Sharp Top (3,875 ft.): Pass the empty stone building (a former concession stand), then climb a few steps to the boulder-covered summit. According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Although this was later proved inaccurate by the 5,729-foot Mount Rogers, Sharp Top still reigns supreme when it comes to views. You have arrived at Sharp Top at the 1.6-mile mark. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Pretty basic accommodations, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean. Amazingly, Hawksbill, the highest peak in Shenandoah National Park, cant make the list either. Thats where our shuttles comes in handy. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Everyone else was walking to the top. It was a delicious meal and a relaxing time. Steep, stone-cut steps are the efficient (and quad busting) substitute. Flat Top rises to an elevation of 4,004 feet with many scattered rock outcrops. The hostess had to pitch in to help serve us. The stone was even inscribed to honor George Washington. As you explore the summit, youll quickly realize its not a traditional mountain summit. Youll learn that Sharp Top was once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia. read more, Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. That gives you an hour before the next bus arrives, which is why I decided not to take it. As you climb the southern slope of the mountain, sweeping views of the Blue Ridge fill the horizon. We settled for sandwiches instead. Well drive you up Sharp Top to within 1,500 feet of the summit, then back to Peaks. They had a buffet option, but it was really expensive and there was no way I could have eaten my moneys worth. For the full Sharp Top hike (3.3 miles, out-and-back), the trail begins with a dozen stone steps right. (1), Images Its not rugged and jagged, with outcroppings to sit on for scenic views. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. For a leisurely walk, allow one hour. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The hike down was over pretty quickly and we were off to lunch! We rode the bus almost to the top of this mountain, but to get to the very top, you have to hike up a steep winding trail. If you don't want to hike the steep trail (with multiple stairs . (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. Sharp Top Shuttle Schedule Shuttle departs from the Peaks of Otter Lodge lobby at 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. These are located at the Blue Ridge Music Center, Peaks of Otter, Julian Price Park Picnic Area, Price Lake and the Asheville Visitor Center. What was I going to do at the top of Sharp Top Mountain for an hour? Fallingwater Cascades Trail the other segment of the National Recreation Trail, is a loop trail which takes hikers along cascades on Fallingwater Creek with its huge rock outcrops clothed in rhododendron and large hemlocks. These Photos Prove It. Each room has a beautiful lake view. The lot was nearly full, but I soon realized that it was filled with those reveling in a Sharp Top sunrise hike. The shuttle runs every hour (maybe every half hour on a busy day) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the top. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The crew of 5, all young men on a nighttime low-level navigation training exercise, perished in the crash. The only sour note is the ranger who mans the visitor center. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. Were can I find trail rules for the Sharp Top? But needless to say youll never find me doing any serious rock climbing! Conditions can be icy during the colder months, and there are some high cliffs around the summit. 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. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. I turned left for Sharp Top, but hit Buzzards Roost on the way down. Sharp Top Mountain looms large in the Peaks of Otter landscape in more ways than one. I was glad I got an early start on this hike. The visitors Ctr is nice and the people who work there are informative. Great views and some fun climbing. Photos (4) Directions. It is indeed a popular place! Visitors can buy one-way ($12/adult, $6/child) or round-trip ($15/adult, $7/child) tickets. Relax on the outdoor patio after your visit to Sharp Top. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 47 min to complete. Sharp Top Mountain is located in the Peaks of Otter Recreation Area at milepost 86 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. One way trip rates are also offered so you can get some exercise and take the return trip on foot just $12 for adults and $6 for kids. All over the summit, there are small alcoves and large rocks to perch upon to take in the view. Still a long way down a decline. 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. The trail takes hikers through a woodland forest and open field, offering a close-up view of this picturesque lake. At the summit of Sharp Top, there are stone walkways, stairs and terraces. 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 actual Sharp Top Mountain address is 7861 Sheep Creek Road in Bedford. Continue to climb up the trail which includes some sections of stairs. It is a steep trail, and it took about 1.5hrs to get to 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. Even better, it wasnt as difficult I expected. 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. Food was good. 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. Alpenglow in the Appalachians? I was not deterred, however. The shuttle driver is very good given that the road is very narrow and steep. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Last pick-up at top of mountain = 4:30 PM. -Mapped by Amy C. Balfour. Thankfully, the weather was on board with my plan. The view of Sharp Top is great. Discover this 5.3-km out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. --Mark Twain. But, you can also consider the bus ride to the top. The views are truly spectacular. This is also where you can purchase tickets for the Sharp Top Shuttlea bus to the top of Sharp Top Mountain. It was nice to just be able to walk out from our room to fish. 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. Don't be fooled by the easy start, it gets pretty steep in some places. Its covered in the post. All of the staff were extremely nice and friendly. The roost had amazing views, but I did not enjoy climbing up the rock. The most well-known trail of Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway is the Peaks of Otter trail.It's a 1.5-mile hike to the summit of Sharp Top. Some stone steps, then a stretch of hiking trail, then more stone steps. Sharp Top has such a special place in my heart. Sharp Top is a popular hiking destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Peaks of Otter recreation area. It's not a long hike, about 30 minutes or so but it is very steep. So many upwards hikers commented on them! We go in two weeks to sharp top. Continue straight at this junction to reach the summit. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. Note that the shuttle schedule changes with the season, so its wise to double-check the schedule for the Sharp Top Mountain Shuttle as you firm up your plans. . We are a group in our 60's and wondered about the trail difficulty etc and virtually couldn't get any information from him. MORE PARK INFO: Blue Ridge Parkway, (828) 271-4779; nps.gov/blri/. 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. For an optional detour (and overlook), follow the signed spur trail for about 600 feet to Buzzards Roost. Continue left on the trail to the summit. Ill try to get him to haul his cookies up the mountain again next year. Anytime I climb places with uneven footing and precipitous, open drops I get an awful spinning sensation. At the summit, there were no more than a half-dozen hikers. This trail drops 260 feet below the Fallingwater Trail Parking Area and hikers should be prepared to climb that elevation on their return. He was and is in a position to help the visitors to this area and he only gets in the way of enjoying this wonderful space. Sharp Top Mountain Climber's Log on SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering. Experiencing this mountain cascade is well worth the effort. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Avoid the exposed peak during storms. The road to Mt Seymour is a mountain highway plowed and sanded during winter. 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. read more, Just before you get to the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the left. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Hiking Adventures to Make Your Spring Pure Gold, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 7 Best Hikes Backpackers Editors Did in 2022, The Best San Diego Hikes for Your Next Coastal Adventure. We got a really early start on our morning, and were headed up the trail by 9:30 or so. Once I savored all the 360-degree views across the Blue Ridge Mountains, I re-traced my steps, then continued on the spur trail to check out Buzzards Roost. No cars or hikers are allowed on the road to the top. For example, the Flat Top Trail A strenuous 4.4-mile hike to the summit of Flat Top peak. The keurig in the room was a nice touch. While a hike like this isnt for everybody, the views from the top sure are. Peaks of Otter Lodge 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. After passing the building, the path winds between the stones up to the highest spot. The hotel exceeded our expectations of a rustic mountain lodge. On one hike with a friend I had growing up, we spotted some trail runners. Be aware that weather and road surface conditions change quickly. 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. Cant wait To hike it . According to a sign near the summit, the boulders formed after diorite rock split apart along weather-weakened seams. The beds were surprisingly comfy. (36), Climber's Log Entries Consider bringing your walking stick (the trail is very rocky in spots). Abbott Lake and Flat Top Mountain (just taller at 4,001 feet) are visible to the north. Every available space was taken, as was every patch of grass that could fit a vehicle. Their Lake View Restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in-season. For a sit-down meal, look next door to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. My wife and visit this area quite often. Choose the Perfect Gift at One of Our Lodge Shops Gift Shop Carefully climb the massive rock or take a short spur path on the right for views. The shuttle delivers visitors to within .25-mile of the summit. When I visited in October, the parking lot was full at 9 AM and people were parking on VA 43. When To Climb All year. The Washington Monument, completed in 1884, contains an engraved stone block recognizing 3,875-foot Sharp Top Mountain as Virginias highest peak. 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