Peaks of Otter

There are seven hikes in this document, cut & paste the one you want into meetup

Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Botetourt and Bedford Counties from BRP Mile-83.5 to Mile-85.7. The Peaks of Otter are rich in history. They were first measured by Thomas Jefferson, who thought they were among the highest mountains in North America. There are some wonderful views and we can walk around Abbot Lake.

Driving From Roanoke:

30 miles from Daleville, $3.00 carpool fee
I-81 to exit 162, US-11 north almost to James River
Right on VA-43 to Blue Ridge Parkway (BRPw) at MP-90
Left, north, to MP-86, the Visitor Center and where VA-43 leaves the BRPw towards Bedford.

Flat Top

4.3 miles, moderate terrain
Leave a shuttle car at the visitor center or the lodge and drive on to MP-83.5.
This scenic hike climbs to the summit of Flat Top Mountain on a series of switchbacks. At one point a side trail descends a short distance to an unusual formation known as Cross Rock. At the summit of Flat Top nice views may be obtained by easy scrambles onto projecting rocks.

Flat Top and Falling Water Cascades

5.3 miles,moderate terrain
Park at MP-83.5.
This hike will start with an out and back climb up Flat Top Mountain There should be many trillium along the trail at this time of year. At one point a side trail descends a short distance to an unusual formation known as Cross Rock. At the summit of Flat Top, nice views may be obtained by easy scrambles onto projecting rocks. Upon descending back to the Parkway, the hike will continue with a short descent to Falling Water Cascades, a scenic creek and waterfall.

Sharp Top

3.8 miles, moderate terrain
Park at the Visitor Center.
This hike will climb to the 4,000-foot pinnacle of Sharp Top. The first half of hike is a steep ascent with many stone steps. There is a spectacular 360-degree view from the rocky summit. We will also be making a side trip to the site of a bomber that crashed on the side of the mountain on a training exercise during World War II. Parts of the plane can still be seen.

Harkening Hill

3.5 miles, moderate terrain
Park at the visitor center
Although Harkening Hill is not as tall as its neighbors Sharp Top and Flat Top, but it has striking geological formations and abundant wildlife, The hike begins with a switchback ascent to a ridge south of Harkening Hill's summit. After 1.4 miles, scramble up ridge-hugging boulders for views of the Parkway's mountains further south. The trail then bends north along the ridge and reaches the 3,364-foot summit at 1.7 miles. Climb the rock just beyond the marker for the best views. A spur trail 700 feet past the summit leads to Balance Rock. At mile 2.1, hike through a small glade to an unmarked fork. Turn left and merge onto the Johnson Farm Trail, a wide, grassy path that visits the Johnson Farm, a living history museum open to visitors in the summer. From the farm, continue down a rutted lane then turn right, passing the site of an old hotel and back to the parking lot.

Flat Top & Sharp Top

8.0 miles, moderate terrain
Leave a shuttle car at the visitor center or the lodge and drive on to MP-83.5.
First we will climb to the summit of Flat Top Mountain on a series of switchbacks, then traverse the mountain and descend to the base of Sharp Top Mountain. At one point a side trail descends a short distance to an unusual formation known as Cross Rock. At the summit of Flat Top nice views may be obtained by easy scrambles onto projecting rocks.

The hike will then climb to the 4,000-foot pinnacle of Sharp Top, one of the Peaks of Otter in Bedford. The first half of hike is a steep ascent with many stone steps. There is a spectacular 360 view from the rocky summit. We will also be making a side trip to the site of a bomber that crashed on the side of the mountain on a training exercise during World War II. Parts of the plane can still be seen.

Flat Top, Sharp Top, and Harkening Hill 11.5 miles, moderate terrain
Leave a shuttle car at the visitor center or the lodge and drive on to MP-83.5.
First we will climb to the summit of Flat Top mountain on a series of switchbacks, then traverse the mountain and descend to the base of Sharp Top Mountain. At one point a side trail descends a short distance to an unusual formation known as Cross Rock. At the summit of Flat Top nice views may be obtained by easy scrambles onto projecting rocks.

The hike will then climb to the 4,000-foot pinnacle of Sharp Top, one of the Peaks of Otter in Bedford. The first half of hike is a steep ascent with many stone steps. There is a spectacular 360 view from the rocky summit. We will also be making a side trip to the site of a bomber that crashed on the side of the mountain on a training exercise during World War II. Parts of the plane can still be seen.

We will then finish the hike with the climb up to the top of Harkening Hill, one of three prominent peaks that form the Peaks of Otter. Although Harkening Hill is not as tall as its neighbors Sharp Top and Flat Top, but it has striking geological formations and abundant wildlife. The hike begins with a switchback ascent to a ridge south of Harkening Hill's summit. After 1.4 miles, scramble up ridge-hugging boulders for views of the Parkway's mountains further south. The trail then bends north along the ridge and reaches the 3,364-foot summit at 1.7 miles. Climb the rock just beyond the marker for the best views. A spur trail 700 feet past the summit leads to Balance Rock. At mile 2.1, hike through a small glade to an unmarked fork. Turn left and merge onto the Johnson Farm Trail, a wide, grassy path that visits the Johnson Farm, a living history museum open to visitors in the summer. From the farm, continue down a rutted lane then turn right, passing the site of an old hotel and back to the parking lot.

Falling Water Cascades, Flat Top Mountain, Harkening Hills Trails

9.8 miles, moderate terrain
Leave a shuttle car at the visitor center or the lodge and drive on to MP-83.5.
It will start at Falling Water Cascades parking, MP-83.5. We will descend down to the Falling Water Cascades waterfalls and ascend back up to the parkway to the trailhead of Flat Top Mountain. It will follow Flat Top Mountain Trail to the Peaks of Otter picnic area, the road to Abbott Lake, then go around the lake past the lodge and under the BRPW to the trail to Harkening Hill. It will go by the Johnson Farm continuing to the summit of Harkening Hill and end up at the parking area of the Country Store and Museum. This hike offers a waterfall, a side trip to Cross Rock (an unusual rock formation near the top of Flat Top Mountain), beautiful views from the summit of Flat Top Mountain, Abbott Lake, the historical Johnson Farm and views from the summit of Harkening Hill.

FallingWater Cascades

1.6 miles, Moderate terrain
Park at MP-83.5.
This loop hike goes down a short, scenic trail to Fallingwater Cascades. In 0.3 miles cross a bridge at the head of the falls with great view of the falls from 0.4 to 0.5 miles. At 0.6 miles cross another bridge and soon the trail will start to climb back up to the BRP. Stay to the left at 1.1 miles unless you want to go to the Flat Top parking area. At 1.3 miles you will start to descend to the trailhead.