This Quiet Virginia Town Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers
Not one, not two, but seven trails intersect within the town limits of Damascus, including the renowned Appalachian Trail. Home to fewer than 800 residents, this small community in southwest Virginia is hidden among the forested hills of the Blue Ridge Highlands. Linked to big brother Abingdon by the Virginia Creeper Trail, it is home to historic landmarks like the Barter Theatre. But despite Damascus’ low-key reputation, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts literally cross paths on over 500 miles of trails accessible in the surrounding area. With so many outdoor recreational opportunities, Damascus may just be Virginia’s most underrated destination for nature lovers.
Trail Town USA
Both the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail weave through the center of town in Damascus. Other trails that converge in and around town include the Iron Mountain Trail, the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route, the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail Route 76, the TransVirginia Bike Route, and the Crooked Road. Due to all these trails, Damascus has appropriately been dubbed as “Trail Town USA."
Despite this, the town often sees more passing traffic than extended stays. For many Appalachian Trail hikers, it functions as a practical stop for resupply, mail drops, and laundry before continuing onward, while Virginia Creeper Trail cyclists frequently ride the shuttle up to Whitetop Station at an elevation of 3,576 feet before descending 17 miles into town and moving on toward Abingdon. As a result, much of Damascus’ surrounding mountain scenery is overlooked by those moving quickly through it.
Beyond The Trails
Damascus is a basecamp for adventure that extends farther than its 500 miles of trails. Most notably, it is a gateway town to Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia at 5,729 feet. Bordering the edge of town, the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area comprises 200,000 acres of spruce-fir forests, tree-covered ridgelines, open meadows populated by over 100 wild ponies, and rocky prominences. The elevation of Mount Rogers NRA ranges from 2,000 feet to 5,729 feet. This vertical variation creates the opportunity for a wide range of recreation, including hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, fishing, camping, and picnicking.
Grayson Highlands State Park neighbors Mount Rogers NRA. Along with Mount Rogers, Grayson Highlands is known for wild ponies, and is considered a premier bouldering destination in Virginia. There are almost 1,000 bouldering problems throughout the park with routes of varying difficulty that are accessible to beginners or advanced enough to challenge experienced climbers. The Two Pinnacles Trail, although only a 1.6-mile loop, provides hikers with expansive views of Wilbur Ridge and Mount Rogers. Additionally, while spring, summer, and fall are popular among hikers, horseback riders, and climbers, the elevation of the park creates an alpine landscape when the snow falls, turning the vast meadows into the perfect terrain for cross-country skiing.
Virginia Creeper Trail
What sets Damascus apart from many outdoor destinations is how it has repurposed its historic structures into recreational trails. The Virginia Creeper Trail was developed from an abandoned Norfolk and Western Railway line in 1984, then designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1987. The trail stretches 34.3 miles from Abingdon, through Damascus, and up to the North Carolina state line near Whitetop. It also passes through portions of rolling hills and farmland along the South Fork of the Holston River. At lower elevation, the Virginia Creeper follows a large curving trestle across the headwaters of South Holston Lake.
While it is technically a mountain biking trail, it is well-maintained and is composed of crushed stone, making it suitable for hybrid or road bikes. Additionally, the trail is open for hikers, joggers, and horseback riders, making the mountains accessible to every kind of nature lover. Despite the lower sections requiring pedaling, it is consistently downhill, making it suitable for beginners and families. Unlike many mountain recreation areas that require steep climbs or backcountry travel, the Virginia Creeper Trail allows visitors to experience the scenery of southwest Virginia at a relaxed pace.
The Friendliest Town On The Appalachian Trail
Damascus is one of few downtowns in the United States that the Appalachian Trail passes directly through, along with Hot Springs, North Carolina, and Hanover, New Hampshire. Damascus, however, is regarded as the friendliest town on the trail. This can be attributed to the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, the largest celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture in the world. Each May, on the weekend after Mother’s Day, roughly 25,000 people attend the festival, including a reunion of thru-hikers past and present, trail supporters, and hiking enthusiasts.
The trail crosses the border between Tennessee and Virginia just a few miles south of Damascus. From there, it runs through Damascus Town Park and down the sidewalk of Main Street. During the Trail Days Festival, the park hosts live music performances and over 100 vendors selling handmade goods and outdoor gear. The Damascus Trail Center offers visitors local maps, information about nearby activities, and education on how to responsibly recreate on the trails. There are several local trail clubs and organizations whose volunteer hours help maintain the trail, such as the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC) and the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy (VCTC).
Damascus, A Hiker’s Paradise
While many visitors pass through Damascus, the town itself is worth slowing down for. With hundreds of miles of trails winding in and around town, it has never been easier to access backcountry mountains within a community so deeply rooted in its outdoor culture. Whether you come to town as an Appalachian Trail hiker, to cycle the Virginia Creeper Trail, or to spend time among Virginia’s highest peaks, Damascus offers nature lovers an outdoor experience unlike anywhere else in Virginia.
