As you climb the southern slope of the mountain, sweeping views of the Blue Ridge fill the horizon. At 1.2 miles, you reach a junction. 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). According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. The stone was even inscribed to honor George Washington. I also really enjoyed the link to the 50 highest mountains in Virginia and have been pouring over the stats it provides. Be sure to carry enough snacks and water with you for this hike. You have arrived at Sharp Top at the 1.6-mile mark. My family used to regularly have picnic lunches at Peaks of Otter, so this is a place Ive been visiting all of my life. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. gkaufman - Apr 17, 2009 7:33 am Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2009 . Its an easy .9-mile walk around Abbott Lake. They really were pretty cool. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I even saw (allegedly) an otter swimming across the lake. The Peaks of Otter Gift Shop, Country Store, and Sharp Top Shop offer provisions to complement your Blue Ridge Mountain getaway. | Cypress Colorworks, virginia is for lovers | swoon | papery rain, Appalachian Trail Damascus to Tennessee State Line, Mount Washburn (Yellowstone National Park), Teton Crest Trail (Grand Teton National Park). There is also a separate cliff formation on the other side of Sharp Top called Buzzard's Roost, which also has good views. I had an inner ear virus a few years ago, and have suffered serious bouts of vertigo ever since. It was a painfully strenuous 1.5 mile hike up dirt paths, rock scrambles and steps. 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. The view of Sharp Top is great. Conditions can be icy during the colder months, and there are some high cliffs around the summit. We go in two weeks to sharp top. Near the top we took a side trip to Rooster Rock - this is worth the extra effort. Carefully climb the massive rock or take a short spur path on the right for views. 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. Youll learn that Sharp Top was once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia. 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. Length 1.1 miElevation gain 452 ftRoute type Out & back. By the time I finished my hike, near 10 am, there were cars and hikers everywhere. You can usually spot the bus crowd easily theyre never sweaty and are often wearing dressier clothing and insensible shoes. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down. The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. But I have to admit that mountain of fried chicken on the buffet table looked very compelling! --Mark Twain. Sharp Top Mountain Climber's Log on SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. 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. Moderate 4.4 (6) Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Guests arrived by mule-drawn carriages. Peaks of Otter has some of the most popular hiking trails in Virginia! Its fairly relentless uphill for a while. Sometimes it sure seems like it. Sharp Top Mountain Trail The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. More information is available on the Peaks website (http://www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Ask Leonard W about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? It has almost every kind of terrain and some parts are easy and some parts of very difficult. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Asheville 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. The trail passes through a boulder field that looks out of place so high on the mountain. Near the top, walk a spur trail the final 1,500 feet to the views. Bedford, VA 24523. Yes, wellsort of. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Tags blue ridge parkway mountains scenic view Practice Leave No Trace when visiting. Question about Sharp Top- is it 3.4 mile round trip or one way? Thanks for the interesting read. As expected, the views are spectacular and it was such a sense of accomplishment to complete. The shuttle is a good option for those either not interested or not able to hike all the way to the top. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. 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. 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. Each room has a beautiful lake view. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Continue left on the trail to the summit. While I personally dont think it is that difficult, I can understand some people feeling that way. It is a steep trail, and it took about 1.5hrs to get 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." Explore this 3.3-mile out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. The trail is moderate with some strenuous climbs. Sharp Top has such a special place in my heart. That was a little disappointing I had hoped to hike Sharp Top at the peak of fall color. 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. No cars or hikers are allowed on the road to the top. Date Climbed: 11-19-2004 . The Sharp Top Trail is located on the south side, while the visitor center is on the north side. The Visitor Center was closed when we were there but we really came for the hike anyway. I always thought Peaks of Otter was an odd name for a place, so I did a little research and found some information about the origin of the name on the nearby lodges website: There are three opinions on how the Peaks of Otter got their name. read more, Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. Small gift shop, restrooms and info on The lot was nearly full, but I soon realized that it was filled with those reveling in a Sharp Top sunrise hike. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The trail starts off with a slow but steady climb and then crosses the bus summit road at .25 miles. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Typically, we pack a picnic but this time we decided to try the restaurant at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Experiencing this mountain cascade is well worth the effort. All Rights Reserved. We hiked the Sharps Mountain trail and really enjoyed it. 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 . A loop trail, approximately two miles long, which follows a section of the Harkening Hill loop trail. Theres even a stone shelter, though its no longer used as a shelter (no camping allowed). Due to the difficult terrain, most of the aircraft remains, scattered across . We decided to brave the Sharp Top based on the reviews. Pick-up locations: The Free Shuttle operates all year round. Its great and so helpful. 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 turned left for Sharp Top, but hit Buzzards Roost on the way down. Do not forget your camera. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This 3.4-mile hike leads to gorgeous views from the summit of Sharp 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. (1 ), Bluff Mountain (and Alligator Back Cliffs). Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. We had our hiking sticks and think they are always a good idea. Any suggestions? Flat Top rises to an elevation of 4,004 feet with many scattered rock outcrops. Breathtaking views from Sharp Top--pretty strenuous hike, but our 4 yr old made it (with a 2hr nap afterward! Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles to the summit). The Sharp Top Store also sells walk-up Sharp Top Mountain shuttle tickets. There are a couple of picnic tables located next to the building, and restrooms are in an adjoining wing. I believe waymarking.com has the precise coordinates. 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. As I mentioned above, there are a lot of great places nearby for a picnic or you can dine at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. 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 trail is popular with families, and youll even see the occasional dog (a leash is required). Plenty of shade though. This woodland trail climbs to a ridge where distant views are rewarding. He helped us make plans, helped my granddaughter with Jr Ranger and shared how he came to be a Park Ranger. Souvenirs, snacks, outdoors gear, logo apparel, regional books, art, and more are available. Near the end of the trail, there are quite a few stone stairs to climb. Its a very strange sensation. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. Thank you for signing up for email alerts! Periodically, there are reprieves where the grade moderates and you get a chance to catch your breath. Get Directions. Hiked to the peak of Sharp Top with my family recently. The only sour note is the ranger who mans the visitor center. 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. We never made it up to the intensity of running the mountain, but it was some good exercise. The trail would get more crowded shortly, so I thought it best to start with Sharp Top. Discover this 5.3-km out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. 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 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 best times to visit this trail are March through November. We actually opted to walk the gravel road down the mountain to save my knees for the next hike. 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. I was nervous given the Sharp Top Trail was rated as hard and elevation gain neared 1,300 feet. Coming all the way from the Florida keys . As we hiked up the trail, we passed several downhill hikers on their way back from watching sunrise atop the summit. A decision to make, too. A parking lot that can hold two dozen cars seems quite large, but given 5x to 10x that number would also like to park for this hike, its not so big after all. On weekends, the parking lot can overflow. The view at the top is incredible. I might suggest looking there. At the 1.2-mark, youll reach a trail sign. This no-nonsense trail has little use for switchbacks (there are only a few) as it shoots toward the summit. The summit of Sharp Top is impressive. As the summit draws near, youll find yourself hiking between and around gigantic boulders. It was closed for lunch break so we hiked the Elk Run Trail. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Mountains; . 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. Still a long way down a decline. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". There is also a gift shop that sells sweatshirts inside that say I Survived Sharp Top. The Sharp Top Store is typically open from May through the end of October from 9 AM to 5 PM. But after each little flat spot, youre guaranteed to have more climbing. Pretty basic accommodations, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean. I HATE going down but love going up! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Your email address will not be published. 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). After the stop at Buzzards Roost, we started our final climb down. The keurig in the room was a nice touch. For a schedule, visit the Lodges Sharp Top Bus Tour web page. Ask Sue M about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask Vicky W about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask misskitty20004 about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask Nikzleez about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Ask 802jenniferp about Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' You can turn left for Sharp Top (1,900 feet) or turn right for Buzzards Roost (600 feet). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hikers seem to enjoy quietly referring to the bus riders as cheaters. Its covered with boulders the size of houses and has a view that rivals any Virginia hike. 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.. Ive never seen horses/mules on that trail, so my *guess* is that pack animals are not allowed. 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