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Home » Travel » Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail From Abingdon to Alvarado Station

Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail From Abingdon to Alvarado Station

By: Liz  /  Published: October 27, 2020  /  Updated: December 24, 2020  /   Leave a comment

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The Virginia Creeper Trail, one of the best rail-trail bike experiences in the U.S., spans 34 miles from Abingdon to Whitetop Mountain and I had the chance to bike the lower section of it on my October press trip.

The best reason to bike the lower section is that it’s the most scenic part. You can see out to White Top Mountain and the rolling hills of the Appalachians.  

beautiful view from bike trail

After getting fitted for bikes and helmets at a nearby bike shop, we pedaled over to Mile Marker Zero at the Virginia Creeper Trail Welcome Center. Here, visitors can use the restroom, get maps, water, merch and see the “Old Mollie”, a fully restored steam engine.

group of people on bikes

Old Mollie

The scenery on the lower segment of the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail is stunning from the jump, especially in the fall with the changing colors. Riding over the crackling leaves and smelling that distinctly fall scent in the air is blissful.

biker on trail

The vista changes from wide-open farmland pastures to tree-shaded forests to curving railroad trestles and whispering creek beds. It’s a true feast for the senses.

VA Creeper Trail view

The trail is mostly level and you’ll be able to coast regularly, but there are a few sections where you need to push those pedals a bit more. To be fair, there was something wrong with my bike (it continuously slipped gears on its own) so I’m pretty sure I exerted far more energy than I would have on a fully tuned-up bicycle. (The silver lining was that I lost 3 pounds that week.)

There’s no rule that says you have to bike without stopping though, so we stopped often, to rest and drink water and to admire the scenery and take photos.

tobacco barn in field

The trail passes through private property but as long as you stay on the trail, you’re not trespassing. As you ride through the farms, you’ll notice lots of grazing cattle and there are several cattle gates that you’ll need to stop, open, and close securely behind you.

people biking on VA creeper trail

At one point we came upon the “Unlawful”, a cabin right alongside the bike trail. Locals gave it the nickname because somehow the property line of the cabin is identical to the cabin walls so everything outside the walls (porch, steps, and landscaping) is separate property owned by someone else. How crazy is that?!

cabin

Much of the trail’s scenic beauty is in the wide-open spaces, but it’s quite lovely under the canopy of leaves in the forest as well.

woman biking on VA creeper trail

Keep your eyes open for the Virginia Creeper vine snaking across some of the trestles. The Virginia Creeper Trail gets its name partly because of this plant but mostly due to the fact the trains crept up the mountain. 

VA creeper growing on trestle

We crossed twelve trestles on our journey and Trestle #12 had an especially memorable view as it spanned the South Holston River.

trestle on VA creeper trail

group of people on bikes on trestle

There are a total of 47 trestles across the entire Virginia Creeper Trail. 

If you stop at Alvarado Station, as we did, you’ll have biked 8.4 miles from Abingdon. It’s an idyllic place to stop and have a little picnic.

Alvarado station

water view

Or you can bike over to nearby Abingdon Vineyards for a wine tasting while you relax your legs and enjoy the creekside view.

at Abingdon Vineyards

scenic view outside Abingdon Vineyards

along water at Abingdon Vineyards

There are lots of tables spread out across the property so it’s easy to stay socially distanced.

Abingdon Vineyards is also very pet-friendly. You’ll almost always see happy dogs playing but you may encounter horses too. We did!

horses at Abingdon Vineyards

It’s also fairy friendly; the kids will love this cute little fairy door.

fairy door by tree

The current owners are from California and have put a fresh, inventive Napa-style spin on Virginia wine and the results are delicious.

wine tasting Abingdon Vineyards

The label for this rose is a painted likeness of the vineyard’s serene riverside setting.

Abingdon Vineyards wine

Visit the Abingdon Vineyards website for hours and info on all the fun events (live music, cooking classes, bloody Mary brunches, wine club parties, book club, a holiday wreath workshop and more). There’s always something merry being planned.

More Virginia Creeper Bike Trail fun:

Next time, bike the popular Whitetop Mountain to Damascus trail ride. It’s a nice, easy downhill ride the whole way—fabulous for families and beginners—but it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends.

For help in planning a trip to the area, visit the Abingdon CVB website at visitabingdonvirginia.com 

Other fun Virginia destinations:

  • Shenandoah Caverns
  • Shenandoah County
  • Top of Virginia
  • Charlottesville Girlfriend Getaway
  • Virginia Beach for the Foodie
  • Things to Do in Virginia Beach in Bad Weather
  • Biking Percival’s Island Trail in Lynchburg
  • Shenandoah Downs

 

Related topics
Travel VirginiaAbingdon bike trails biking Virginia Virginia Creeper Trail

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

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Comments

  1. Alissa Apel says

    October 28, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    That is so pretty! I’d love to go there. One of my favorite trips was out in the middle of no where.

    Reply
    • Liz says

      October 29, 2020 at 10:54 am

      You never know what you’ll discover when you bike on a rail trail. So much beauty!

      Reply

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When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

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