Thick roots and chunky rocks become more prevalent as the trail ascends. For the full Sharp Top hike (3.3 miles, out-and-back), the trail begins with a dozen stone steps right. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The final pick-up at the top of the mountain is at 4:30pm.If youve been to Peaks, you know how impressive Sharp Top is. Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected. 85554 Blue Ridge Pkwy, The Sharp Top Bus Road is closed to all uses (no hiking, no biking, no private vehicles) other than the shuttle bus due to the narrow road and limited sight distances. No cars or hikers are allowed on the road to the top. Its like the feel of my feet doesnt match what my eyes are seeing. Bedford, VA 24523. (36), Climber's Log Entries There are numerous TRACK Trails in this area include five TRACK trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. My wife and are senior citizens and taking our time we did make it all the way to the top. The trail takes hikers through a woodland forest and open field, offering a close-up view of this picturesque lake. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Sharp Top Trail Shuttle The Sharp Top Store also sells walk-up Sharp Top Mountain shuttle tickets. It's a 1.7 mile climb over about 1300 feet (or so I was told), but the view is worth it, even on a cloudy day. The keurig in the room was a nice touch. The Falling Water Cascades Trail is a 1.4-mile loop hike that leads to a series of cascades on Fallingwater Creek. The roost had amazing views, but I did not enjoy climbing up the rock. Carefully climb the massive rock or take a short spur path on the right for views. We settled for sandwiches instead. Their Lake View Restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in-season. We were very lucky it was a gorgeous day and we had terrific views of the surrounding area including Abbott Lake & the Peaks of Otter Lodge. I was also thrilled that I seemed to arrive at just the right time, a few minutes before 8 am on a Saturday. Food was good. Once up on top, the views were amazing! Be aware that weather and road surface conditions change quickly. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Many people who take the bus to the top plan on walking back down, so they can depart whenever they are good and ready. Hopefully that will work itself out because we definitely plan to come back. Once you leave the Roost, go back to the junction and take a left down the trail to make your way back to the car. And, the Johnson Farm hike was a lovely walk through the woods. All of the staff were extremely nice and friendly. On the way down, Adam and I took the side trail to visit the Buzzards Roost. For a leisurely walk, allow one hour. There is also a gift shop that sells sweatshirts inside that say I Survived Sharp Top. We hiked the Sharps Mountain trail and really enjoyed it. Its an easy .9-mile walk around Abbott Lake. Trail runners are common on Sharp Top most mornings. For a sit-down meal, look next door to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Viewing: 1-12 of 12. The Visitor Center was closed when we were there but we really came for the hike anyway. Junction with Buzzards Roost Spur Trail. We drove from Bedford on a spring Sunday morning for brunch at the lodge and to walk around the grounds at the visitor center to take pictures. Finally, Scottish settlers may have named the Peaks after Ben Otter, a mountain in their homeland that resembles Sharp Top.. Sometimes I start to panic, but Ive found that if I stay low to the ground and go very slow, I can always manage to get where I want to go. If your kids are fit and active, they may be able to do the entire hike. Continue on (yes, more steps). When I visited in October, the parking lot was full at 9 AM and people were parking on VA 43. By now, many more people were ascending the trail. After you cross the bus road, the path gets a lot tougher. Yes, wellsort of. They had a buffet option, but it was really expensive and there was no way I could have eaten my moneys worth. It is manned by one Ranger. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We have a 4and 6 year old girls. They have parking at the bottom of the hiking trail and then you just walk up. You will see the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Abbott Lake to the North. On one hike with a friend I had growing up, we spotted some trail runners. Its fairly relentless uphill for a while. Was designated with Fallingwater Cascades trail as a continuous National Recreation Trail in April 1982. So many upwards hikers commented on them! Location: 37.4335034, -79.6048728. Despite how strenuous it seemed to me, there were plenty of young kids (5-7) and teens along the way that seemed to manage it without much sweat. It apparently used to be a concession stand. On the stone in the monument, it is inscribed "From Otter's Summit, Virginia's Loftiest Peak, To Crown a Monument to Virginia's Noblest Son." Every available space was taken, as was every patch of grass that could fit a vehicle. Whether you need a lift, traveling with a large group, or simply don't want to drive, our ski bus service can pick you up or drop you off at any of our 12 locations on southern Vancouver Island. The summit offers an impressive 360-degree view of the Peaks of Otter area, the Piedmont to the east, and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny mountains to the west. Peaks of Otter Lodge Whats ur recommendation on them hiking all the way up? The trailhead is located at Mile Post 83.1 (Fallingwater Cascades Trail Parking Area), which is three miles north of the other trails at Peaks of Otter. The trailhead is next to the Sharp Top Store, a small camp store that sells snacks, supplies and souvenirs. Pretty basic accommodations, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean. Sharp Top is 3.4 miles round-trip. I was surprised so many people had never seen trekking poles before, but I suppose Sharp Top has a very high percentage of people who arent regular hikers. Its great and so helpful. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? It operates from 8:30am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. At 1.2 miles, you reach a junction. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. There are plenty of places to rest at the summit and if you pack a snack / wine/ tea / lunch you can enjoy it up in the clouds. One of the most popular trails is all of Virginia is the strenuous climb up to the rocky summit of Sharp Top Mountain (3,875 feet), This peak has attracted hikers for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. Moderate 4.4 (6) Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. more. If youre short on time or just looking for a nice and easy way to reach the local trailheads, the Sharp Top Shuttle is just the ticket. The only sour note is the ranger who mans the visitor center. The Peaks of Otter hike to Harkening Hill also begins across the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Hiking Adventures to Make Your Spring Pure Gold, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 7 Best Hikes Backpackers Editors Did in 2022, The Best San Diego Hikes for Your Next Coastal Adventure. Ask Leonard W about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Coming all the way from the Florida keys . They really were pretty cool. Buzzards Roost does require some rock scrambling and carefully navigating around large rocks, so it isnt for the faint of heart. Add an extra half-hour for the spur trail to Buzzards Roost, a series of large rock formations offering different views of the area. These are the paths leading up from the Sharp Top mountain bus stop. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Virginia. We loved the visit! The TRACK Trail program is a network of kid friendly self guided trails on or near the Parkway. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We rode the bus almost to the top of this mountain, but to get to the very top, you have to hike up a steep winding trail. Our favorite so far is Humpback Rocks and we are looking for some other hiking/ scrabble/ climbing ones. The trail is moderate with some strenuous climbs. Return to 'Sharp Top Mountain' main page. With the most scheduled shuttle times to and from DIA, Peak 1 Express services more flight times than any other shuttle service in the state. Each room has a beautiful lake view. 100-703 Broughton Street Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W1E2 +1-866-445-8259 support@luckytogocanada.com The stone was even inscribed to honor George Washington. The shuttle runs from 8:30 am to 5 pm and departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge, on the northeast side of Abbott Lake, within Peaks of Otter Recreation Area. We decided to participate in a special program w/ Thomas Jefferson aka Bill Barker through Peaks of Otter, Poplar Forest, and the National Park Service. This 1.5 mile trail ascends 1,300 vertical feet through the forests on Sharp Top Mountain to spectacular 360 views of the Peaks of Otter and surrounding landscape. Beginning at the north end of the visitor center parking area, the trail leads 1.1 miles to the Johnson Farm, originally built in the 1850s. Pass an old stone building then take the last few steps to the top for the full panorama. Sharp Top is located at milepost 85.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the summit of Sharp Top, there are stone walkways, stairs and terraces. On the stone in the monument, it is inscribed From Otters Summit, Virginias Loftiest Peak, To Crown a Monument to Virginias Noblest Son. It is hard to believe that this was thought to be the highest summit. It will be worth it for the spectacular 360-degree views of the Peaks of Otter area, The Piedmont to the East, and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny Valley Mountains to the west.. Anytime I climb places with uneven footing and precipitous, open drops I get an awful spinning sensation. At the .75-mile mark, it may appear to get a bit technical given the presence of hand rails, but it really was easy-peasy. I managed it with breaks every few hundred feet. The views are truly spectacular. It took me 2 hours (posting states 1.5 hours) and hiking boots and poles were helpful. Lately, Christine and I have made this hike a nearly annual fall tradition. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. We are glad we stopped in and very much enjoyed our visit. Even better, you are welcomed by a large Sharp Top Mountain sign. read more. (14), Comments We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. You will get more great views from here and can actually get some nice views of the summit of Sharp Top. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. A peak's prominence, also known as topographic prominence or relative height, is a measure of how distinct a peak is from other peaks. Be sure to carry enough snacks and water with you for this hike. It's not a long hike, about 30 minutes or so but it is very steep. more. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". After passing the building, the path winds between the stones up to the highest spot. While a hike like this isnt for everybody, the views from the top sure are. But needless to say youll never find me doing any serious rock climbing! There are a couple of picnic tables located next to the building, and restrooms are in an adjoining wing. Enjoy the varied instruments, styles, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Mountain music select weekends! Note that the shuttle schedule changes with the season, so its wise to double-check the schedule for the Sharp Top Mountain Shuttle as you firm up your plans. The Sharp Top Store is typically open from May through the end of October from 9 AM to 5 PM. In the spring, the thickets of mountain laurel make this an especially beautiful hike. The trail is almost all uphill, somewhat steep at times, with plenty of rocks, roots and stairs along the way. Experiencing this mountain cascade is well worth the effort. Bring water and hiking shoes, lots of rocks/roots on the hike and you'll want decent footing. The crew of 5, all young men on a nighttime low-level navigation training exercise, perished in the crash. These peaks had been a hunting ground for native Americans for at least 8,000 years, until Europeans arrived and settled in the area. Directions to trailhead: The trail begins near mile marker 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was glad I got an early start on this hike. Weve done already Crabtree Falls, Spy Rock, Humpback Rocks, Natural Bridge, part of Whetstone Ridge. For an optional detour (and overlook), follow the signed spur trail for about 600 feet to Buzzards Roost. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. Bring bug spray, I had forgot mine and the insects are relentless. Join NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern for engaging presentations about outer space! Your email address will not be published. I believe waymarking.com has the precise coordinates. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. Sharp Top is the most famous hike with its spectacular 360 view at the top. Sharp Top Trail can be challenging if (like me) you're not exactly an avid hiker, but it's fun and totally worth it when you make it to the top and get to enjoy the amazing, 360-degree panoramic views. A loop trail, approximately two miles long, which follows a section of the Harkening Hill loop trail. I grew up in nearby Lynchburg and I couldnt even tell you the number of times I have hiked this trail. -Mapped by Amy C. Balfour. All Rights reserved.Designed by National Park Planner. Skip the Drive, Enjoy the Ride. And if its your first time here, you definitely need to ascend it one way or another. The trailhead is to the left of the nature center, which is directly across from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Weve done that in past years, and the foliage makes the view even nicer! Lots of other folks hiked the whole way which I'm sure would be challenging. Personally, after using trekking poles for a while now, I dont know how I ever hiked without them! On this trail, hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Parkway trail heads. I know they are not on the Appalachian. Sharp Top Trail. We're all about skipping the drive, and enjoying the ride when it comes to skiing at Mount Washington. Then, keep your eyes open for a change of scenery. Peaks guests can purchase round trip tickets at the discounted rate of $10 at the Sharp Top Store. This is an extremely popular hike for families and larger groups, but it definitely has some steep sections. (1), Images If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . Sharp Top (3,875 ft.): Pass the empty stone building (a former concession stand), then climb a few steps to the boulder-covered summit. Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles to the summit). The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. It's a tough walk, especially if you have any issues with your knees but I had my cane which helped immensely. There are three peaks: Flat Top (4,004 feet), Sharp Top (3,875 feet), and Harkening Hill (3,375 feet). Sharp Top Mountain Climber's Log on SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. It was cool and brilliantly sunny. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? The most well-known trail of Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway is the Peaks of Otter trail.It's a 1.5-mile hike to the summit of Sharp Top. I HATE going down but love going up! To reach the trailhead, cross the Blue Ridge Parkway on a pedestrian sidewalk. STP010 . Tags blue ridge parkway mountains scenic view For example, the Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. My friend had said he wanted to try and be in that good of shape, so we took weekly hikes up during one summer. read more. Sometimes it sure seems like it. Theres room for maybe two dozen cars. You have arrived at Sharp Top at the 1.6-mile mark. I was not deterred, however. I turned left for Sharp Top, but hit Buzzards Roost on the way down. Once we got to the top we were surprised to see how much was up there. This woodland trail climbs to a ridge where distant views are rewarding. Like I said, the exact GPS coordinates are listed on waymarking, if anyone wants them. Great views and some fun climbing. . Plenty of shade though. Unless you started very early, the mountain will be crawling with people who took the bus ride to the top. Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. All Rights Reserved. The hostess had to pitch in to help serve us. Question about Sharp Top- is it 3.4 mile round trip or one way? It was a delicious meal and a relaxing time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Sharp Top Trail begins at the back of the parking area. Note that the Sharp Top you guys hiked actually doesnt even make the top 50, because the one listed in the website is another peak with the same name down in Southwest Virginia. This is the most popular trail at the Peaks and originates at the Nature Center across the Parkway from the Visitor Center. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. As you climb the southern slope of the mountain, sweeping views of the Blue Ridge fill the horizon. The trail is relatively flat with minimal elevation difference. Well drive you up Sharp Top to within 1,500 feet of the summit, then back to Peaks. Thankfully, the weather was on board with my plan. We had our hiking sticks and think they are always a good idea. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' I dont know why, but I always seem to block the steep and rocky parts out of my mind. The uphill grade starts of gently, on a mostly smooth and wide trail. The lodge offers great food. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. Tuesday-Sunday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Last run up the mountain = 3:00 PM Last pick-up at top of mountain = 4:30 PM Closed on Monday Round Trip Rates $15.00 Adults $7.00 Children (ages 2-12) One Way Trip Rates To the South, you will see Turtle Rock (which some of the adventurous will find a way to climb up it) near the roof of the cabin. According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Lots of other folks hiked the whole way which I'm sure would be challenging. The shuttle drops hikers within 0.25 miles of the summit, for a shorter, though still strenuous climb up the stairs to the top. Guests arrived by mule-drawn carriages. These Photos Prove It. Repeat, repeat. , Steep, stone-cut steps are the efficient (and quad busting) substitute. Typically, we pack a picnic but this time we decided to try the restaurant at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Mountains; . Visitors can buy one-way ($12/adult, $6/child) or round-trip ($15/adult, $7/child) tickets. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Sharp Top (3,875 ft.): Pass the empty stone building (a former concession stand), then climb a few steps to the boulder-covered summit. You can usually spot the bus crowd easily theyre never sweaty and are often wearing dressier clothing and insensible shoes. Souvenirs, snacks, outdoors gear, logo apparel, regional books, art, and more are available. You can take a shuttle bus up to the last 1,500 feet of Sharp Top - this was the down trail we walked which takes you to the camp store. "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Near Bedford, Virginia at Parkway Milepost 86. Ask Sue M about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask Vicky W about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask misskitty20004 about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask Nikzleez about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask 802jenniferp about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Its nice that most everyone can enjoy the summit views. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. If you like the stair master at the gym, you will love the ups and downs of the hike. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. All over the summit, there are small alcoves and large rocks to perch upon to take in the view. Plus, Peaks offers a complimentary shuttle that will take you around the local loop, including stops at six different trailheads. He was so friendly and personable! The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. The rock formations on this mountain are impressive! We then drove a short ways the other direction from Peaks of Otter to the Cascades Trail Hike. Sharp Top Shuttle Schedule Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. The trail is 1.6 miles to the top from the Visitor's Center. Check out this 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Blairsville, Georgia. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down. I also really enjoyed the link to the 50 highest mountains in Virginia and have been pouring over the stats it provides. Sharp Top Trail A strenuous 1.5-mile hike to the summit of Sharp Top that rewards hikers with a spectacular 360-degree view of the Peaks of Otter area. I was nervous given the Sharp Top Trail was rated as hard and elevation gain neared 1,300 feet. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. Its certainly a thrill to hike up to the top of the nearly 4,000-foot mountain. Sharp Top Mountain is located in the Peaks of Otter Recreation Area at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The name may come from the Cherokee Indian word, ottari, which means high places. The Peaks may have been named after the Otter River, which has its headwaters in the area. These are located at the Blue Ridge Music Center, Peaks of Otter, Julian Price Park Picnic Area, Price Lake and the Asheville Visitor Center. AT Northbound (from the south) From Blue Ridge Gap, via the AT, hike 3.1 miles north to Bly Gap, then less than 1/2 mile to highpoint of the AT along Sharp Top's ridge (total one-way distance to high top is approximately 3.5 miles). If you are on blue ridge parkway take the time to appreciate this area and hike its fun trails! I was so glad to have my trekking poles on the steep, uneven ground. A spur path near the summit leads to Balance Rock, an immense boulder balanced on a small rock. At the summit, there were no more than a half-dozen hikers. Flat Top rises to an elevation of 4,004 feet with many scattered rock outcrops. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The remaining .3 miles to the summit starts off relatively flat, but there are more sections of rock stairs along the way. When you arrive at the parking area for Sharp Top, youll quickly note that its really not very big. The shuttle driver is very good given that the road is very narrow and steep. Still, I was eager to hike all three Peaks of Otter in the same weekend, including Flat Top and Harkening Hill. Sharp Top is a popular hiking destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Peaks of Otter recreation area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. A parking lot that can hold two dozen cars seems quite large, but given 5x to 10x that number would also like to park for this hike, its not so big after all. A decision to make, too. From the parking area, this hike took me nearly two hours, including time spent at Sharp Top and Buzzards Roost. Length 1.1 miElevation gain 452 ftRoute type Out & back. gkaufman - Apr 17, 2009 7:33 am Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2009 . Some stone steps, then a stretch of hiking trail, then more stone steps. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. There is a plaque there that mentions that Sharp Top was once believed to be the tallest mountain in Virginia and that a stone from this mountain was used to build the Washington Monument. There is a plaque there that mentions that Sharp Top was once believed to be the tallest mountain in Virginia and that a stone from this mountain was used to build the Washington Monument.
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