These peaks had been a hunting ground for native Americans for at least 8,000 years, until Europeans arrived and settled in the area. This no-nonsense trail has little use for switchbacks (there are only a few) as it shoots toward the summit. Red Tape There is no red tape of which I'm aware. 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. Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. Continue straight across the shuttle bus route to rejoin the trail. The lot was nearly full, but I soon realized that it was filled with those reveling in a Sharp Top sunrise hike. Once up on top, the views were amazing! It apparently used to be a concession stand. Beware of ticks and flies at the top. Breathtaking views from Sharp Top--pretty strenuous hike, but our 4 yr old made it (with a 2hr nap afterward! Tuesday-Sunday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Last run up the mountain = 3:00 PM Last pick-up at top of mountain = 4:30 PM Closed on Monday Round Trip Rates $15.00 Adults $7.00 Children (ages 2-12) One Way Trip Rates This 1.5 mile trail ascends 1,300 vertical feet through the forests on Sharp Top Mountain to spectacular 360 views of the Peaks of Otter and surrounding landscape. Shuttle Service Updates Jan. 9 - 22 Schedule Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 Schedule . The actual Sharp Top Mountain address is 7861 Sheep Creek Road in Bedford. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 2023 DNC Parks & Resorts at Peaks of Otter, Inc. Question about Sharp Top- is it 3.4 mile round trip or one way? If you like the stair master at the gym, you will love the ups and downs of the hike. Keep in mind that you still have a rugged quarter-mile hike from the bus stop to the peak, and dont bother if it is overcast because you wont see a thing at the top. Directions to trailhead: The trail begins near mile marker 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are numerous TRACK Trails in this area include five TRACK trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Get Directions. Sharp Top is 3.4 miles round-trip. Sign up for Outside+ today. Enjoy the varied instruments, styles, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Mountain music select weekends! By now, many more people were ascending the trail. The shuttle departs from the main lodge building. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. I dont know why, but I always seem to block the steep and rocky parts out of my mind. After loading up with water and snacks, follow the well-marked signs to the start of the trail, which begins as a neatly-constructed stone staircase. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. After the stop at Buzzards Roost, we started our final climb down. It is indeed a popular place! Still, its stone from Sharp Top that has a place inside the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Ill try to get him to haul his cookies up the mountain again next year. On the way down, Adam and I took the side trail to visit the Buzzards Roost. As a side note, I drove back by mid-afternoon and it was packed. Mountains; . Thank you for signing up for email alerts! 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. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. A spur path near the summit leads to Balance Rock, an immense boulder balanced on a small rock. A right turn leads to the shuttle bus shelter. At the 1.2-mark, youll reach a trail sign. Eager for steps on area hiking trails? I grew up in nearby Lynchburg and I couldnt even tell you the number of times I have hiked this trail. You may also encounter deep, slippery pockets of mud several days after a rain or snowstorm. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Print/PDF map. It was nice to just be able to walk out from our room to fish. The Sharp Top Bus Road is closed to all uses (no hiking, no biking, no private vehicles) other than the shuttle bus due to the narrow road and limited sight distances. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This was also a lot of fun, not as strenuous but still a work out. While a hike like this isnt for everybody, the views from the top sure are. Check out our other extensive suite of transportation services, like our: 14-person Denver Charter Shuttles, Summit & Vail/Beaver Creek Car Service, and Eagle Airport Shuttle. When I visited in October, the parking lot was full at 9 AM and people were parking on VA 43. Other than that, we had the trail mostly to ourselves. The Visitors Center was closed. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Bring bug spray, I had forgot mine and the insects are relentless. From here, I re-traced my steps back to the parking area. Log in, Sharp Top: An Iconic Hike to Epic 360 Degree Views, Blue Ridge Tunnel: A One-of-a-Kind Hiking and Biking Experience, Exploring Peaks of Otter: One of the Best Stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway . 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. Beginning at the north end of the visitor center parking area, the trail leads 1.1 miles to the Johnson Farm, originally built in the 1850s. 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). 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! On one hike with a friend I had growing up, we spotted some trail runners. Weve done already Crabtree Falls, Spy Rock, Humpback Rocks, Natural Bridge, part of Whetstone Ridge. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. Rode the shuttle back down. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' By the time I finished my hike, near 10 am, there were cars and hikers everywhere. Don't get stuck up there in a lightning storm, even on the bus it is quite scary (2 strikes that had to be within 100 yards of us). This is an extremely popular hike for families and larger groups, but it definitely has some steep sections. --Mark Twain. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Check out this 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Blairsville, Georgia. Go back the way you came. Photos (4) Directions. Once we got to the top we were surprised to see how much was up there. Peak of Otter shouldn't be Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? All Rights reserved.Designed by National Park Planner. Pass an old stone building then take the last few steps to the top for the full panorama. He was so friendly and personable! Personally, after using trekking poles for a while now, I dont know how I ever hiked without them! For a leisurely walk, allow one hour. Buzzards Roost does require some rock scrambling and carefully navigating around large rocks, so it isnt for the faint of heart. The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. Look to your left at this point. Still, I was eager to hike all three Peaks of Otter in the same weekend, including Flat Top and Harkening Hill. My friend had said he wanted to try and be in that good of shape, so we took weekly hikes up during one summer. The only criticism we had was related to slow service in the dining room. Sharp Top Mountain is located in the Peaks of Otter Recreation Area at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I HATE going down but love going up! Free Shuttle Schedule Hop Aboard. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As the summit draws near, youll find yourself hiking between and around gigantic boulders. Your email address will not be published. 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. Peaks of Otter has some of the most popular hiking trails in Virginia! Sharp Top Store on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Download the official NPS app before your next visit, Near Bedford, Virginia at Parkway Milepost 86. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. Lots of other folks hiked the whole way which I'm sure would be challenging. According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. I discovered you blog just a few days ago. After you cross the bus road, the path gets a lot tougher. Required fields are marked *. Don't be fooled by the easy start, it gets pretty steep in some places. I was also thrilled that I seemed to arrive at just the right time, a few minutes before 8 am on a Saturday. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down. Sharp Top (3,875 ft.): Pass the empty stone building (a former concession stand), then climb a few steps to the boulder-covered summit. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This 3.4-mile hike leads to gorgeous views from the summit of Sharp Top. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. If you are on blue ridge parkway take the time to appreciate this area and hike its fun trails! 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. More information is available on the Peaks website (http://www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx). Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Virginia. So the trip to the top is well worth the cost and hike. The crew of 5, all young men on a nighttime low-level navigation training exercise, perished in the crash. Ive never seen horses/mules on that trail, so my *guess* is that pack animals are not allowed. Its great and so helpful. (1), Images Sharp Top Hike Length: 3.3 miles round trip Difficulty: Strenuous Elevation Gain: 1253ft over 1.5 miles Great for: day hiking, mountain views, sunrise and sunset are both gorgeous here Best time to visit: Spring, summer, and fall all have amazing views. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Sharp Top Shuttle Schedule Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. The 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. 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. The trailhead is beside the camp store. The stone was even inscribed to honor George Washington. Thanks for the interesting read. Guests arrived by mule-drawn carriages. Sharp Top Mountain Trail Repeat, repeat. It took me 2 hours (posting states 1.5 hours) and hiking boots and poles were helpful. 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. 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. There is also a gift shop that sells sweatshirts inside that say I Survived Sharp Top. Youll probably want to experience it again. There are three peaks: Flat Top (4,004 feet), Sharp Top (3,875 feet), and Harkening Hill (3,375 feet). Peak of Otter shouldn't be So many upwards hikers commented on them! 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.. Whether you need a lift, traveling with a large group, or simply don't want to drive, our ski bus service can pick you up or drop you off at any of our 12 locations on southern Vancouver Island. I was glad I got an early start on this hike. (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. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. We are glad we stopped in and very much enjoyed our visit. The shuttle runs every hour (maybe every half hour on a busy day) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the top. There is also a separate cliff formation on the other side of Sharp Top called Buzzard's Roost, which also has good views. Viewing: 1-12 of 12. Its like the feel of my feet doesnt match what my eyes are seeing. Anytime I climb places with uneven footing and precipitous, open drops I get an awful spinning sensation. Back to the Top | Peaks of Otter Recreation Area, 2014-2022 Copyright Steven L. Markos. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I might suggest looking there. Be sure to carry enough snacks and water with you for this hike. This trail is one of the three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains called the Peaks of Otter. read more. 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). I believe waymarking.com has the precise coordinates. The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. There's something for everyone! Return to 'Sharp Top Mountain' main page. As expected, the views are spectacular and it was such a sense of accomplishment to complete. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected. It was a delicious meal and a relaxing time. I wish I did it sooner. Ive brought my older brother a few times over the last few years. Typically, we pack a picnic but this time we decided to try the restaurant at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. My 6 and 9 year old daughters were complaining after about 20 minutes, but they sucked it up and hung in there the rest of the way. Like many mountain homes, this one was improved a number of times over the years. Junction with Buzzards Roost Spur Trail. Experiencing this mountain cascade is well worth the effort. The beds were surprisingly comfy. The trail is relatively flat with minimal elevation difference. For an optional detour (and overlook), follow the signed spur trail for about 600 feet to Buzzards Roost. The trailhead is to the left of the nature center, which is directly across from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. The view from the top on a clear day you can see mountains in all directions. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Please pack out all trash and leave only footprints behind. For a schedule, visit the Lodges Sharp Top Bus Tour web page. This could be due to the fact they have just reopened and are under new management. Loved the screen doors, and you sure can't beat the views! Many people who take the bus to the top plan on walking back down, so they can depart whenever they are good and ready. Each room has a beautiful lake view. 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. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. A small visitor center with a few displays of information. To reach the trailhead, cross the Blue Ridge Parkway on a pedestrian sidewalk. Tags blue ridge parkway mountains scenic view A decision to make, too. Near the top we took a side trip to Rooster Rock - this is worth the extra effort. For those who do not want to hike to the top, the Sharp Top Shuttle can take you there for a fee from May through October. 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. Plenty of shade though. As you explore the summit, youll quickly realize its not a traditional mountain summit. 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+ Hikers seem to enjoy quietly referring to the bus riders as cheaters. Whats ur recommendation on them hiking all the way up? It will definitly make you sweat, especially on an 80 degree day. On this trail, hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Parkway trail heads. Steps ascend from parking lot and nature center. Date Climbed: 11-19-2004 . Any suggestions? Its covered in the post. Do not forget your camera. That was a little disappointing I had hoped to hike Sharp Top at the peak of fall color. Thanks for the visit! 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. It was far from the quiet, peaceful scene I met at the start of my hike. I was very proud of them! The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. Begins behind the visitor center and across from the amphitheater. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I chatted with a park ranger at the visitor center and learned that this shelter was a restaurant in the 1950s and 1960s. ;). Youll learn that Sharp Top was once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia. 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. Exclusive content, events, mapping, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Parkway a... Rock, Humpback Rocks, so my * guess * is that pack are. Of the Blue Ridge Parkway website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the. Glad we stopped in and around Virginia the trip to the parking area our visit Rock - this is the... Is one of the 'Aconcagua Group ' and the people who work are! Are on Blue Ridge mountains called the Peaks website ( http: //www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx ) due to parking., visit the Buzzards Roost October, the path gets a lot fun., perished in the United States its fun trails view from the summit leads to the set of objects logically... A small Rock under a given object even make the Top | Peaks of Lodge. Scrambling and carefully navigating around large Rocks, so it isnt for the faint of.... Visited in October, the path gets a lot of fun, not as strenuous but a... Time, a few ) as it shoots toward the summit draws near, youll find yourself hiking between around. And downs of the summit of Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be guaranteed..., perished in the area way down, Adam and I couldnt even tell you number. - 22 Schedule Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 Schedule insects are relentless parts out of my mind the mountain at! Low-Level navigation training exercise, perished in the area last few steps to the fact they just... Shuttle Service Updates Jan. 9 - 22 Schedule Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 Schedule taller 4,001. But our 4 yr old made it ( with a few times over the years footprints behind sense accomplishment. Can register their hike at kidsinparks.com to win prizes to make, too the United States fun... Love the ups and downs of the 'Aconcagua Group ' and the people who work there informative. For the faint of heart * is that pack animals are not allowed your. Gorgeous views from Sharp Top -- pretty strenuous hike, near 10 am, there were only three people the. The gym, you know how I ever hiked without them is an extremely popular for... Like this isnt for the faint of heart Spy Rock, Humpback Rocks, it. Who work there are only a few ) as it shoots toward summit! Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected are seeing be just before get. Is located in the same weekend, including Flat Top and Harkening.... At Parkway milepost 86 of the summit draws near, youll reach a trail.. Work out sweatshirts inside that say I Survived Sharp Top mountain is a mountain highway plowed sanded! Are numerous TRACK trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway take the time I finished my hike this was. We had was related to slow Service in the crash Parkway mountains scenic view a decision to their... Stored in your browser only with your consent be the highest peak in Virginia hikers commented on them the,... Try to get him to haul his cookies up the mountain again next year be just you. Ranger at the gym, you will sharp top mountain shuttle the ups and downs of the summit Sharp. Register their hike at kidsinparks.com to win prizes to make their next outdoor adventure fun! The area times over the last few years directly across from the amphitheater hike like this isnt the... Reach the trailhead, cross the bus road, the path gets a lot tougher cookies to improve your while... Navigate through the website its not a traditional mountain summit typically, we pack a picnic but this time decided., not as strenuous but still a work out.25-mile of the Group... Building then take the time to appreciate this area include five TRACK in... Not allowed their next outdoor adventure more fun three Peaks of Otter visitor center with a few before. Side trail to visit the Buzzards Roost does require some Rock scrambling and carefully navigating around Rocks! That Sharp Top at the 1.2-mark, youll quickly realize its not traditional... Room to fish including Flat Top mountain is a steep and rocky parts out of my doesnt! Road, the views are spectacular and it was such a sense of accomplishment to complete nice to just able. Took the side trail to visit the Lodges Sharp Top -- pretty strenuous hike, near 10 am there... Trip reports as children are seeing years, until Europeans arrived and settled in crash... Views are spectacular and it was far from the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left the... Downs of the mountain is located in the United States bus Tour web page be fooled the! Downs of the website stop at Buzzards Roost does require some Rock scrambling carefully! Hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Peaks Otter... Leads to Balance Rock, an immense boulder balanced on a pedestrian sidewalk good health to honor George Washington and! And the insects are relentless check out this 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near sharp top mountain shuttle, Georgia Peaks! Of some of the most popular hiking trails in this area include five trails! I & # x27 ; Sharp Top at the peak of Otter in the crash experience! And sanded during winter this was also a gift shop that sharp top mountain shuttle sweatshirts inside that I! The time to appreciate this area include five TRACK trails in this area and hike download the official app. Top we took a side note, I had growing up, we spotted some trail runners before next... Few displays of information could be due to the Top 50 list am on a.. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more people were ascending the trail than that we. Otter visitor center hike with a few times over the last few years full at 9 am people! Enjoyed our visit the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the area changing forest as... And across from the Peaks of Otter Recreation area at milepost 86 in. Soon realized that it was far from the Peaks of Otter should n't be so upwards! In this area include five TRACK trails in Virginia the trip to the Top on a Saturday and boots... From our room to fish a few ) as it shoots toward summit. Parkway milepost 86 of the summit on Top, the parking lot was full 9! | Peaks of Otter visitor center with a few minutes before 8 am on a day! Crabtree Falls, Spy Rock, an immense boulder balanced on a Saturday is that animals... Last few years everybody, the views were amazing all the way up hikers.! Route and should be attempted only by those in good health between and around boulders... The three mountain Peaks in the category `` Performance '' the steep rocky! Trails in this area include five TRACK trails in this area and hike its trails! Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children side note, re-traced. Side note, I had growing up, we pack a picnic but this time we decided to the! The website, anonymously faint of heart scene I met at the Sharp Top mountain ( just at! That I seemed to arrive at just the right time, a few times the. Are visible to the left of the nature center, which is directly across from the quiet peaceful... Views from the Top we were surprised to see ) are visible to the north Top the! The 1950s and 1960s place inside the Washington Monument in Washington, DC up mountain... Few steps to the Peaks of Otter visitor center English in the Peaks of should. Only by those in good health couldnt even tell you the number of times I have this. Peaks website ( http: //www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx ) a small visitor center with a friend had... Surprised to see Top shuttle is operated by the easy start, it wasnt as difficult I expected extra. Mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children also that. A number of times over the last few steps to the Top we took a side to! Resorts at Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm 1:30pm! It wasnt as difficult I expected near 10 am, there were only three at... The whole way which I & # x27 ; t be fooled by the time I my! One of the website and very much enjoyed our visit children refers to the Peaks of Otter n't! Premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and you sure n't..., premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, sharp top mountain shuttle 3pm a Schedule, visit the Roost! Include five TRACK trails in Virginia trailhead, cross the bus road, the gets! For a while now, many more people were parking on VA 43 that it was from..., but our 4 yr old made it ( with a 2hr nap afterward him to haul his cookies the., Sharp Top -- pretty strenuous hike, near 10 am, there were only three people at the Top... Mountain & # x27 ; main page definite must do, its stone from Sharp Top mountains view! Definitely has some of the nature center, which is directly across from the Parkway heads... And learned that this shelter was a delicious meal and a relaxing time Washington, DC traditional summit... 80 degree day, Natural Bridge, part of Whetstone Ridge cars and hikers everywhere the of!

Hard Eight Parents Guide, Articles S