Taylor's Valley/ FR 49100 Loop
This is a nice trail to try your hand at something other than the Creeper Trail. If you want to try some singletrack, but aren't sure of your ability, this is a good test. You need to be in good shape in order to climb the section from Taylor's Valley up FR 49100, but you can always walk it as it isn't hat far. I've seen some really big turkey and deer as well as grouse on this trail so keep your eyes open!
Taylor’s Valley Loop
Distance: 22.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Riding Surface: Rail-Trail, Gravel Road, Grassy Doubletrack, Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Start/End: Damascus Town Park (Red Caboose)
Maps: Trail Town Maps, Trail Guide to Beartree/ Damascus VA, Area
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Konnarock VA
USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, Damascus, VA
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Map
Safety Note: Check the water level in the stream at the Damascus Town Park before you start on this ride, because you have to cross two creeks at Creek Junction. Skip this ride if the water is high in the creeks. You will get your feet wet, so it is best done on a warm sunny day.
Elevation change: Starting on the Virginia Creeper Trail at the Damascus Town Park, elevation 1930 feet, make the gradual climb to Taylor’s Valley on this beautiful Rail-Trail, a total elevation gain of 510 feet over 7.5 miles. You will then ascend FS 49100/Taylors Valley Trail, gaining 600 feet 1.3 miles. Your climbing is over, as you will drop 360 feet to the Creek Junction next to the Virginia Creeper Trail. Following the Virginia Creeper Trail to Damascus, you will descend another 750 feet. Total elevation gain is 1110 feet; total elevation loss is 1110 feet.
Access: To get to the Damascus Town Park from Exit 19 off Interstate 81, take Rt. 58 east for 12 miles. Look for the Red Caboose at the Damascus Town Park as you enter town. Parking is available here.
Description: This is one of those rides that I anticipate with much enthusiasm as I sit at my desk during the last hour of work at my "get paid" job. It is long enough to make for a good workout, technical enough to be a challenge, and beautiful enough to satisfy the nature lover in all of us. My most memorable ride was in 1997, during early autumn when the sun was shining, the air was crisp and the wildlife were abundant. I first encountered a deer as I crested a hill on FS 49100. She was facing away from me, grazing on the grassy trail, oblivious to my presence as I silently approached. I had time to get my camera out and remount my bike and approach her even closer. Finally, she realized something was different, looked at me trying to figure out what type of beast was approaching her, then dashed off into the forest where she was joined by a companion who was just off the trail. Further down the trail, I watched the fattest groundhog I have ever seen, waddle his way off the side of the trail, where he had been eating as if this were to be his last meal before a long winter nap. As I proceeded back down the Virginia Creeper Trail, a Blue Heron paced me, flying beside me for half a mile, finally ducking back into the creek bed for a drink and a rest. As I approached Taylor’s Valley, I emerged into a sunny patch on the trail when a pair of grouse buzzed right over-head, coming out of the setting sun toward me like two fighter jets strategically waiting for just the right moment to launch their surprise attack. As I approached the Straight Branch parking lot, a hen turkey crossed the trail in front of me and casually meandered off into the forest as I watched her go about her business. It’s days like this that remind me that the trails are alive. Good bike karma indeed!
| 0.0 Start at the Red Caboose in the Damascus Town Park. Proceed right (east) on the Virginia Creeper Trail. |
| 0.1 Cross Shady Avenue. |
| 0.5 Cross the hardtop road and continue on the Virginia Creeper Trail. You will see white blazes along this section because the Appalachian Trail shares the trail corridor. |
| 0.9 Continue straight. The Appalachian Trail leaves the Virginia Creeper Trail and goes up the wooden steps across the road and up Iron Mountain. |
| 1.3 Cross Rt. 58 & Rt. 91 at the intersection, bearing left toward the sign for the Virginia Creeper Trail. Use caution, the traffic is hazardous! |
| 3.6 There is a beautiful waterfall is on the left. |
| 4.6 Pass Straight Branch parking lot on your left. Porta-toilets, a donation tube and a map of the entire Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area are all located here. |
| 6.7 Pass through the gate and enter Taylor’s Valley. There are some picnic tables and drink vending machines located here. This is a good place to stop and stretch your legs before the climb ahead. The Virginia Creeper Trail crosses the paved road and continues straight ahead. |
| 7.0 Cross the trestle, making sure that the gate is shut. |
| 7.3 Pass through a private yard. |
| 7.4 Cross the road, taking the lower road, which is the Virginia Creeper Trail. |
| 7.5 Turn right on FS 49100, and follow the gravel road. Do not follow the Virginia Creeper Trail as it heads back into the National Forest on the left. |
| 7.8 Bear left on the gravel road. |
| 8.3 Bear right at the top as the road levels out. |
| 8.4 Go around the gate on the right side. Descend a rolling, grassy doubletrack. Wildflowers are abundant on this section during the spring and summer. |
| 8.8 Start the last of the big climbs. Watch for wildlife as you crest this hill and start to descend down this .2 mile long, grassy section. There are some really fun "whoop-te-doos" in the trail! |
| 9.6 Bear right. There is a good view of Iron Mountain off to the left. |
| 10.1 Stay to the right as you crest the hill and enter the forest. |
| 10.4 Bear right as you emerge into a clearing marked with #14 painted on the trees. Pay attention here! You will see a grove of 5 big maple trees at this point. The remains of an old homestead are on the left. One of the trees on the right has a faded blue blaze on it. Turn right, before this tree, and go through a patch of weeds. There are the remains of an old log barn on the right. Go about 50 feet through the weeds and you will come out on some descending singletrack. |
| 10.7 A faded blue blaze is on the tree to the right. The trail is bounded by rhododendron along this stretch. |
| 10.8 At the tight right-hand switchback, hit the brakes and continue down the trail. |
| 10.9 Cross the Green Cove Creek and go up the other side. You are now under the Creek Junction Trestle. There is a blue blaze on the trestle. Follow the trestle left toward the concrete pillar, then turn right and go under the trestle. The trail is less defined here so take your pick on where you want to get wet. Cross the second creek, Whitetop Laurel Creek, and get on the road on the other side. |
| 10.11 Go left on the gravel Creek Junction Road. |
| 11.1 The Creek Junction is on your left. Greencove Creek comes into Whitetop Laurel Creek at this point. |
| 11.5 Continue straight on the Virginia Creeper Trail at the Creek Junction parking lot, heading toward Taylor’s Valley. The Appalachian Trail shares the trail corridor once again. |
| 11.7 The Appalachian Trail turns off to the right. Don’t forget, it’s for hikers only! |
| 12.8 There is beaver activity off to the right. Notice the trees that have been downed. |
| 13.8 There are two nice big boulders on the left, to climb onto to sun yourself – a great lunch spot. |
| 14.5 Cross trestle #28 and emerge into the Taylor’s Valley section where you turned off FS 49100 earlier. Retrace your path on the Virginia Creeper Trail back to the Damascus Town Park. |
| 22.2 Arrive at the Damascus Town Park red caboose. |
See Also: Killer Loop Ride