There is also a separate cliff formation on the other side of Sharp Top called Buzzard's Roost, which also has good views. 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. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. The hike down was over pretty quickly and we were off to lunch! Finally, Scottish settlers may have named the Peaks after Ben Otter, a mountain in their homeland that resembles Sharp Top.. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Make sure you have proper shoes those, flooding is a common thing in this area and a few times my boyfriend and I had to find ways around the trails since they were under water. 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. While a hike like this isnt for everybody, the views from the top sure are. Be sure to carry enough snacks and water with you for this hike. I had an inner ear virus a few years ago, and have suffered serious bouts of vertigo ever since. The shuttle is a good option for those either not interested or not able to hike all the way to the top. Near the top we took a side trip to Rooster Rock - this is worth the extra effort. There's something for everyone! Some stone steps, then a stretch of hiking trail, then more stone steps. Its great and so helpful. Viewing: 1-12 of 12. For a leisurely walk, allow one hour. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. We then opted to return to Peaks of Otter for a shower and dinner. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. 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. Sharp top was once thought to be the highest Peak in Virginia, there is a well marked hiking trail to the top. As the trail proceeds, youll quickly catch on to a pattern. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Its fairly relentless uphill for a while. Although this was later proved inaccurate by the 5,729-foot Mount Rogers, Sharp Top still reigns supreme when it comes to views. On this trail, hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Parkway trail heads. When To Climb All year. Sharp Top Mountain looms large in the Peaks of Otter landscape in more ways than one. It operates from 8:30am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. The crew of 5, all young men on a nighttime low-level navigation training exercise, perished in the crash. Stop by to pick up ready-to-eat foods, snacks, bottled water, and more. Loved the screen doors, and you sure can't beat the views! The trail is relatively flat with minimal elevation difference. 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. For some reason, this is always the only part of the Sharp Top trail I remember. At the summit, there were no more than a half-dozen hikers. We have a 4and 6 year old girls. While I personally dont think it is that difficult, I can understand some people feeling that way. 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 . There are plenty of spots for photo ops. ;). Explore this 3.3-mile out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. A loop trail, approximately two miles long, which follows a section of the Harkening Hill loop trail. You will see the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Abbott Lake to the North. . You can usually spot the bus crowd easily theyre never sweaty and are often wearing dressier clothing and insensible shoes. 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.. What was I going to do at the top of Sharp Top Mountain for an hour? Small gift shop, restrooms and info on Continue left on the trail to the summit. 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. On the way down, Adam and I took the side trail to visit the Buzzards Roost. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Cathedral Mountain Lodge; Moraine Lake Lodge; Prospect Point Stanley Park; Stanley Park Pavilion Sharp Top can be accessed from the north or the south along the Appalachian Trail. Breathtaking views from Sharp Top--pretty strenuous hike, but our 4 yr old made it (with a 2hr nap afterward! Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected. The trailhead is to the left of the nature center, which is directly across from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Print/PDF map. Its covered in the post. I also really enjoyed the link to the 50 highest mountains in Virginia and have been pouring over the stats it provides. You will be treated with gorgeous views of the area around you. Great views and some fun climbing. Thanks for the visit! Sometimes it sure seems like it. There is also a gift shop that sells sweatshirts inside that say I Survived Sharp Top. Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. Its a tough little climb, but the summit is spectacular. Required fields are marked *. 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. The Peaks of Otter Gift Shop, Country Store, and Sharp Top Shop offer provisions to complement your Blue Ridge Mountain getaway. 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. Near the top, walk a spur trail the final 1,500 feet to the views. I turned left for Sharp Top, but hit Buzzards Roost on the way down. From the summit, peakbaggers enjoy a stunning 360-degree view that sweeps across the farm-dotted eastern lowlands to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the western Shenandoah Valley. The Visitors Center was closed. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The view at the top is incredible. Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Near Bedford, Virginia at Parkway Milepost 86. Turn left to continue to the summit of Sharp Top. Were can I find trail rules for the Sharp Top? Rode the shuttle back down. Peak of Otter shouldn't be 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. Dinner at the lodge and a walk around the grounds for photographs. The view of Sharp Top is great. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Ill try to get him to haul his cookies up the mountain again next year. Sharp Top Mountain is located in the Peaks of Otter Recreation Area at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Asheville For post-hike snacks and drinks, pop in the Sharp Top Store at the trailhead. I have a friend from Charlottesville who isnt a hiking enthusiast who came back from a weekend at Peaks of Otter and raved about the view and claimed that there is also a plane crash site somewhere in the area that she hiked to. 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. But, you can also consider the bus ride to the top. 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. Im glad someone thought better of the idea and closed the place down do we really need hot dogs and ice cream for sale on mountain summits? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This is the most popular trail at the Peaks and originates at the Nature Center across the Parkway from the Visitor Center. The views are truly spectacular. After the stop at Buzzards Roost, we started our final climb down. The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Sharp Top is 3.4 miles round-trip. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Its like the feel of my feet doesnt match what my eyes are seeing. The trail is popular with families, and youll even see the occasional dog (a leash is required). The summit of Sharp Top is impressive. They had a buffet option, but it was really expensive and there was no way I could have eaten my moneys worth. At the .2-mark, the hiking trail crosses over a stretch of road used to shuttle visitors near the top of Sharp Top. 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. more. Enjoy the varied instruments, styles, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Mountain music select weekends! We are glad we stopped in and very much enjoyed our visit. A peak's prominence, also known as topographic prominence or relative height, is a measure of how distinct a peak is from other peaks. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bedford, VA, USA. The shuttle driver is very good given that the road is very narrow and steep. This woodland trail climbs to a ridge where distant views are rewarding. The rock formations on this mountain are impressive! Theres room for maybe two dozen cars. 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. read more. The remaining .3 miles to the summit starts off relatively flat, but there are more sections of rock stairs along the way. It was far from the quiet, peaceful scene I met at the start of my hike. Red Tape There is no red tape of which I'm aware. 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. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. Shuttles run from the parking lot to the top of the peak in summer. From the parking area, this hike took me nearly two hours, including time spent at Sharp Top and Buzzards Roost. Relax on the outdoor patio after your visit to Sharp Top. However, most people should be able to accomplish this hike since it is only a three-mile round trip (the side trip to Buzzards Roost adds .4 miles). Starting in the 1800s, the surrounding community opened their homes and lodges to guests hoping to relax and rejuvenate in the mountains. But after each little flat spot, youre guaranteed to have more climbing. 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. According to a sign near the summit, the boulders formed after diorite rock split apart along weather-weakened seams. If your kids are fit and active, they may be able to do the entire hike. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. At the spur trail junction, turn left to continue to Sharp Tops bouldery peak. Sharp Top is located at milepost 85.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sharp Top Store on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Continue straight at this junction to reach the summit. Near the end of the trail, there are quite a few stone stairs to climb. 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! The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ 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. NC We loved the visit! 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." For a short paved walk, look next door to Peaks of Otter Lodge. read more, Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. A right turn leads to the shuttle bus shelter. The Sharp Top Store is also the starting point for a shuttle bus that takes riders most of the way up the mountainbut, of course, this is cheating. A small visitor center with a few displays of information. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. From here, I re-traced my steps back to the parking area. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I dont see anything specifically about pack animals, so you may need to call/email to inquire specifically. We now know that this is actually Mount Rogers, which stands at 5,729 feet. Even better, you are welcomed by a large Sharp Top Mountain sign. 100-703 Broughton Street Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W1E2 +1-866-445-8259 support@luckytogocanada.com To get to the store, take the first right after exiting the Parkway. But I have to admit that mountain of fried chicken on the buffet table looked very compelling! (15), Additions & Corrections Still, I was eager to hike all three Peaks of Otter in the same weekend, including Flat Top and Harkening Hill. We hiked the Sharps Mountain trail and really enjoyed it. Whoever goes here next should find out where this wreckage is. This could be due to the fact they have just reopened and are under new management. 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. Buzzards Roost does require some rock scrambling and carefully navigating around large rocks, so it isnt for the faint of heart. We actually opted to walk the gravel road down the mountain to save my knees for the next hike. I believe waymarking.com has the precise coordinates. Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. The trail would get more crowded shortly, so I thought it best to start with Sharp Top. My friend had said he wanted to try and be in that good of shape, so we took weekly hikes up during one summer. I know they are not on the Appalachian. We hiked the peaks of otter and loved every moment of it. Once up on top, the views were amazing! Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. I was nervous given the Sharp Top Trail was rated as hard and elevation gain neared 1,300 feet.
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