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Virginia

Bike Virginia Creeper Trail: Nature in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Program No. 11662RJ
Bike the Virginia Creeper Trail — a rail trail through forest and over restored trestles. Learn about ecology and historic towns, and attend a performance at Barter Theatre.
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BicyclingOutdoor AdventuresSmall GroupRetreatsNature & Environment
Length
5 days
Rating (4.67)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,549
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
11 meals ( 4B, 3L, 4D )
2 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration will be from 4 – 5 PM in the upper level of the Dickenson Conference Center (DCC). This is the two-story brick building on our property. When you arrive you will come to the upper level on the backside of the building to check-in with the program staff, get updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you think you may arrive late, please contact us at 276.676.6180. Orientation will start at 5:15 in the DCC Lobby.
Dinner:
In the 4-H Center Dining Hall, we’ll have a buffet dinner.
Evening:
Enjoy a talk with local Master Naturalists and local Park Rangers about the local flora and fauna in the Southwest Virginia area at 7 PM in the lower level of the lodging building. Afterwards, take the evening to relax, get to know your group members, and prepare for the week ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans. Biking 17 miles, approximately 3 to 3.5 hours on a relatively flat well-groomed, shady rail trail. Early morning temperatures at higher elevations average in the 40s Fahrenheit; expect temperature increases throughout the day as we drop in elevation; dress in layers, wear gloves.
Breakfast:
In the 4-H Center Dining Hall, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet. We will also pack our own bag lunches.
Morning:
Our bike outfitter will meet us at the 4-H center to take us to be fitted for bikes and helmets. We will then shuttle to the Abingdon terminus to begin our biking adventure on the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail, considered the best rail-trail in the eastern U.S. From there, we’ll begin our 17-mile biking field trip to Damascus. The trail winds through beautiful scenery. We will make stops along the way for expert commentary. The trail consists of dirt with some compacted gravel and road crossings. There are some roots and rocks present. We will also cross several bridges remaining from when the trail was a railroad.
Lunch:
At a scenic spot on the trail, we’ll have the bag lunches we made for ourselves this morning.
Afternoon:
We will shuttle back to the 4-H Center with some time to freshen up and relax. Later in the afternoon, we'll visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum to learn more about the area.
Dinner:
Dining Hall Buffet.
Evening:
After dinner there will be an option to rappel on the 4-H Center Campus.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans; driving approximately 20 minutes to trailhead. Biking 12 miles, approximately 3 hours; mostly level terrain with some gradual ups and downs.
Breakfast:
Dining Hall Buffet. We will also make our own bag lunches.
Morning:
We’ll board a shuttle van and ride to Mendota Trail where we’ll begin our 12.5-mile biking field trip. This is another ‘rails to trails’ adventure with the same style trail base and beautiful scenery. *This trail is subject to change prior to the program.
Lunch:
At a scenic spot on the trail, we’ll have the bag lunches we made for ourselves this morning.
Afternoon:
We will shuttle back to the 4-H Center with some time to freshen up and relax. Later in the afternoon, we will visit the Visitor Center in Abingdon to learn more about the history and what the town has to offer. Abingdon is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. The town of Abingdon is known for its artsy vibe, historic charm, amazing food scene, and its proximity to some of the most spectacular outdoor recreation in the region.
Dinner:
Dining Hall Buffet.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by local musicians for a concert exclusively for our Road Scholar group. The musical performance will be with one of our local 4-H Extension Agents, Sandy Shortridge.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans; driving approximately 30 minutes to trailhead. Biking 17 miles, approximately 3 hours; mostly level terrain with some gradual ups and downs.
Breakfast:
Dining Hall Buffet. We will also make our own bag lunches.
Morning:
The outfitter will pick us up at the center and shuttle us to Shady Valley, TN for our road ride. This ride will be approximately 17 miles following some secondary country roads and one main road back into Damascus, VA. We will stop for lunch at the Backbone Rock recreation area. The shuttle van will follow behind the group for safety purposes. *This trail is subject to change prior to the program.
Lunch:
At a scenic spot on the trail, we’ll have the bag lunches we made for ourselves this morning.
Afternoon:
Returning to the 4-H Center, the remainder of the afternoon is free. You might like to take a walk around the grounds, go into downtown Abingdon, read a book, or just relax. There will be an option to visit the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center to learn more about the area.
Dinner:
Dining Hall Buffet.
Evening:
We will ride into Abingdon and attend a professional theater performance at the renowned Barter Theatre, the State Theater of Virginia. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Founded in 1933 during the Great Depression, it was called the Barter Theatre because so few people had money to spare and could pay the equivalent of 40 cents in bartered goods for admission. Today, it is one of the few remaining professional resident repertory theaters in the U.S. operating year-round.
Activity Note
Check-out 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
Dining Hall Buffet. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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