Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 47 min to complete. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. The Peaks of Otter hike to Harkening Hill also begins across the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pretty basic accommodations, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 100-703 Broughton Street Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W1E2 +1-866-445-8259 support@luckytogocanada.com Theres even a stone shelter, though its no longer used as a shelter (no camping allowed). Check out my favorite hikes near Roanoke, Virginia. 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). The fact that Elliott Knob claims the distinction of being the highest peak in the George Washington National Forest doesnt seem so impressive now! We got a really early start on our morning, and were headed up the trail by 9:30 or so. Great views and some fun climbing. Required fields are marked *. Stop by to pick up ready-to-eat foods, snacks, bottled water, and more. 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.. From here, I re-traced my steps back to the parking area. The views from the top really are oustanding, they have several areas with railings and stone walls so it's not too dangerous (though the kids were scared).Pros: Excellent views, good workout, fun trail to climb, and their is a bus/shuttle that will take you most of the way if you can't or don't want to make the climb.Cons: Plenty of nats/bugs in certain sections, and as I said, a pretty steep slog up to the top.Recommendations: The hike is moderately strenuous so take the bus up and/or down if you don't have the energy or time. Sharp Top Mountain Trail The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles to the summit). Allow two to three hours for a leisurely visit. On one hike with a friend I had growing up, we spotted some trail runners. STP010 . Sharp Top Mountain looms large in the Peaks of Otter landscape in more ways than one. All vehicles accessing Mt Seymour between Oct 1 - Mar 31 must be equipped with winter tires in good condition, showing either the peaked mountain/snowflake symbol or M+S. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. Its covered in the post. --Mark Twain. To get to the store, take the first right after exiting the Parkway. Were can I find trail rules for the Sharp Top? My wife and visit this area quite often. Eager for steps on area hiking trails? The Peaks of Otter Gift Shop, Country Store, and Sharp Top Shop offer provisions to complement your Blue Ridge Mountain getaway. From the Blue Ridge Parkway-based trailhead (across from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at MP86), start a moderate climb along the mountains base. Enjoy the varied instruments, styles, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Mountain music select weekends! All Rights Reserved. Junction with Buzzards Roost Spur Trail. Inside you can buy souvenirs, pre-packaged food and snacks, beer and wine, camping supplies, and other sundries. 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. (another mountain, also named Sharp Top, is #42), For those that dont feelthe need to hike all the way to the summit, you can take a bus ride that brings you closer to the summit. Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles to the summit) This is the most popular trail at the Peaks and originates at the Nature Center across the Parkway from the Visitor Center. We are a group in our 60's and wondered about the trail difficulty etc and virtually couldn't get any information from him. This was very helpful thank you so much. Bring bug spray, I had forgot mine and the insects are relentless. For the full Sharp Top hike (3.3 miles, out-and-back), the trail begins with a dozen stone steps right. ;). The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. We settled for sandwiches instead. NC The TRACK Trail program is a network of kid friendly self guided trails on or near the Parkway. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Virginia. Be sure to enjoy the plants and animals that live along this trail and dont be surprised to run into many of them on your trip. I might suggest looking there. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Gorgeous views of the Peaks of Otter and great hike to the top. 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." The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. The trail soon crosses a road used by shuttles in summer before ascending more steeply, with dense forest giving way to ever-expanding mountain-and-valley views to the southeast. It was a painfully strenuous 1.5 mile hike up dirt paths, rock scrambles and steps. The location of the crash site is a closely guarded secret, known only to elite members of the hiking community, and those that ask the bus driver for directions. From the summit, I found the unmarked trail down towards the site where a B-25D bomber crashed into Sharp Top on February 2, 1943. As expected, the views are spectacular and it was such a sense of accomplishment to complete. Sometimes it sure seems like it. To reach the trailhead, cross the Blue Ridge Parkway on a pedestrian sidewalk. Personally, after using trekking poles for a while now, I dont know how I ever hiked without them! As a side note, I drove back by mid-afternoon and it was packed. As the summit draws near, youll find yourself hiking between and around gigantic boulders. Look to your left at this point. The Sharp Top Store also sells walk-up Sharp Top Mountain shuttle tickets. Youll still have to climb a short, moderately steep distance http://www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx, No there is no way to drive .there is a seasonal bus that will take you up for five dollars round-trip ,but you still have to walk the other one fourth of a mile .it only takes like 20 minutes to walk up from the bus stop where It drops you as far up as it can go . It does not store any personal data. According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. (1 ), Bluff Mountain (and Alligator Back Cliffs). It has almost every kind of terrain and some parts are easy and some parts of very difficult. These hikers were on their way down. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Virginia. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. 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. Youll probably want to experience it again. Ive outlined three hiking options that range from 2.8 to 3.6 miles. Small gift shop, restrooms and info on Breathtaking views from Sharp Top--pretty strenuous hike, but our 4 yr old made it (with a 2hr nap afterward! Red Tape There is no red tape of which I'm aware. Cathedral Mountain Lodge; Moraine Lake Lodge; Prospect Point Stanley Park; Stanley Park Pavilion If your kids are fit and active, they may be able to do the entire hike. Theres a shuttle bus that takes people almost to the top. It will definitly make you sweat, especially on an 80 degree day. The shuttle runs every hour (maybe every half hour on a busy day) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the top. Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Near Bedford, Virginia at Parkway Milepost 86. As you pass through a boulder field, look ahead for a rocky outcropping known as Buzzards Roost (whose overlook is reached by a short spur trail 1.3 miles from the trailhead). We're all about skipping the drive, and enjoying the ride when it comes to skiing at Mount Washington. There's something for everyone! The rock formations on this mountain are impressive! 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. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. I was also thrilled that I seemed to arrive at just the right time, a few minutes before 8 am on a Saturday. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. I was hoping that someone could tell me if it is off to the left or right of buzzard roost trail and how far down the buzzard roost trail should I go. For some reason, this was the first time Ive taken the option. Schedules can change, so for the latest information be sure to check the National Park Services Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . It apparently used to be a concession stand. So many upwards hikers commented on them! At the spur trail junction, turn left to continue to Sharp Tops bouldery peak. Discover this 5.3-km out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. When you reach the junction .3 miles from the summit, I would highly recommend adding .2 miles (.4 miles round trip) to check out Buzzards Roost. Its fairly relentless uphill for a while. Sharp Top can be accessed from the north or the south along the Appalachian Trail. Hiking around the lake, creeks, hills, mountains and all was incredible! Hikers seem to enjoy quietly referring to the bus riders as cheaters. 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. This, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat very! Reason, this was the first time ive taken the option across the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Saturday all! 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