Damascus, VA / Appalachian Trail

(Above photo from Google Maps)

I have wanted to stop and see Damascus, VA for a few years now after researching the Appalachian Trail and learning about the AT festival there.

In the picture above note the green pin drop for the AT headed south.  Then note the blue pin to the right for the AT headed north.

My NC friend made this stop on our tour of the northwest corner of NC.  Damascus is right over the state line in VA.  We took a brief hike from the green pin drop for the AT.

We saw a number of people that look like through AT hikers coming into town

The following is about the small town of Damascus for reference.

“Damascus is the home of the annual Trail Daysfestival, and is known as Trail Town USA due to the convergence of four scenic trails in the town, including the Appalachian Trail, U.S. Bicycle Route 76, The Iron Mountain Trail, and the Virginia Creeper Trail. Damascus also is on the route of the Daniel Boone Heritage Trailand the Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail. The Trail Days festival is held around the middle of May each year and draws in excess of 20,000 tourists, making it the largest single gathering of Appalachian Trail hikers anywhere.^[5]”

^{(Above quoted from:} https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus,_Virginia) 

https://www.traildays.us/

After breakfast at a nice breakfast/lunch place we parked at the park next to the rail trail that cuts through town perpendicular to the north/south AT.

This am the following mural are along a railroad siding building that remains after the tracks were removed.



Here is the other mural.  With less than 1000 residents the town is small, but grows for their upcoming festival.



Here is the rail trail that is multi purpose.

The town has restaurants, small shops, B&B’s and stores that cater to hikers that pass though here.  

If your lucky enough to be able to attend Trail Days it is coming up on May 17, 18, 19.  Here is a link to the webpage.  http://www.traildays.us/

Happy Hiking,

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com