I didn't have trouble determining the trail direction, although had to stop to read the small signage at a few junctions. I can imagine how colourful the trail is when the rhododendron are blooming in June. The Holston River (South Fork) and Berry Creek are also scenic, but not always visible from the trail. Laurel Creek is in view for much of the Whitetop section. I saw a trout jumping up one of the many small cascades in Laurel Creek, saw a hawk swoop down and pick a fish out of the creek, saw turkey vultures picking clean the bones of a carcass on the trail, and saw a Great Blue Heron and deer. The scenery is worth stopping for though. On the Damascus-Abingdon section I averaged 11mph in both directions, stopping most often to pass through pasture gates. To take in the beautiful scenery along the trail, I stopped rather than looking up and hitting a rock. I was happy to have the trail almost to myself so I could weave back and forth to the best side of the trail when necessary. On the trip down from Whitetop I only averaged 7.5, for the same reason - braking hard to miss as many rocks as I could see in the leaves. On the ride to Whitetop from Damascus I averaged 7 mph, partly because of the elevation gain, but partly because the trail surface was so rocky I was afraid to bounce right off my seat. I noticed that folks on fatter tires bumped right up over bridge decks, where I often had to stop and walk my bike over the ridge between the trail and bridge deck. I rode a road bike with 33" tires - acceptable for the Abingdon-Damascus section, very rough for the Damascus-Whitetop section. Second, I rode the VCT in less-than-idea conditions: Autumn leaves obscured much of the trail surface, temps 32-42 with some frozen ground and fallen walnuts. First, let me preface this review by saying my standard to which all trails are measured is the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD.
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