Virginia Creeper Trail to Reopen on May 12 at 5:00pm

Virginia Creeper Trail to Reopen on May 12 at 5:00pm

The Virginia Creeper Trail will reopen effective Tuesday, May 12 at 5:00 pm; however, facilities and services along the trail will remain closed. The Center for Disease Control’s guidelines related to social distancing will be required for use of the trail during the COVID-19 pandemic along with other steps aimed at protecting public health.

The decision to reopen the trail was made jointly by the US Forest Service and the Towns of Abingdon and Damascus in consultation with the Mount Rogers Health District.

In compliance with the CDC’s guidelines, all trail users should maintain physical distancing, including maintaining at least six feet distance between individuals and others who are not in the same party. No groups of 10 or more should travel or congregate on the trail, at access points or in the parking areas.

In addition, at this time, for protection of trail users and employees with limited personal protection equipment (PPE), all restroom facilities, visitor and welcome centers and picnic shelters will remain closed. All visitors should plan to bring their own water and hand sanitizer. Most trash receptacles will not be available so trail users should plan to “pack-in and pack-out”. Routine trail maintenance will be limited.

“We are so glad to reopen the trail, which is such an asset to our residents and visitors. We are grateful for the coordination between all the stakeholders who have worked hard to ensure that the trail is being re-opened as quickly and safely as possible,” says Matthew Crum, president of the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy.

For more information, visit vacreepertrail.org

The Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail is a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail, traversing through two counties from Abingdon, Virginia, through Damascus, and ending just past Whitetop Station in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, at the Virginia-North Carolina border. Damascus and Abingdon local governments administer the trail from Abingdon to Damascus (mile 0-15); and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests’ Mount Rogers National Recreation Area manages the trail from Damascus up to the North Carolina line (mile 15-34).

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