Virginia Creeper Trail Debris Removal Begins
Motorists Advised Caution Along Highway 58
DAMASCUS, Virginia, June 9, 2025 —The USDA Forest Service has begun the clean-up of the Virginia Creeper Trail on national forest lands following damage from Hurricane Helene.
The initial debris removal is scheduled to last until July 31, 2025, during which time the Straight Branch parking lot on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area will be closed. The public is encouraged to exercise caution and stay alert to construction vehicles along US Highway 58 between Damascus and Konnarock, Virginia.
“We appreciate everyone’s support and patience while crews undertake this important step in rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail,” said Ed Wright, Mount Rogers Area Ranger. “Removing storm debris will prepare the site for future cleanup and rebuilding efforts.”
The debris removal will occur in phases, with the first phase planned to remove about 40% of the debris. The remaining debris, along with the required repairs and reconstruction, will be covered by subsequent phases.
“While we work through the more complex administrative steps to cover the trail’s overall repair, we made the decision to get work on this first phase rolling as soon as we could,” Wright said. “That way when crews begin the other repairs, we’ll be that much further ahead.”
Located on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest[KB1] [DD2] , the iconic Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail was all but washed away during Hurricane Helene. Forest Service staff have been working since the hurricane to assess damages, prepare recovery plans and develop work agreements and contracts that adhered to federal environmental and contracting guidelines.
About 20,000 cubic yards of debris—the equivalent of about 2,000 dump truck loads—are planned to be removed by AACON General Contractors, LLC from Louisville, Kentucky.
Recreationists are reminded that the western portion of the Virginia Creeper Trail from Damascus to Abington remains open. For all alerts and updates, visit the “Alerts” section on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj or contact 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 United States, of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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