document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Pass an old stone building then take the last few steps to the top for the full panorama. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Look to your left at this point. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The 360-degree views contribute to its popularity, but it helps that there are two ways to the top, a full out-and-back hike and a shuttle paired with a .25-mile hike. there is no public driving up there its too narrow . 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. Theres a shuttle bus that takes people almost to the top. The trailhead is to the left of the nature center, which is directly across from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Their Lake View Restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in-season. You will be treated with gorgeous views of the area around you. On weekends, the parking lot can overflow. What was I going to do at the top of Sharp Top Mountain for an hour? Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 15 min to complete. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I was very proud of them! Tattered shreds of old blacktop mark the way as you approach the final ascent. Bring bug spray, I had forgot mine and the insects are relentless. All of the staff were extremely nice and friendly. I understand that people dont want this to be known to the public but if someone could e-mail this info to me at ml18tcs@yahoo.com I would appreciate it. The only criticism we had was related to slow service in the dining room. Lately, Christine and I have made this hike a nearly annual fall tradition. Routes Toggle navigation. Periodically, there are reprieves where the grade moderates and you get a chance to catch your breath. We never made it up to the intensity of running the mountain, but it was some good exercise. http://www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx, Lynchburg, VA Travel PTs with a Craft Beer Problem, Race Recap: Race 13.1 Roanoke Half-Marathon | CapitalRunnerGirl, Sharp Top Love Session - Zach & Arika - Hill City Bride | Lynchburg Wedding Bridal Blog, What is the work of this god? Great views and some fun climbing. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. Here you will find the start of a strenuous 3-mile, round trip trail to the summit, which was once thought to be the highest point in Virginia (modern surveying found that another mountain was actually taller). It is clear of trees giving hikers a rewarding 360 view of the surrounding Blue Ridge. 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. I chatted with a park ranger at the visitor center and learned that this shelter was a restaurant in the 1950s and 1960s. Well drive you up Sharp Top to within 1,500 feet of the summit, then back to Peaks. I managed it with breaks every few hundred feet. A small visitor center with a few displays of information. 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. It will definitly make you sweat, especially on an 80 degree day. From here, I re-traced my steps back to the parking area. The Sharp Top Trail begins at the back of the parking area. I discovered you blog just a few days ago. The Visitors Center was closed. Peak of Otter shouldn't be It was a painfully strenuous 1.5 mile hike up dirt paths, rock scrambles and steps. Are pack animals (pack goats) allowed on this trail? Other than that, we had the trail mostly to ourselves. Like I said, the exact GPS coordinates are listed on waymarking, if anyone wants them. Steep, stone-cut steps are the efficient (and quad busting) substitute. 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." We are glad we stopped in and very much enjoyed our visit. Ask edsel13304 about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask jwkrengel about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Wow, the scenery and views are incredible, Ask nukefixer about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask yoontaylor about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask tlr17 about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask rakotraba about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Hiking around the lake, creeks, hills, mountains and all was incredible! 28803, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The remaining .3 miles to the summit starts off relatively flat, but there are more sections of rock stairs along the way. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Thick roots and chunky rocks become more prevalent as the trail ascends. If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . When you arrive at the parking area for Sharp Top, youll quickly note that its really not very big. Once up on top, the views were amazing! Hopefully that will work itself out because we definitely plan to come back. Sharp Top Trail. I even saw (allegedly) an otter swimming across the lake. At the spur trail junction, turn left to continue to Sharp Tops bouldery peak. Get Directions. Thanks for sharing! At 1.2 miles, you reach a junction. For a schedule, visit the Lodges Sharp Top Bus Tour web page. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. At the summit of Sharp Top, there are stone walkways, stairs and terraces. These hikers were on their way down. Thanks for the visit! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The only sour note is the ranger who mans the visitor center. All Rights reserved.Designed by National Park Planner. Coming all the way from the Florida keys . The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Buzzards Roost does require some rock scrambling and carefully navigating around large rocks, so it isnt for the faint of heart. Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. The trail would get more crowded shortly, so I thought it best to start with Sharp Top. Last pick-up at top of mountain = 4:30 PM. I had an inner ear virus a few years ago, and have suffered serious bouts of vertigo ever since. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. , Youll learn that Sharp Top was once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia. Return to 'Sharp Top Mountain' main page. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Tags blue ridge parkway mountains scenic view By the time I finished my hike, near 10 am, there were cars and hikers everywhere. The view of Sharp Top is great. Kids who hike any of these trails can register their hike at kidsinparks.com to win prizes to make their next outdoor adventure more fun. The Peaks of Otter hike to Harkening Hill also begins across the Blue Ridge Parkway. As we hiked up the trail, we passed several downhill hikers on their way back from watching sunrise atop the summit. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Trail is ADA Accessible.This is also a kid-friendly TRACK trail. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. Yes, Sharp Top is strenuous, but well worth it. Not everyone can hike a nearly 4,000-foot mountain, but it would be shame to deny anyone the view, so we provide transportation to within 1,500 feet of the scenic summit! Last fall, I hiked Sharp Top Mountain in Bedford, Virginia. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. This is also where you can purchase tickets for the Sharp Top Shuttlea bus to the top of Sharp Top Mountain. (15), Additions & Corrections As in, gigantic boulders near the 1-mile mark. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Sharp Top is a popular hiking destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Peaks of Otter recreation area. 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. Once we got to the top we were surprised to see how much was up there. The trail is popular with families, and youll even see the occasional dog (a leash is required). Weve done that in past years, and the foliage makes the view even nicer! Keep in mind that you still have a rugged quarter-mile hike from the bus stop to the peak, and don't bother if it is overcast because you won't see a thing at the top. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Sharp Top Mountain - Review of Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Virginia, United States - Tripadvisor United States Virginia (VA) Virginia - Things to Do Peaks of Otter Visitor Center Peaks of Otter Visitor Center 157 Reviews #209 of 3,068 things to do in Virginia Nature & Parks, Forests, More Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 24523 Save edsel13304 For some reason, this was the first time Ive taken the option. A right turn leads to the shuttle bus shelter. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. Your email address will not be published. These Photos Prove It. 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