| Activities
- an extensive list
On
a day of a record high temperature of 80 degrees for March 12,
2006, (previous record was 76 in 1990)
the signs of springtime in Damascus were all over. Click on
the photos for larger views.
The
list: click on the green highlighted links for more information.
Biking:
The Virginia
Creeper Trail is listed in the top 12 trails in
the nation for autumn foliage. It is 34 miles long, runs from
the high mountains to river valleys, and passes through small
towns along the way. Bike rentals
and shuttles are available in both Abingdon and
Damascus. An increasingly-popular family outing is taking the
shuttle to Whitetop Station and then riding 17 miles back to
Damascus, almost all downhill. In addition to the Creepr Trail,
single-track biking is growing in popularity, utilizing the
National Forest trails. Check the bike
rental section of this website.
Mountain
biking:
Iron Mountain Bike Race. The
Iron Mountain Bike Race is an annual event in Damascus, Virginia.
The race
combines both cross country and downhill.
Birding:
Damascus is on Virginia's Birding and Wildlife Trail, on both
the Mount
Rogers Loop and the South
Holston Loop. On the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website,
this description is provided: "Neotropical songbirds typically
nesting in more northern climates can be found breeding within
this region. Blackburnian warbler, black-capped chickadee, golden-crowned
kinglet and even red crossbill and northern saw-whet owl may
be found here in summer."
Camping:
Damascus is neighbors with the Mount
Rogers National Recreation Area and the George
Washington and Jefferson National Forests, and
close to Grayson
Highlands State Park. Camping ranges from deep-woods
backpacking to the comfort of an RV.
More camping information can be found by clicking here.
Festivals:
The best-known festival in Damascus is Trail
Days, which brings thousands of hikers and tourists
to the small town. It is sponsored by Backpacker Magazine, and
run by local residents.
Fishing:
Trails
Crossings is a local fly-fishing shop with supplies
and a guide service. Whitetop Laurel Creek in Washington County,
Virginia is one of state's largest and most beautiful wild trout
streams. Approximately seven miles are stocked trout waters
located on both private and public lands with an additional
five miles of special regulation waters flowing through the
Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. Within the special
regulation sections, anglers have the opportunity to catch brook,
brown, and rainbow trout while enjoying the scenic mountain
atmosphere. More information can be found here: http://www.vacreepertrail.us/fishing.html.
Golf:
Deer
Field Golf Course, Highway 91, 1 mile NE of Damascus.
9 holes of golfing in a beautiful mountain setting. Carts are
available. Weather dependent season: March - November. Call
475-5649 for more information and tee times.
Hiking:
Damascus is located on the Appalachian Trail, and is crossed
by the Iron Mountain Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail. The nearby
National Recreation Area has over 400 miles of hiking trails.
The Creeper Trail is good for short hikes but should be avoided
on weekends due to bike and horse traffic.
Horse
riding:
There are numerous horse trails in the immediate area, including
the 67-mile Virginia Horse Trail. Camps specializing in horse
riders are also available. The High
Country Horse Camp is open from April to October.
Hunting:
Bows, rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders are all permitted
during the appropriate seasons in the National Recreation Area.
Crossbows are not allowed. Whitetails, turkeys, grouse, squirrels
and several other species are abundant.
Kayaking:
Laurel Creek and the small streams feeding into it are becoming
major whitewater destinations for individual paddlers and clubs
within a hundred mile radius. The lower Laurel offers comfortable
class I and II runs from below Damascus to Alvarado. Whitetop
Laurel has class III and IV rapids when the water is high.
Motorcycles:
On warm weekends Damascus is both a destination and
a stop along the way for bikers heading into the challenging
curves of local highways and roads. The Shady
Valley County Store, just a few miles away, advertises
"Three mountains, one valley, 489 curves."
Photography:
Both professional and amateur photographers find a wealth of
opportunity in the towns, forests, and waterways of the Southwest
Virginia area. Visitors are invited to submit their photos for
this website.
Religious
services:
Most denominations are represented in Damascus and in the vicinity,
including Catholic churches in Abingdon and Mountain City, a
synagogue nearBristol, and a mosque in Blacksburg.
Running:
The mostly smooth, cindered track of the Creeper Trail offers
17 miles on traffic-free running in both directions from Damascus.
Further information can be found here.
Walking:
You can walk the streets of a small town and witness what is
vanishing from many areas of the United States. Or you can take
off into the woods and explore nature. With hundreds of miles
of trails to choose from, or the tranquility of downtown Damascus,
walkers have enough options for an extended vacation.
For
more detailed descriptions of activities visit
http://www.vacreepertrail.us
Kayakers make their way into Damascus on the Upper Laurel.
There is whitewater kayaking within the town limits.
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