus.com/creeper_trail_bike_rental.HTM. Note that the "The Full Double Dog Combo Package" option is the one that includes both a ride from Damascus to Whitetop in the morning, and a ride from Abingdon back to Damascus in the afternoon.

    • @ElysianProjects
      @ElysianProjects Před rokem +1

      @@randycraig978 Super helpful! Thank you Randy. I’m going in June on my birthday and very excited!

    • @randycraig978
      @randycraig978  Před rokem

      Thanks Sandra! And I hope you have a great trip!