DAMASCUS Va., Dec. 18, 2025—U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin joined local representatives from Damascus, Abingdon, and Washington County, Va., for a groundbreaking ceremony, recognizing the next stage of rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail, the iconic recreation site decimated by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“We appreciate the dedication and collaboration of partners and the public to restore the Virginia Creeper Trail – a world-class, multi-use recreational trail belonging to the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. These relationships are at the heart of how we recover and grow stronger out of such adversity,” said Chief Schultz. “The economic, social, and cultural significance of the Virginia Creeper Trail cannot be overstated. It’s an Appalachian economic engine for Southwest Virginia. We’re excited to now have a contractor in place who will oversee the restoration and rebuilding of the trail.”
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail stretching across southwestern Virginia between the towns of Abingdon, Damascus and Whitetop Station. It is a popular destination for hiking, cycling and horseback riding, as well as other recreation activities.
In November 2025, the Forest Service awarded a contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. to lead the full restoration of the Virginia Creeper Trail, including rebuilding trestles and bridges destroyed by the storm, restoring the trail surface for safe hiking and biking, and strengthening sections of the trail to better withstand future storms.
Hurricane Helene destroyed 17 miles of the trail between Damascus and Whitetop Mountain in September 2024, damaging 30 of the trail’s 31 historic trestles. Since then, Forest Service crews and contractors cleared debris and made preliminary repairs. More than 30,000 cubic yards of debris were removed earlier this summer, laying the foundation for this larger recovery effort.
Andy Douglas, Vice President of Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., emphasized that work is underway and the importance of safety throughout the construction project and announced a new website for construction updates: https://www.creepertrailrebuild.com/.
“We are proud to work alongside the Forest Service and local partners on the Virginia Creeper Trail restoration,” Douglas said. “As construction progresses, our commitment to safety, quality and collaboration guides every step. We’re dedicated to rebuilding a trail that holds significant recreational and economic value for the region so it can continue to serve the community for years to come.”
“The Virginia Creeper Trail isn’t just a scenic treasure — it is a cornerstone of Southwest Virginia’s economy, drawing more than 250,000 visitors per year and serving as a gateway to a region where visitors spend more than $1.3 billion annually,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. “That is why the swift, safe, and complete rebuilding of the Creeper Trail has been at the center of every conversation I’ve had about revitalizing Southwest Virginia in the wake of Hurricane Helene — from local leaders on the ground to our federal partners in Washington. The United States Forest Service’s $240 million commitment to rebuild the Creeper Trail is a major, long-overdue investment in this region’s future. It represents exactly the kind of partnership we need to restore this historic landmark, strengthen our outdoor recreation economy, and rebuild with more resilience than ever before. Virginians are tough, determined, and united. Together, we will bring the Creeper Trail back stronger, better, and ready to power the next generation of opportunity in Southwest Virginia.”
While the section of trail from Damascus to Whitetop Mountain remains closed, visitors can enjoy the open section of the Virginia Creeper Trail from Damascus to Abingdon. For project updates, visit the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj, or call the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area at (276) 783-5196.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
