The Blue Ridge region has great entry-level routes for multi-day, two-wheeled getaways
Curious about where to go bikepacking? Riding into the woods on two wheels with all the essentials strapped to your bike is a fun way to cover big miles during a single trip. But working up to a multi-day getaway takes a little practice and preparation. Fortunately, in the Blue Ridge region, there are plenty of options for entry-level bikepackers still getting their rigs dialed. Here are a handful of easy-to-follow off-road routes that offer plenty of amenities for budding long-distance cyclists.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal – Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and West Virginia
Not so long ago, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal’s towpath was a mule trail, the footpath used by the hardy horse-donkey hybrids used to pull boats between mountainous western Maryland and Washington, D.C.’s waterfront Georgetown neighborhood, the highest location on the Potomac River accessible to seafaring ships. Paralleling the east bank of the Potomac River, the route was completed in 1850, after more than two decades of construction, and served as a vital economic artery, but the arrival of regional rail lines, particularly the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, made the canal unnecessary, and, by the 1930s, the commercial thoroughfare had been abandoned.
In 1938, the National Park Service took over management of the route, and the Civilian Conservation Corps began restoring the historic canal. But efforts stalled during World War II and the riverside corridor nearly became parkway. Advocates, however, pushed to preserve the historic route as a recreational trail and, in 1971, the riverside canal and its towpath were declared as the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Today, the entire 184.5-mile towpath is open to cyclists, offering a car-free route that has conveniently scattered trailside accommodations. For starters, the National Park Service (NPS) manages 31 free hiker-biker campsites and five car-accessible campgrounds along the route. There are also a dozen trailside towns along the route offering inns, guesthouses, and riverside cottages. These include Harpers Ferry, W. Va., situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, and the historic town of Hancock, one of Maryland’s oldest settlements.
For a one way trip, bikes are permitted on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited train and on the MARC’s Brunswick Line. At the trail’s western terminus, in Cumberland, Md., a vibrant town with an historical district studded with breweries, restaurants, and artisanal shops, cyclists can also opt to continue riding westward toward Pittsburgh for 150 miles along the Great Allegheny Passage.
High Bridge Trail – Virginia
Rambling through the central Virginia countryside from Burkeville to Pamplin, High Bridge Trail State Park offers more than 31 miles to ride. The crushed gravel rail-trail is the centerpiece of the state park, and the multi-use path is dotted with parking areas, historic sites, and picnic areas equipped with grills and tables. The trail and park are named for their defining feature, the 125-foot-high bridge towering above the Appomattox River. Built by the Southside Railroad in 1854, during the Civil War, the half-mile-long bridge was targeted by troops on both sides of the conflict, but amazingly, the wooden structure survived. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, the photogenic bridge is about 0.3 miles from the trail’s Camp Paradise parking area. While the park doesn’t feature campgrounds, the trail runs through Farmville, which is situated near the route’s midpoint.
Caledon State Park – Virginia
A gateway to gravel grinding, Virginia’s Caledon State Park is an ideal getaway for families or first-time bikepackers, especially riders craving a woodsy, off-road route. Featuring more than 2,500 acres along the Potomac River, including three miles of shoreline, the park is a hotspot for birdlife, particularly as a summer spot for bald eagles. A patchwork of wetlands, riverfront, and mixed woodlands of oak, maple, and tulip poplar, the protected area was first preserved as a Natural Area in 1984, when bald eagles were still on the Endangered Species List. Fortunately, bald eagle populations have rebounded over the last four decades and, as a result, public access to the area was expanded.
In 2012, Caledon Natural Area was reclassified as a state park, and today there are more than 10 miles of trails open to cyclists. The park also offers six campsites situated beside the Potomac River, perfectly positioned for admiring the sunset. On dry land, the campsites are only accessible by bike or on foot, but they’re also reachable in a kayak or canoe, forming part of the Captain John Smith National Heritage Trail. While the campsites are primitive, it’s only a 3.5-mile ride to the riverside spots. And since the park is nestled along the tidal portion of the Potomac River, the driftwood-strewn beachfront is also sprinkled with fossils, including ancient shark teeth.
Torrey Brown Rail Trail – Maryland and Pennsylvania
Extending from the Baltimore suburbs and the town of New Freedom, just across the border in Pennsylvania, the 21-mile Torrey Brown Rail Trail makes for an easy weekend getaway. The crushed gravel trail follows the historic path of the North Central Railroad, a line that operated for 140 years, ferrying passengers and freight from Baltimore to points north in Pennsylvania and New York. But in 1972, a violent tropical storm severely damaged the rail bed; and a few years later, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources obtained the former transportation corridor.
The first 7.2-mile stretch along Big Gunpowder Falls between Cockeysville and Monkton opened in 1984 as part of Gunpowder Falls State Park. Today, though, the trail continues northward for more than 10 miles. Across the Pennsylvania border in New Freedom, the trail connects to the 21-mile Heritage Rail Trail County Park, another link in the historic North Central Railroad. Along the way, the town of Monkton offers an assortment of dining options and accommodations for cyclists, and the trailside Monkton Train Station has been reimagined as a museum and shop.
Virginia Creeper Trail – Virginia
The Virginia Creeper Trail traverses a scenic swath of the remote Jefferson National Forest, but the 34 mile rail-trail is still loaded with amenities for cyclists. The route originated as a footpath used by the region’s indigenous communities, and later by westbound settlers, but by the early 1900s, the trail had been transformed into the Virginia-Carolina Railroad, a link in the Norfolk & Western Rail. The route connected communities in southwest Virginia and North Carolina, using steam-powered locomotives that used to “creep” up the steep mountain grades. Once completed in 1912, the Whitetop Laurel Station became the highest train station east of the Mississippi River, but since the last train ran in 1977 the former rail bed has been reimagined as a regional recreational trail, extending from the town of Abingdon to Whitetop Station, along the Virginia-North Carolina border.
The town of Damascus, host of the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, is the trail’s midpoint, offering overnight accommodations, eateries, and places to stock up on gear. Between Whitetop Station and Damascus, the 17-mile stretch of trail is mostly downhill, and it features access points and amenities, including water stops and restrooms at Green Cove Station (open seasonally). Between Damascus and Abingdon, the trail often parallels the trout-stocked waters of Whitetop Laurel Creek, and, while there’s more climbing along this stretch, cyclists are rewarded with scenic views of South Holston Lake and the confluence of the South and Middle Forks of the Holston River. The historic town of Abingdon, the trail’s eastern terminus, offers a range of lodging and dining options. With outfitters in Abingdon and Damascus offering bike rental and shuttle services, it’s easy to plan a trip tailored to desired mileage, even if you only want to ride downhill.
Cover photo: A group of bikers ride on the C&O Canal Towpath in Allegany County, maryland. photo courtesy of Allegany County, MD
