The 4200 acre Peaks of Otter Recreation Area is a popular destination for Blue Ridge Parkway visitors, whether to spend the day, stop for the night or enjoy a weekend. Length: 4.6 miles Tips, trip reports, back-country gear reviews, safety and news. Sunrise Peak Trail Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA In late summer, make like a bear and hit the berry-packed Dark Divide, an 89-mile roadless expanse between Mts. From Panorama the climb is steady. This nine-mile out-and-back hike begins at Elk Garden Gap. Shenandoah National Park has wicked views and Stony Man boasts one of the best. And 101 of those miles lie in beautiful Shenandoah National Park and parallel to Skyline Drive. The falls range from 35 to 86 feet and feature swimming holes at the bottom of each. THE OTTER TRAIL – BACKPACKING GoTrekkingAfrica 2019-01-10T10:23:09+00:00 GUIDED OTTER TRAIL – FROM STORMS RIVER MOUTH TO NATURES VALLEY GoTrekking guides The Otter Trail along a spectacular section of South Africa’s Garden Route Coast. Backpacking with Brooke: Buffalo Mountain A personal favorite, this hike has gorgeous 360 views from its peak. Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails Sharp Top Trail (1.5 miles). Difficulty: Moderate. There’s always more to LOVE in Virginia. Consisting of three main peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill, the Peaks of Otter … Length: 5.7 miles Connect Blue Suck Falls with Stony Run to enjoy the Tuscarora Overlook Trail, which includes a cabin and immense views of Beard's Mountain and the Alleghenies. A very tough but very rewarding climb. Most are less than a mile long, but with trails intersecting and running end-to-end, you can make your hike anything you want it to be. We were to reach the base camp at about 10am but after the breakfast stop at Burger King on the way and due to taking wrong roads a couple of times, we ended up reaching the place at 12:15am. Plus exclusive offers, deals, packages and more! Hiking Peaks of Otter has some of the most popular hiking trails in Virginia! The third of the Peaks of Otter. Access this trail from Salthouse Branch Park ($4 fee) or Philpott Dam. Even from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park there are two ways: from Panorama it's 3.7 miles out and back, and from Meadow Spring it's 2.9 miles out and back. Return to top. Access the summit from parking areas at milepost 45.6 and 46.7. Download the Trail Map, CRABTREE FALLS There are many photo opportunities on your drive to Sharp Top, so be sure to have your camera ready. DOGWOOD GLEN TRAIL The downhill hike seemed endless at times after I hurt my knee, but we got back to the car in less than an hour. Length: 9 miles Difficulty: Moderate. Download the Trail Map. Access points include Fries and Cliffview near Galax. It’s relatively close and on the way to peaks of otter coming from NC. MOUNT ROGERS The climb back up is 7.3 miles, and the elevation over the course of the entire hike ranges from 1,700 to 3,572 feet. Difficulty: Moderate, Humpback Rocks is a favorite hike in Nelson County. The trail for Sharp Top said strenuous and it was definitely difficult. Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is a visitor center on Little Stony Creek and Abbott Lake in Blue Ridge Parkway, Jefferson National Forest, VA. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. Home > Experiences > Outdoor Adventures > Hiking & Walking Trails. It's only 1.6 miles, but it's narrow, steep, and downright difficult at times before it reveals its treasure - the summit and highest point of the park at 3,270 feet - Molly's Knob. Mountaineering isn’t hiking up a mountain trail to its peak. It's a strenuous 1.5 miles from the camp store to the summit with an ascent of 1,340 feet. Haven’t camped there but may be worth checking out. However, it is only opened from April 1 through October 31. Download the Trail Map. Mile 0 is in Abingdon, Mile 8.5 is Alvarado, Mile 15.5 is Damascus, Mile 25 is Creek Junction, and Mile 32.3 is Whitetop Station on Whitetop Mountain - Virginia's second highest peak. Bald Eagle Peak is a 6,259-foot (1,908-metre) mountain summit located 7.4 mi (11.9 km) southeast of Skykomish, in eastern King County of Washington state. Spy Rock From the Montebello Fish Hatchery the two-mile climb to the AT and then on to Spy Rock is a moderately strenuous one. Jim Lukach / flickr. From the parking area, climb the steep one-mile trail to the summit for a wide open view of the the Blue Ridge Highlands. Length: 4.6 miles MARY'S ROCK The views at the top of Sharp Top and Flat Top are unbelievable. MOLLY'S KNOB The trails vary from a steep 1.7 miles round trip to a 2.9 miles moderate circuit. STONY MAN TRAIL Peaks of Otter Picnic Area: Brown-bag it and grab a table at the picnic area along Little Stoney Creek. Difficulty: Moderate. Flat Top is one of the two Peaks of Otter. 3. The one linked here begins at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. FIVE ARMY MEN DIE IN CRASH OF PLANE. St. Helens and Adams.From mid-August to mid-September, the above-treeline meadows between the volcanoes explode with dark-indigo huckleberries, which thrive in the direct sunlight and relatively moderate elevation. VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL The Peaks of Otter Park contains numerous other facilities which include restrooms, picnic facilities, hiking trails, campground, motel, and restaurant. The Park. ... A rugged assistant scoutmaster holds the peak for Troop 412. Mount Rogers is the highest point in Virginia at 5,729 feet! Hike is low to moderate difficulty. Terms & Conditions The Channels Natural Area Preserve in Saltville is home to the Great Channels of Virginia. The trail is moderate and rewards with five major cascades and several smaller ones totaling 1,200 feet worth of falls - the highest vertical-drop cascade east of the Mississipi River. It does, however, reward with challenging rock scrambling and stunning 360-degree views of New Market Gap and the Luray Valley, as well as a geocache. Download the Trail Map. McAfee Knob is the jutting end of a crazily tilted rocky mountain, sticking out into thin air like a diving platform. Peaks of Otter . OLD RAG MOUNTAIN Hike to the Lower Falls from Boundary (2 miles - Easy), hike to the Upper Falls from Skyline Drive (4.6 miles - Moderate), or hike the full Whiteoak-Cedar Run Circuit (7.3 miles - Difficult). This isn't where the actually trail begins, so you can either drive to the "overflow" parking past the first Lodge parking, walk past the Polly Woods Ordinary site on the paved path/road, OR 2) come in from VA … Harkening Hill is a less crowded option, especially than the popular Sharp Top. BLUE SUCK FALLS TRAIL I have hiked up the sister peak, Sharp Top, countless times, but I have only been up Flat Top a few times. A 1.4-mile out-and-back hike, follow the trail .75 miles down to the falls - it is steep in some sections. Access from the North River Campground if you're camping, or from Mount Solon, take route 747 west to a right on route 730, followed by a left on route 763 which turns into route 718. Length: 5.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate. View Map > Visit Website > View Details > Appalachian Trail. There are plenty of great hiking trails in Virginia, and there are a special few that you'll want add to your bucket list. Unless you are a glutton for exercise, there is a closer trailhead near the front parking lot of the Peaks of Otter Lodge, which is a half mile farther north. Blue Ridge Parkway 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. Bedford, Virginia --Five men of the armed forces, four lieutenants and one corporal, met instant death Tuesday night a little before 10 o'clock when a twin-engined army plane crashed into the Peaks of Otter on the southwest slope of … If you're seeking more waterfalls, Crabtree Falls is a great choice. It consists of three mountain peaks centered on man-made Abbott Lake in the small valley between them. Why so popular? Length: 3.4 miles Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that turn your visit into a fun and exciting outdoors experience. The site (first-come, first-serve) is big enough for two tents; another site .2 mile downriver allows for spillover. Peaks of Otter Hiking Trails (MP 85.9) Trailhead or access point to a dozen hiking trails. Escape the bustle and experience an amazing hiking and camping trip. Learn more. Length: 3.8 HIGH BRIDGE TRAIL Flat Top Mountain via the Abbot Lake Trail is located in the beautiful Peaks of Otter area in Bedford, Virginia. Difficulty: Hard. Difficulty: Moderate. Difficulty: Moderate. Difficulty: Moderate. They came for the three spectacular peaks (Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkings Mtn. Gain: 3.5 hrs plus a half hour for lunch 1,640 ft Parking:Park at the Peaks Of Otter vistors center. Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Awesome place to skinny dip? Take a hike, with six trails to choose from within the Peaks of Otter area and three National Scenic Trails fewer than eight miles away; Go fish! Length: 2.9 - 3.7 miles The Peaks of Otter include Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill, each with its own amazing view. Download the Trail Map. Fairy stones are rare rock crystals sometimes in the shape of a cross, so keep your eye peeled as you hike the 13-mile multi-use Little Mountain Trail System or the five-mile hiker-only Stuarts Knob Trail System. The Visitor Center was closed when we were there but we really came for the hike anyway. Sharp Top is not the highest of the peaks at 3,875 feet, but it offers the best views - 360 degrees, in fact. Both offer outstanding views and both are considered moderately difficult. The trailhead is located to the right of the building. Download this stock image: Hiker on Sharp Top Mountain, Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, USA - ARDY5W from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. The Peaks of Otter and Sharp Top aren’t hard to find – just follow these directions. No pets allowed. Maintained by the National Park Service, the park has 15 miles of trails - five are multi-use and allow bikes and horses. We basecamp in the peaks area itself, which helps mitigate that slightly. Peaks Of Otter - Bedford, Virginia. Download the Trail Map. Length: 4.1 miles Dec 31, 2016 - Explore Cozy Layers Inc's board "backpacking and mountaineering", followed by 265 people on Pinterest. Many rewarding spots with lots to be discovered. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34.3-mile rails-to-trails treasure for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders with several access points. Another rails-to-trails project, New River Trail State Park crosses four counties for a total of 57 scenic miles right along the New River. We had lost power during the ear Some backpacking experience is required for this trip. Download the Trail Map. This area is known as Scothorn Gap. From the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center (MP 85.9) a .3-mile connector trail leads to the start of the Johnson Farm Loop Trail. Difficulty: Moderate-Hard. DRAGON'S TOOTH The National Park Service preserves the peaks and … Difficulty: Hard. The trail is wide and multi-use, so expect to see bikes and horses along the way. Photos of Peaks of Otter Recreation Area - 6. An opening awaits you at about mile three and again at about mile four. Bear left and go about 0.2 miles to the top (we did not go to Buzzard’s Roost but it is supposed to also have good views). Download the Trail Map. Length: .74 - 3.3 miles 85554 Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike out to the rock outcrop itself for an amazing view over the Shenandoah Valley. Overlooking Floyd County and then some is Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve at a high-point of 3,971 feet. This 5.5 mile trek will take you to impressive formations of sandstone outcroppings. The hike is easy and the elevation change is only 835 feet for the out-and-back of 2.4 miles. Difficulty: Easy - Hard. Exploring Fairystone State Park might just yield a special treasure! For Virginia citizen and business services visit www.Virginia.gov. We are still interested in a 3-5 mild-moderate hike with good views, so I will comb though the recommendations above. We are revisiting this trip again (Peaks of Otter) and will do it Easter weekend 2019 (one day only). Astronomy Join NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern for engaging presentations about outer space! Abbot Lake was drained in … r/CampingandHiking: For Backpackers who Hike with Camping Gear in their Backpack. Peaks of Otter, Bedford, Virginia. There is a stone cottage at the peak. Find out why Virginia is for Lovers. Sharp Top, along with Flat Top and Harkening Hill, make up the namesake three "Peaks of Otter." THE CHANNELS NATURAL AREA PRESERVE TRAIL Hike Abstract Location: Flat Top Mountain Overlook, Peaks of Otter Recreation Area, VA Distance from Hubs: Raleigh (161 miles – 3 hours and 6 min) Greensboro (125 miles – 2 hours and 23 min) Roanoke (32 miles – 55 min) Trail Access: From Bedford, VA follow VA-43 north for 10.3 mi. Tallest peak in the park is Mt. 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