Damascus
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
Damascus, Virginia, affectionately known as “Trail Town USA,” is a charming small town nestled in the Blue Ridge Highlands. With a population of approximately 800 full time residents, Damascus is renowned for its vibrant outdoor recreation scene where seven nationally recognized trails converge within its limits. These trails not only provide recreational opportunities but also contribute significantly to the town’s tourism-driven economy. The Appalachian Trail is the most well-known of these national trails and Damascus hosts the annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival annually which is a major event celebrating the hiking community. Held the third weekend each May, this festival attracts over 20,000 visitors – featuring live music, a hiker parade, gear vendors, and various outdoor activities.
On this hike, we took place in the annual Trail Days hiker parade in Damascus. The Hiker Parade is the celebrated highlight of the annual Appalachian Trail Days Festival and it brings together Appalachian Trail thru-hikers past, present, and future— as well as trail enthusiasts from around the world. Many walk the mile plus route through town in the hiker parade and subject themselves to water guns from the local community while wearing colorful outfits celebrating the trail community. The annual festival takes place over a four day period each May.
- click for a video of Trail Days and the hiker parade in Damascus in May 2019 (password required)
- click for a video podcast from this weekend at Trail Days: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- click for a podcast from our road trip to Appalachian Trail Days 2019
- click for a trip report from this weekend in Damascus: May 17, 2019 (password required)
- click for a parade map of the Appalachian Trail Days Hiker Parade
- click for a map of the Appalachian Trail in the State of Virginia (password required)
- click for a trail map of the entire ~2200 mile Appalachian Trail
- click for another hike we did this weekend to Round Bald in Tennessee
- click for more backpacking trips in the area in August 1993, March 1994, October 1995, August 2021
- click for the guidebook Hiking Virginia for more hikes in the State
- click for Virginia hiking and backpacking books
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books