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The Virginia Creeper Trail was originally a railroad track, but has been converted to a hiking and biking trail. Damascus is in-between the two end-points - Abingdon and White Mountain. The White Mountain to Damascus 17 mile segment is almost uniformly descending from White Mountain. In Damascus, you can rent bikes and get a ride (with the bikes towed) to White Mountain, and from there it's an easy downhill bike ride which can last 2 - 3 hours or more, depending on how leisurely you proceed. The Abingdon to Damascus 17 mile segment descends from Abingdon to Alvarado, and from there there is a small gain in elevation to Damascus. The Abingdon to Alvarado segment is purported to be the most scenic segment in the entire trail. Note that Hurricane Helene swept through in Sept 2024, causing severe damage to the trail, and connecting bridges. The Abingdon to Damascus section is now open, while the Damascus to Whitetop section is expected to have the repairs to it completed in Nov 2026