Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail deserves a top spot on your USA bucket list. This bike trail is one of the most fun and scenic outdoor activities you can possibly do, but it might seem daunting your first time. I want to share all my Virginia Creeper Trail tips so you can know everything you need to prepare for, see along the way and more on the creeper! It’s one of those activities you can do again and again, so be prepared to fall in love.
We have biked the Virginia Creeper Trail (called the Creeper for short) three times— once in the summer, and twice in the fall, specifically mid-October and early November). This has given us a pretty good idea of the best tips to know before doing the Virginia Creeper Trail, and I wanted to round up all our tips here.
What is the Virginia Creeper Trail?
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile multi-purpose rail trail. Located in southwestern Virginia, the trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia, near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the North Carolina state line. When most people say they are doing the Creeper, they usually mean the 17 mile, one way, downhill journey that starts in Whitetop and ends in Damascus. Most people also do the trail through paying for one of the numerous shuttle services running in the area.
Which Bike Service is Best for the Virginia Creeper Trail?
A lot of the bike rental companies offer essentially the exact same service. We’ve went through Blue Blaze Bike Shuttle Service twice, and we have also done Shuttle Shack. Both of them are completely fine and offer the same service, but we personally really like Blue Blaze the most!
Essentially, whichever shuttle service you choose will help you fit your bike to you, provide a helmet, shuttle you and your bike they provide to Whitetop (the top of the trail), and get you going in the right direction. This is honestly key because then you only need to do the downhill portion of the trail, and you can just drop your bike off at the shuttle service location at the end and hop in your car and be on your way to exploring more of Virginia.
Essential Tips to Know Before Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail
How Far in Advance Should I book a Virginia Creeper Trail Shuttle Service? What Season or Month is Best for the Virginia Creeper Trail?
This depends on when you’re doing it, but fall is definitely the peak season. If you’re aiming to do it during a popular vacation time, 4th of July weekend for example, I would call slightly in advance, maybe 3-4 weeks. If you’re aiming to do it around peak foliage season, I wouldn’t cut it any closer than a month, and hopefully you can call a little bit further in advance than that. There are so many shuttle services in town, so that definitely helps, but it’s better safe than sorry.
This is also a good time to mention that there is no guarantee which week will be peak foliage season because it changes from year to year. We went the first weekend in November one year, and almost every single tree was dead. My friends went in early November 2021, and they still had quite a bit of leaves, so it’s kind of impossible to tell.
You can start looking at foliage trackers for Virginia as the season gets closer, and that should help a little bit!
Everyone has a different perspective, but I personally think fall is the ultimate time to see the Creeper. I like that the air is so brisk, and you cannot beat the atmosphere created by the leaves and trestle bridges. We went for the first time in July and also felt like it was an amazing experience, so don’t be too bummed if you can’t do fall! We saw a lot of mountain laurel/rhododendron blooms when we went in the summer, so there’s something to enjoy about each season.
Do You Have to be a Good Biker to do the Virginia Creeper Trail?
No. I would not call myself a good biker, and I really get stressed riding a bike anywhere near vehicle traffic. The good thing about the Virginia Creeper Trail is it’s built specifically for bikes, and there are no vehicles on the majority of the trail. You sometimes have to cross a very small, lowly trafficked road, but it’s really clear to see when a car is coming and it won’t ever be heavy traffic.
I would recommend wearing your helmet provided by the shuttle service. This is just an extra reassurance that you’re going to be safe, and it’s just a good idea in general in my opinion!
What to Wear/Pack for the Virginia Creeper Trail?
This really depends on what time of year you are biking the trail, but definitely know that you are going to be high up on the second-highest peak in Virginia at the beginning of the trail- this means cold. Even when we did it in July, it’s slightly brisk at the top.
If you’re doing it in October or November, I would probably prepare for it to be pretty cold and pack lots of layers. I usually do a beanie, gloves, at least one layer of leggings, tall socks, a tight top and a sweatshirt with a vest or a puffer jacket on top of the vest and no sweatshirt… that sounds like a lot, but the last thing you want is to be miserably cold. You really don’t even break a sweat much when you’re on the bike because it’s all downhill.
This also means you should probably bring some sort of backpack to put your layers in if/once you need to shed a few.
Another thing to note, if it has rained at all recently on or near the trail, the dirt trail is going to actually be mud. If you use your breaks at all, which you probably will, the wheels spray mud in a straight line up your back… looking like you’ve done something really gross and explosive if you know what I am saying, haha. If possible, darker colored clothes would prevent this from being as noticeable, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about it because if it happens to you, chances are everyone else will suffer from this too! It’s all just part of the experience haha. I also wouldn’t wear your nicest tennis shoes!
Speaking of shoes, just wear what you normally would wear to ride a bike. I don’t think chacos would be extremely advisable, but if that’s what you’re really comfortable in and you know you can ride a bike in those, go for it!
I also would pack a few snacks and some water. We always get hungry on the trail, so something small and not likely to be crushed in your backpack would be a great addition to your pack! If rain is in the forecast, it might be handy to have a poncho, but we’ve ridden in light rain without one before so no worries if you don’t have that.
Other Virginia Creeper Trail Tips
Arrive to Your Shuttle Service when they Suggest
More than likely, your shuttle service will depart at 10:30 a.m. for example, but your service will ask you to arrive a little bit before that time. This is really important because you need plenty of time to make sure your bike is perfectly adjusted to your height! Having the wrong bike height can negatively affect your experience, and it’s annoying to stop mid-trail and adjust. I also would need plenty of time to go to the bathroom!
There are Restaurants on the Trail, but you do not *have* to stop
There are two bigger restaurants on the trail, but I don’t think they are a can’t miss. If you’re really hungry or just feel like dragging out the trip a little longer, we have stopped at the first restaurant you come to and think it’s fine! One time my husband’s bike got really torn up at the beginning of the trail, and we had to actually use the restaurants phone to call the shuttle service to bring a new one, leading me to my next point
There isn’t Great Cell Service in this Area
This may change as the years go by, but there isn’t guaranteed cell service on the trail! I wouldn’t count on being able to access your cell service all day long, but you will definitely want your phone for pictures and videos.
Bikes Will Pass You
More than likely at some point in your journey, another biker is going to want to pass you. They (or you need to do this if it’s you passing) will say “on your left” or tap their bell to let you know they are approaching you and you do not need to swerve over or ride in the middle of the trail. The person in the front passing could be signaling for their entire group (ideally they would all keep speaking/ringing their bell), so make sure to give it a little time or look behind you to make sure no one else is passing before you get over.
The Best Photo Spots on the Creeper Trail
The entire trail is scenic, but I wanted to specifically mention bridge 18. The bridges are numbered and go in descending order (which is really helpful for knowing how close you are to the end of the trail), so bride 18 is toward the end of the trail. It is beautiful, and the pretty leaves usually hang on for a little while after most have fallen right there!
Otherwise, just hop off (carefully) whenever you see something pretty. On your first trip, you’re probably going to be hopping off quite a lot.
What To Do in the Area after the Creeper
The town of Damascus has some really cute, small outfitter stores (the Appalachian Trail also passes through the town/bike trial), and those are always fun to browse around. The town of Abingdon, Virginia is also really cute and has some really good restaurants to choose from. Make sure to check and see which restaurants are going to be open, because the town can get sleepy on Sundays and after a certain point in the day.
We always bring a change of clothes and change in the car or in our shuttle service bathroom so we don’t feel so dirty from the trail if we’re browsing around Abingdon afterwards, but no one is going to look at you like you’re crazy if you’re still in athletic clothes.
That is all I have to share today as far as Virginia Creeper Trail Tips go, but feel free to comment any questions or concerns you have for me, and I would love to chat all things VCT. It’s truly one of the most fun activities ever, and I am so excited you are even considering doing it. Don’t forget to share this post with all the friends and family you plan on doing the Creeper with!
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