The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the Town of Damascus are excited to announce that the Damascus Trail Center will officially open to the public on Saturday, August 27, at 10 a.m. A collaboration between the Town of Damascus and the ATC, the Damascus Trail Center will further embrace and enhance southwest Virginia’s growing status as a hub for outdoor recreation.

To help celebrate the Center’s opening, multiple events will be held throughout the town, including:

Live Music

Join us at the tent outside the Trail Center from 1-2 p.m. for a live unplugged performance by Claiborne & Wyatt, presented by The Crooked Road.

Gear Giveaways and Games

Plan a visit with Allyn “The Fix-It Man” Morton at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. as he hosts games where you can win great gear.

Trail Workshops

Three Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Maintaining Clubs will host various workshops for area visitors, scavenger hunts around the town, information on how they help maintain the Trail, and more! Make sure to stop by and say hello to:

• Mount Rogers A.T Club
• Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoe Club
• Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers

Damascus Plant Walk

Hosted by Wild Ones and the Virginia Master Gardeners, explore the Damascus Trail Center gardens and discover the benefits of native plants throughout the area.

Informational Booths

Learn more about the recreational opportunities throughout the area from representatives of the Virginia Creeper Conservancy, Overmountain Victory Trail Association (including a presentation on Trail tools and Revolutionary War attire), and the Town of Damascus.

More about the Damascus Trail Center

In addition to providing information to help visitors experience the great outdoors in the area, the Damascus Trail Center will feature high-quality exhibits and programming that highlight the surrounding landscape and inspire visitors to protect nearby outdoor spaces. It will also serve as a center for environmental conservation and Trail stewardship throughout the region, providing a location for volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts to take part in workshops and trail maintenance training.

Located in the middle of downtown, the Trail Center is ideally positioned to greet visitors of three of the area’s most renowned National Trails: the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.), the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail. The 2,194.3-mile A.T. is situated just feet away from the entrance to the Trail Center as it travels through downtown.

Starting Saturday, the Trail Center will be open Thursday-Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the Damascus Trail Center, visit appalachiantrail.org/dtc.