Media Room
Welcome to Damascus VA, Trail Town USA!
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Damascus, VA is a small town in Southwest Virginia with a big claim to fame: Seven nationally known trails intersect within town limits, making us "Trail Town USA". Originally a railroad town in the lumber boom of the early 20th century, this small-town economy reinvented itself through outdoor recreation and tourism in the 1990s and has been thriving ever since. Tourism is one of the largest economic drivers in Washington County, VA, second only to agriculture. |
The Appalachian Trail enters the state of Virginia just a few miles south of town, then runs through the Town Park and down the sidewalk of Laurel Avenue, our Main Street. The AT passes right by the Damascus Trail Center, one of three visitor centers operated by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy along the 2,200 mile trail. We are at the heart of the Virginia Creeper Trail, which stretches across the middle of town two blocks to the south. In the busy summer season, wheeled tourists pass through town on the TransAmerican and TransVirginia bike routes, as well as the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail, The Crooked Road, and the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR) motor routes. Nearby are the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, The Snake 421, and the Overmountain Victory Trail. The Iron Mountain Trail offers classic ridgeline singletrack for mountain biking. Damascus is a gateway town to the three highest peaks in the state: Mount Rogers (5,729ft), Whitetop Mountain (5,525ft), and Pine Mountain/Wilburn Ridge (5,525ft). Nearby are Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Grayson Highlands State Park, and Cherokee National Forest, all popular destinations for outdoor recreation with hiking, backpacking, bouldering, horseback riding, biking, paddling, fishing, and more. Just south of town is Backbone Rock Recreation Area, also known as the "World's Shortest Highway Tunnel". Several trout streams and whitewater runs converge in Damascus - Whitetop Laurel, Beaverdam Creek, and Tennessee Laurel - to form the South Fork of the Holston River. The river flows into nearby South Holston Lake, a popular spot for motorized boating, flatwater paddling, swimming, and bass fishing.
The biggest event of the year in Damascus is the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, known locally as 'Trail Days'. Each year in May, the town swells from 650 residents to an estimated 20,000 people for the weekend. Trail Days is a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and thru-hiker culture and a massive reunion of thru-hikers past and present.
The biggest event of the year in Damascus is the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, known locally as 'Trail Days'. Each year in May, the town swells from 650 residents to an estimated 20,000 people for the weekend. Trail Days is a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and thru-hiker culture and a massive reunion of thru-hikers past and present.
Damascus is widely known as:
Trail Town USA
The Friendliest Town on the Appalachian Trail
The Heart of the Virginia Creeper Trail
A Gateway to Mount Rogers
Awards and Accolades:
Best of the Mountains - Best Biking Trail, Best Rail-to-Trail System, #3 Best Quirky Festival (Summer 2023)
Best of the Blue Ridge - Best Family Friendly Festival, Biking Trail, Environmental Org., Bike Shop (Spring 2023)
AT Community, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (since 2011)
Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (Virginia Creeper Trail, since 2014)
Top Tiny Adventure Town, Blue Ridge Outdoors (Winner Fall 2022 and Fall 2021; Finalist Fall 2023)
Hikers' Favorite Section of the Appalachian Trail - Southwest Virginia, The Trek (Winter 2021)
Best of the Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Outdoors - Best Biking Trail, Runner-up Best Trail (Spring 2022)
Best Recreational Trail, Third Place, USA Today (Spring 2022)
Best of Virginia: Hiking or Biking Trail, Virginia Living Magazine (Spring 2022)
Recent Features:
Best of the Mountains - Blue Ridge Country Magazine
The 15 Best Rail Trails in the U.S. - Travel + Leisure
Appalachian Heritage Distillery named 4th Best New Craft Distillery, USA Today 10Best
Find Your Way to Adventure in Damascus VA - Blue Ridge Outdoors
Destination: Damascus - Everything Knoxville
How Appalachian is Growing Its Outdoor Economy - The Daily Yonder
Damascus, Virginia on Exploration Local podcast
Small Towns, Big Achievements - Virginia Town & City
The 25 Best Rail Trails in the U.S. - Outside Magazine
For Media Inquiries:
Julie Kroll, Recreation Program Director
recreation.director (at) damascus.org
