Located in the Great Appalachian Valley, Washington County's well-preserved natural attractions lure many outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, fishing, biking and golf are among the top outdoor recreation options here.

If Golf Is Your Bag

Washington County golf venues are on par with any throughout the region. Abingdon is home to Glenrochie Country Club, an 18-hole private facility measuring 7,000 yards. Greenway Creek Golf Course in Glade Spring is a public 18-hole course, while duffers visiting Damascus can play nine holes at Deer Field Golf Course.

Nearby Bristol also has two venues – the public Clear Creek Golf Club and The Virginian Golf Club, a private course. Clear Creek is an 18-hole challenge that is widely regarded as one of the Tri-City's finest-conditioned public golf courses. The Virginian has been honored as one of the Top 100 Courses in America by several national publications.

On the Fly

Anglers of all types enjoy trolling to Washington County on a year-round basis, but from early spring through late summer, the focus is on fly-fishing. Specific sites that are best for fly-fishing fanatics are Big Tumbling Creek, Green Cove, Hidden Valley Lake, Holston River, Taylor's Valley and Whitetop Laurel Creek. All of those fishing spots are especially ideal for good catches of brook, brown and rainbow trout, and several other species.

Creeper and the A.T.

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile multipurpose rail trail that stretches from Abingdon to Whitetop near the North Carolina state line. The gentle grade on this well-groomed trail allows hikers and bikers of all levels to enjoy the gorgeous scenery. More than 100,000 people visit the trail annually, and it has helped Damascus – located where the Virginia Creeper and Appalachian trails intersect – to go from a sleepy town with a slowing economy to a bustling center of recreation-focused activity.

Also available for outdoor enthusiasts is the Appalachian Trail, commonly called the A.T. It spans a distance of 2,160 miles and traverses eight national forests and touches 14 states. The A.T., established in 1937, was designated in 1968 as the first completed national scenic trail. Since then, more than 10,000 individuals have reported hiking the entire trail.

Indoors or Outdoors

The Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center provides a range of exercise options, including some outdoor activities as well. Inside, there is a 1/16-mile walking track, weight room, aerobics room, cardiovascular room, spin bike room, indoor pool and full-sized gymnasium. Outside, the Coomes Rec Center features a 50-meter pool, kiddie pool, four tennis courts, skate park, dog park and walking trail.

Bull Riding

An average heard of more than 500 fans gather at the Washington County Fairgrounds each Tuesday night between January and April to witness some of the wildest action Abingdon has to offer. The Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association puts on a weekly show featuring more than 30 rides.

“It's just a good family thing,” says show producer Brad Nelms. “We do a lot of things for the kids. They like looking at these massive animals and talking to the older cowboys.”

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