You will cross over a paved bus road soon after beginning the hike. Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that turn your visit into a fun and exciting outdoors experience. Please submit any useful information about climbing Peaks of Otter that may be useful to other climbers. 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. It consists of three mountain peaks centered on man-made Abbott Lake in the small valley between them. Kids can even earn prizes for tracking their adventures through the Kids in Parks Program! We had lost power during the ear Retrace your steps to return to the Visitor Center for lunch/bathroom break or take a … T he Peaks of Otter - Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill - have dominated the view in this region of Virginia for centuries, first attracting the attention of Native Americans who saw the area as a rich hunting ground. Photos of Peaks of Otter Recreation Area - 6. Park at the Peaks of Otter Nature Center (which is now closed). There are numerous TRACK Trails in this area include five TRACK trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sharp Top is the shorter of the two summit hikes and the most popular (and crowded); but even at 3.6 miles the elevation gain is quite steep and the workout is strenuous. Not as steep or rocky as the other 2 peaks. Apr 18, 2012 - We had heard of Peaks of Otter for years but had never visited it. #apple orchard trail #blue ridge parkway #peaks of otter. Peaks of Otter Climbing Notes. Peaks of Otter Lodge (MP 85.4) ****Johnson Farm Trail and ***Abbott Lake Loop Trail. Flat Top Mountain via the Abbot Lake Trail is located in the beautiful Peaks of Otter area in Bedford, Virginia. Peaks of Otter is formed by three mountains with Abbott Lake in the center valley - Sharp Top Mountain (3,875 feet), Flat Top Mountain (4,001 feet), and Harkening Hill (3,372 feet). This short hike will get you winded soon, so be sure to pace yourself as you ascend up several series of steps made out of rocks. Peaks of Otter . The Johnson Farm Trail is a loop that takes visitors past a restored mid-1800s farm. The one linked here begins at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. News. The Pinnacle and Cross Rock are names given to such formations. Begins behind the visitor center. Unfortunately this trail is not along this stretch, so if you’re hiking in the winter the parkway might be closed beyond Abbott Lake. Peaks of Otter Picnic Area (MP 85.9) ***Abbott Lake Loop Trail and Flat Top Mountain Trail. Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails 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. Alright, been driving up to PoA, Lynchburg, and Roanoke area a bunch from NC this fall to do some AM hiking and finally working up my nerve to giving camping a shot....but it sounds like the big campgrounds are closed for the season. Escape the bustle and experience an amazing hiking and camping trip. Of the three Peaks of Otter in Bedford, Virginia, Harkening Hill is the smallest (at an elevation of 3,364 feet) and most underrated of the three mountain peaks.. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 85.6, the Harkening Hill trailhead begins (or ends) just behind the Peaks of Otter visitor center.. The National Park Service offers a campground, picnic area, camp store, rest rooms, visitor center and a restored mountain farm that are usually opened from May to the end of October. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. Note: This trip was originally scheduled for June 1-3, but postponed due to weather. Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails (MP 85.9) Trailhead or access point to a dozen hiking trails. Sharp Top Mountain is a popular hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is one of the three "Peaks of Otter". Still, the views and scenic overlooks are well worth it. But starting there adds an extra .6-mile, round trip, to that hike. Sunday, August 16, 2015. Be the first to submit your climbing note! Visit the Peaks of Otter Lodge website to see available dates and book reservations online (you can also call 866-387-9905). The park also conducts various wildlife and outdoor programs throughout the tourist season. This route leads to the most modest of the Peaks of Otter. Recreation Additional Information: There are multiple hiking trails, including the popular trails to the summits to Sharp Top Mountain and Flat Top Mountain. Set on the Peaks of Otter Lake, this scenic, pared-down hotel is a 6-minute walk from Johnson's Orchards and 11 miles from the town of Bedford. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Peaks of Otter, as … Harkening Hill Trail The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of Bedford, Virginia, which lies nine miles (14 km) to the southeast along State Route 43.These peaks are Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill.. Manmade Abbott Lake lies in the valley between the three peaks, behind the Peaks of Otter Lodge and restaurant. Stone staircases were sporadically placed for the last half mile, but I'm not really sure why. The 24-acre lake features a one-mile loop trail, and is stocked with smallmouth bass, catfish, golden shiners, sunfish, and blue gill. Behind the Peaks of Otter Lodge is Abbott Lake, named for Stanley William Abbott, the Parkway’s first resident landscape architect and planner. The trailhead is located to the right of the building. Flat Top rises to an elevation of 4,004 feet with many scattered rock outcrops. At its foothill is where Emerson Creek Pottery is headquartered. This woodland trail climbs to a ridge where distant views are rewarding. Be the first to submit your climbing note! Concession-operated bus service (one-way or round trip) to within one quarter mile of the top is available seasonally. Allow two to three hours for a leisurely visit. Pet Friendly Abbott Lake Trail. You can see them for miles and the most fun is when you arrive ready for a hike. Peaks of Otter Climbing Notes. Of course, these trails all require significant amounts of climbing. Home > Experiences > Outdoor Adventures > Hiking & Walking Trails. This moderately difficult loop trail is approximately 1.7 miles. 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. What to Do . There are a number of hiking trails at Peaks of Otter but The Johnson Farm Trail is a favorite because of the farm and because it connects to the Harkening Trail which passes Balance Rock. The Peaks of Otter, which consists of Sharp Top and Flat Top mountains and Harkening Hill, have been well-loved for hundreds of years. Fallingwater Cascades Trail the other segment of the National Recreation Trail, is a loop trail which takes hikers along cascades on Fallingwater Creek with its huge rock outcrops clothed in rhododendron and large hemlocks. The primary activity at Peaks of Otter is hiking. Enjoy a scenic shuttle ride to within 1,500 of Sharp Top summit! Peaks of Otter Trails SHARP TOP TRAIL 811/ National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior HILL 70 1.6 (LOOP) JOHNSON 1.6 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Department of the Interior - 43 00 0 ó0NY CREEK TO 70 0 > 70 . Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails (MP 85.9) Trailhead or access point to a dozen hiking trails. Details. Download the Peaks of Otter trails map. Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Easy camping near Peaks of Otter? Trail is ADA Accessible.This is also a kid-friendly TRACK trail. Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles to the summit). At the visitor center you can get trail advice and maps and also join ranger led activities. Historic Peaks of Otter offers picturesque views and historic legacy among the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sharp Top, along with Flat Top and Harkening Hill, make up the namesake three "Peaks of Otter." Hiking the Peaks. These can be done as separate hikes or combined to make a hike of 9.8 miles. Park at the Peaks of Otter Nature Center (which is now closed). Bedford, VA 24523. It’s not uncommon to see deer feeding alongside the road, and they are usually more … Get info on PEAKS OF OTTER CAMPGROUND, North Carolina including image gallery, interactive map, directions, activities & campground reservations. The Appalachian Trail (Section 75) is located on the Peaks of Otter topo map. The make-up date of July 27-29 coincides with the full moon, which should make for a great dinner atop Sharp Top Saturday night. Peaks of Otter - Milepost 85.6 Sharp Top Mountain, named for its pointy summit, looms over historic Peaks of Otter Lodge and Abbott Lake. The least difficult of these trails, is a one-mile loop around Abbott Lake. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. These can be done as separate hikes or combined to make a hike of 9.8 miles. They drove me back to the trail after we stopped to get coffee at a small country store. This trail drops 260 feet below the Fallingwater Trail Parking Area and hikers should be prepared to climb that elevation on their return. Hiking along the bus road is prohibited. The Peaks of Otter Recreation Area is a popular stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway and fortunately it is open all winter because VA-43 follows the parkway south of the junction for 5 miles. 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