鸟瞰弗吉尼亚爬山虎步道，达马斯克斯，弗吉尼亚州，美国 Aerial view of the Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia, USA (© Eifel Kreutz/Getty Images)

鸟瞰弗吉尼亚爬山虎步道，达马斯克斯，弗吉尼亚州，美国 Aerial view of the Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia, USA (© Eifel Kreutz/Getty Images)

穿越时光的足迹 Trailing through time

弗吉尼亚爬山虎步道, 达马斯克斯, 弗吉尼亚州

有些铁路会退出历史舞台，而“弗吉尼亚爬山虎步道”则实现了华丽转身。这条步道全长34.3英里，横贯弗吉尼亚州西南部，沿用了一条昔日的铁路线——该线路曾用于在阿巴拉契亚山脉间运输木材和铁矿石。步道那独特的名字，源自20世纪初那些在陡峭坡道上艰难爬行的蒸汽机车。

这条步道以被誉为“美国步道之城”的大马士革为中心，因其47座木制栈桥、壮丽的山景和丰富的户外探险活动而闻名。大马士革也是为数不多的阿巴拉契亚步道直接穿过镇中心主街的地点之一。

这条步道的一大亮点是从怀特托普站到大马士革长达17英里的下坡骑行路段；怀特托普站是全线最高点，海拔3,500英尺。骑行者几乎无需踩踏踏板，即可顺势滑行下降约1,600英尺。另一处引人注目的景观是“高架栈桥”，这是一座长550英尺、高出下方山谷100英尺的桥梁。受2024年“海伦”飓风破坏影响，该步道的上段目前因修复工作而关闭，而大马士革至阿宾登的路段则继续开放。

Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia

Some railways retire. The Virginia Creeper Trail simply changed gears. Stretching 34.3 miles through southwest Virginia, this trail follows a former rail line once used to haul lumber and iron ore through the Appalachian Mountains. Its unusual name traces back to the steam locomotives that labored up steep grades in the early 1900s.

Centered around Damascus, known as 'Trail Town USA,' the trail is famous for its 47 wooden trestles, sweeping mountain views, and outdoor adventures. Damascus is also one of the few places where the Appalachian Trail passes directly through a town's Main Street.

One of the trail's highlights is a 17-mile downhill ride from Whitetop Station, the route's highest point at 3,500 feet, to Damascus. Riders can coast nearly 1,600 feet downhill with little pedaling. Another standout feature is the High Trestle, a 550-foot bridge that rises 100 feet above the valley below. Following damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, the upper section remains closed for restoration, while the Damascus-to-Abingdon section continues to stay open.