![]() ![]() A spur trail at the top guides visitors the final steps to the scenic views. The shuttle is seasonal and runs up the mountain on the hour between 10 am and 4 pm. On the way down, make a short detour to check out the views from Buzzard’s Roost.įor those who don’t want to hike all the way up, the Sharp Top Store at the back of the parking area sells shuttle tickets to take visitors within. Savor 360-degree views across the Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s even a stone shelter that was a restaurant in the 1950s and 1960s. The stone was inscribed to honor George Washington.Īt the summit of Sharp Top, you’ll find stone terraces, walkways and steps. Interestingly, stone from Sharp Top was placed inside the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. ![]() With an elevation gain of 1,253 feet, this peak hike is not easy, but it’s also not as challenging as it might seem thanks to stone steps and hand rails at various points. The 3.3-mile out-and-back hike on the Sharp Top Trail leads visitors to the top of what was once thought to be the tallest peak in Virginia, standing proud at 3,875 feet. At this point, you can return to the Lake View Restaurant or skedaddle to nearby Bedford or Roanoke to celebrate your hikes. You should be finished up near dinner time. The second is a shorter hike that originates near Abbott Lake. More on this below, but note that there are two ways to reach Flat Top. The parking area is small, but by mid-afternoon, I anticipate you will have a very good chance of securing a parking space. There are 58 picnic tables scattered alongside Little Stony Creek at the Peaks of Otter Picnic Area at milepost 85.9.Īfter lunch, make the short drive to the parking area at milepost 83 for the 5.7-mile out-and-back Flat Top hike. Note that this restaurant is open seasonally, from early-May to early-November.Īlternatively, bring your lunch. At this point, return to the starting point and walk through the tunnel that runs under the Blue Ridge Parkway.įor lunch, eat at the Lake View Restaurant inside the historic 63-room Peaks of Otter Lodge. This hike ends just behind the visitor center. It’s cool enough that it’s worthy of park signage. This 3.2-mile loop leads to views from Harkening Hill, as well as Balance Rock, a large boulder perched on a small rock. The trailhead for the Harkening Hill hike is east of the visitor center, across the byway from the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Post-hike, stop in the Sharp Top Store at the trailhead for snacks and drinks.įrom here, walk across the Blue Ridge Parkway. I arrived before 8 am and I was not alone, though many cars were those of sunrise-seekers who had already been there a couple of hours.īudget at least 2.5 hours for the out-and-back Sharp Top hike, which is 3.3 miles. By mid-afternoon cars will be parked in the grass. The parking lot across from the visitor center fills up quickly. Start with Sharp Top and plan to get there early. I took two days, but if you have one day, you can check off all three. ![]() It is very possible to reach the tops of all three Peaks in one day, or at the very least, in one weekend. We may never know, but we do know that the Peaks of Otter have become noted for their far-reaching views that are well-worth the drive. Some think that brothers Charles and Robert Ewing named the Peaks after their surname as pronounced in Scottish Gaelic and translated as “Clan Ewing of Otter.”Īnother theory relates to the anglicizing of “Otari,” a Cherokee word that means “high places.” The Peaks may have also been named after the nearby Otter River. ![]() One theory ties back to European settlers that arrived in the 1700s. I asked the ranger with the National Park Service this question. ![]()
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