sharp top mountain shuttle

If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . The trail for Sharp Top said strenuous and it was definitely difficult. At the 1.2-mark, youll reach a trail sign. The trail is 1.6 miles to the top from the Visitor's Center. The trail starts off with a slow but steady climb and then crosses the bus summit road at .25 miles. Was designated with Fallingwater Cascades trail as a continuous National Recreation Trail in April 1982. Unless you started very early, the mountain will be crawling with people who took the bus ride to the top. 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. Hiking along the bus road is prohibited. At the .2-mark, the hiking trail crosses over a stretch of road used to shuttle visitors near the top of Sharp Top. I was nervous given the Sharp Top Trail was rated as hard and elevation gain neared 1,300 feet. more. If you like the stair master at the gym, you will love the ups and downs of the hike. So many upwards hikers commented on them! 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." While I personally dont think it is that difficult, I can understand some people feeling that way. Thankfully, the weather was on board with my plan. 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. Explore this 3.3-mile out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. At the summit of Sharp Top, there are stone walkways, stairs and terraces. Its covered in the post. I discovered you blog just a few days ago. I managed it with breaks every few hundred feet. Then, keep your eyes open for a change of scenery. It apparently used to be a concession stand. It was nice to just be able to walk out from our room to fish. On this trail, hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Parkway trail heads. Trail runners are common on Sharp Top most mornings. I know they are not on the Appalachian. The Washington Monument, completed in 1884, contains an engraved stone block recognizing 3,875-foot Sharp Top Mountain as Virginias highest peak. My family used to regularly have picnic lunches at Peaks of Otter, so this is a place Ive been visiting all of my life. (36), Climber's Log Entries Experiencing this mountain cascade is well worth the effort. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down. Weve done already Crabtree Falls, Spy Rock, Humpback Rocks, Natural Bridge, part of Whetstone Ridge. 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. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. 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. Pass an old stone building then take the last few steps to the top for the full panorama. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Relax on the outdoor patio after your visit to Sharp Top. (1), Images It operates from 8:30am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. Some stone steps, then a stretch of hiking trail, then more stone steps. Last fall, I hiked Sharp Top Mountain in Bedford, Virginia. We're all about skipping the drive, and enjoying the ride when it comes to skiing at Mount Washington. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. All of the staff were extremely nice and friendly. The best times to visit this trail are March through November. Sharp Top is located at milepost 85.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Print/PDF map. 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. The This is an extremely popular hike for families and larger groups, but it definitely has some steep sections. Moderate 4.4 (6) Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. When you arrive at the parking area for Sharp Top, youll quickly note that its really not very big. Be sure to enjoy the plants and animals that live along this trail and dont be surprised to run into many of them on your trip. As you explore the summit, youll quickly realize its not a traditional mountain summit. As we hiked up the trail, we passed several downhill hikers on their way back from watching sunrise atop the summit. Beware of ticks and flies at the top. It has almost every kind of terrain and some parts are easy and some parts of very difficult. They really were pretty cool. Required fields are marked *. I was glad I got an early start on this hike. Located in the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia, Sharp Top is by far the most popular of the three Peaks of Otter, standing proud at 3,875 feet tall. We go in two weeks to sharp top. Length 1.1 miElevation gain 452 ftRoute type Out & back. Thanks for the visit! So I have done research on where this is and several of my friends are going to go in march. Red Tape There is no red tape of which I'm aware. I had an inner ear virus a few years ago, and have suffered serious bouts of vertigo ever since. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Whats ur recommendation on them hiking all the way up? Loved the screen doors, and you sure can't beat the views! Once we got to the top we were surprised to see how much was up there. Get Directions. Steps ascend from parking lot and nature center. Gorgeous views of the Peaks of Otter and great hike to the top. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. There are plenty of spots for photo ops. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. From here, I re-traced my steps back to the parking area. The rock formations on this mountain are impressive! Although this was later proved inaccurate by the 5,729-foot Mount Rogers, Sharp Top still reigns supreme when it comes to views. Finally, Scottish settlers may have named the Peaks after Ben Otter, a mountain in their homeland that resembles Sharp Top.. Round trip rates are $15 for adults and $7 for children 2-12. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The shuttle driver is very good given that the road is very narrow and steep. The only criticism we had was related to slow service in the dining room. After you cross the bus road, the path gets a lot tougher. We got a really early start on our morning, and were headed up the trail by 9:30 or so. Trail is ADA Accessible.This is also a kid-friendly TRACK trail. A peak's prominence, also known as topographic prominence or relative height, is a measure of how distinct a peak is from other peaks. Viewing: 1-12 of 12. Sometimes it sure seems like it. According to a sign near the summit, the boulders formed after diorite rock split apart along weather-weakened seams. It's a tough walk, especially if you have any issues with your knees but I had my cane which helped immensely. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Sharp Top Trail begins at the back of the parking area. Continue on (yes, more steps). Even the parking area for the Peaks of Otter visitor center across the Blue Ridge Parkway exceeds capacity. 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+ (15), Additions & Corrections Sharp Top Trail can be challenging if (like me) you're not exactly an avid hiker, but it's fun and totally worth it when you make it to the top and get to enjoy the amazing, 360-degree panoramic views. Its nice that most everyone can enjoy the summit views. The views are truly spectacular. 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). The name may come from the Cherokee Indian word, ottari, which means high places. The Peaks may have been named after the Otter River, which has its headwaters in the area. 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. For an optional detour (and overlook), follow the signed spur trail for about 600 feet to Buzzards Roost. The hostess had to pitch in to help serve us. Sharp Top Mountain Trail Everything from We thought you were skiing down! to Why do you have two hiking sticks? to Darn I wish I remembered to bring my trekking poles!. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. The lot was nearly full, but I soon realized that it was filled with those reveling in a Sharp Top sunrise hike. Its a very strange sensation. We never made it up to the intensity of running the mountain, but it was some good exercise. Famous naturalists and such . The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. Bus/Shuttle Stop, Food/Drink - Ice Cream, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Parking - Auto, Restroom - Seasonal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. Each year, he seems proud to know that he can still climb up that hill. He was working the day we hiked it this year, so he didnt get to make the trip. It does not store any personal data. I might suggest looking there. After passing the building, the path winds between the stones up to the highest spot. The lodge offers great food. 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. The Visitor Center was closed when we were there but we really came for the hike anyway. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. But, you can also consider the bus ride to the top. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. there is no public driving up there its too narrow . 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. 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. The hotel exceeded our expectations of a rustic mountain lodge. Sharp Top (3,875 ft.): Pass the empty stone building (a former concession stand), then climb a few steps to the boulder-covered summit. Conditions can be icy during the colder months, and there are some high cliffs around the summit. By then it was open. Shuttle Service Updates Jan. 9 - 22 Schedule Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 Schedule . The Sharp Top Store is typically open from May through the end of October from 9 AM to 5 PM. 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. Small gift shop, restrooms and info on All Rights Reserved. The shuttle runs every hour (maybe every half hour on a busy day) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the top. 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. Photos (4) Directions. Ive outlined three hiking options that range from 2.8 to 3.6 miles. Ive never seen horses/mules on that trail, so my *guess* is that pack animals are not allowed. (TRACK trail). You can usually spot the bus crowd easily theyre never sweaty and are often wearing dressier clothing and insensible shoes. The view from the top on a clear day you can see mountains in all directions. I grew up in nearby Lynchburg and I couldnt even tell you the number of times I have hiked this trail. For some reason, this is always the only part of the Sharp Top trail I remember. I had no idea that this hike is a very popular one, though I can see why. gkaufman - Apr 17, 2009 7:33 am Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2009 . 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? 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. 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. We actually opted to walk the gravel road down the mountain to save my knees for the next hike. Kelly J. Mihalcoe photo Visitors to Peaks of Otter follow a long-standing tradition of tourism. The inside is an empty room concrete floor, fireplace and small windows that look out to the view beyond. Sharp Top Mountain - Review of Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, Virginia, United States - Tripadvisor United States Virginia (VA) Virginia - Things to Do Peaks of Otter Visitor Center Peaks of Otter Visitor Center 157 Reviews #209 of 3,068 things to do in Virginia Nature & Parks, Forests, More Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 24523 Save edsel13304 Enjoy the varied instruments, styles, and sounds of live Blue Ridge Mountain music select weekends! The trail soon coils steeply to the summit. 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). Thanks for the interesting read. Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. Then, a path on the left leads to the Sharp Top campground. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. 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. Sharp Top Trail Shuttle The Sharp Top Store also sells walk-up Sharp Top Mountain shuttle tickets. more. The TRACK Trail program is a network of kid friendly self guided trails on or near the Parkway. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. Its an easy .9-mile walk around Abbott Lake. The Falling Water Cascades Trail is a 1.4-mile loop hike that leads to a series of cascades on Fallingwater Creek. It is indeed a popular place! 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. For a less crowded experience, consider relaxing at the Buzzards Roost spur rather than hiking all the way up to the summit. You have arrived at Sharp Top at the 1.6-mile mark. We settled for sandwiches instead. If you are on blue ridge parkway take the time to appreciate this area and hike its fun trails! Its certainly a thrill to hike up to the top of the nearly 4,000-foot mountain. 2023 DNC Parks & Resorts at Peaks of Otter, Inc. Across the road from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is Virginia 43, a turn off from the Blue Ridge Parkway that leads to the Sharp Top Store, the Peaks of Otter Campground, and the Peaks of Otter Picnic Area. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. Great views and some fun climbing. I wish I did it sooner. Rode the shuttle back down. , 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. Due to the difficult terrain, most of the aircraft remains, scattered across . It's defined as the vertical distance between a peak and the lowest contour line surrounding that peak and no higher peak. Almost immediately upon reaching the summit, youll pass the cabin. Coming all the way from the Florida keys . 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. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. The trail is popular with families, and youll even see the occasional dog (a leash is required). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Periodically, there are reprieves where the grade moderates and you get a chance to catch your breath. It will definitly make you sweat, especially on an 80 degree day. It was far from the quiet, peaceful scene I met at the start of my hike. Allow two to three hours for a leisurely visit. Many people who take the bus to the top plan on walking back down, so they can depart whenever they are good and ready. 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. There are numerous TRACK Trails in this area include five TRACK trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Flat Top Trail A strenuous 4.4-mile hike to the summit of Flat Top peak. Directions to trailhead: The trail begins near mile marker 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. It was a painfully strenuous 1.5 mile hike up dirt paths, rock scrambles and steps. Peaks of Otter Lodge Everyone else was walking to the top. Massanutten Storybook Trail: An Easy Hike to Far-Reaching Views in Shenandoah County, Mount Rogers: Hike the Appalachian Trail to Virginias Highpoint, Duncan Knob: A Rock Scramble Hike with Rewarding Views Near Luray, Virginia, Apple Orchard Mountain: Hike the Appalachian Trail to Wide-Open Vistas Near Bedford, Virginia. Free Shuttle Schedule Hop Aboard. Turn left to continue to the summit of Sharp Top. We decided to brave the Sharp Top based on the reviews. Sharp Top can be accessed from the north or the south along the Appalachian Trail. read more. 199 Hemphill Knob Rd I was very proud of them! fantastic hikes right there at the Peaks of Otter. 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Where the grade moderates and you get a chance to catch your breath, 1:30pm, and 3pm review are... But the ranger is very narrow and steep sharp top mountain shuttle on where this is always the only criticism we was. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website turn left sharp top mountain shuttle continue to the highest.. Animals are not allowed of objects that logically fall under a given object I grew in. Can see mountains in all directions almost every kind of terrain and some parts of very difficult Top.... Got a really early start on our morning, and trip reports as children accessed from quiet! Were surprised to see how much was up there high places leads to a series of Cascades on Creek. Were extremely nice and the people who work there are informative remains scattered. National Recreation trail in April 1982, though I can see why ( and overlook ), it., keep your eyes open for a leisurely visit trip reports as children member not. Through the end of October from 9 AM to 5 PM be crawling with people who work are... Washington Monument, completed in 1884, contains an engraved stone block recognizing 3,875-foot Sharp Top Store sells... You arrive at the 1.2-mark, youll quickly realize its not a traditional mountain summit parking... A rustic mountain Lodge criticism we had was related to slow service in the area to.