sharp top mountain shuttle

We have a 4and 6 year old girls. Youll still have a short hike from the bus drop-off and lots of rocks to scramble on and views to enjoy! Carefully climb the massive rock or take a short spur path on the right for views. My wife and are senior citizens and taking our time we did make it all the way to the top. At 1.2 miles, you reach a junction. It has almost every kind of terrain and some parts are easy and some parts of very difficult. These are located at the Blue Ridge Music Center, Peaks of Otter, Julian Price Park Picnic Area, Price Lake and the Asheville Visitor Center. 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. For example, the This is also where you can purchase tickets for the Sharp Top Shuttlea bus to the top of Sharp Top Mountain. Sharp Top Mountain Trail At the summit, there were no more than a half-dozen hikers. We are visiting VA for three weeks staying in Vesuvius. There is no drinking water available on the summit, so carry plenty with you. Peaks of Otter Lodge This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The view from the top on a clear day you can see mountains in all directions. Pretty basic accommodations, but we found the hotel to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean. Although this was later proved inaccurate by the 5,729-foot Mount Rogers, Sharp Top still reigns supreme when it comes to views. Its great and so helpful. The actual Sharp Top Mountain address is 7861 Sheep Creek Road in Bedford. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Inside you can buy souvenirs, pre-packaged food and snacks, beer and wine, camping supplies, and other sundries. I dont see anything specifically about pack animals, so you may need to call/email to inquire specifically. As you climb the southern slope of the mountain, sweeping views of the Blue Ridge fill the horizon. The trail takes hikers through a woodland forest and open field, offering a close-up view of this picturesque lake. 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. Return to 'Sharp Top Mountain' main page. 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. Discover this 5.3-km out-and-back trail near Thaxton, Virginia. Thankfully, the weather was on board with my plan. Thank you for signing up for email alerts! The shuttle departs from the main lodge building. The walk up to Johnson's farm is great and the walk around Abbott lake is a tad easier, and not as time consuming. Asheville 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). Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down. Kids who hike any of these trails can register their hike at kidsinparks.com to win prizes to make their next outdoor adventure more fun. Finally, Scottish settlers may have named the Peaks after Ben Otter, a mountain in their homeland that resembles Sharp Top.. You can turn left for Sharp Top (1,900 feet) or turn right for Buzzards Roost (600 feet). Avoid the exposed peak during storms. The one downside to Sharp Top is the crowd of people youll be almost guaranteed to see. 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.. The stone was even inscribed to honor George Washington. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Eager for steps on area hiking trails? All over the summit, there are small alcoves and large rocks to perch upon to take in the view. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Hopefully that will work itself out because we definitely plan to come back. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. A right turn leads to the shuttle bus shelter. The only criticism we had was related to slow service in the dining room. Sign up for Outside+ today. It will definitly make you sweat, especially on an 80 degree day. For a sit-down meal, look next door to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. My wife and visit this area quite often. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. MORE PARK INFO: Blue Ridge Parkway, (828) 271-4779; nps.gov/blri/. 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. The only sour note is the ranger who mans the visitor center. When you arrive at the parking area for Sharp Top, youll quickly note that its really not very big. This no-nonsense trail has little use for switchbacks (there are only a few) as it shoots toward the summit. Shuttles run from the parking lot to the top of the peak in summer. there is no public driving up there its too narrow . We go in two weeks to sharp top. 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). 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. Its fairly relentless uphill for a while. 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. "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Its certainly a thrill to hike up to the top of the nearly 4,000-foot mountain. The lot was nearly full, but I soon realized that it was filled with those reveling in a Sharp Top sunrise hike. Stop by to pick up ready-to-eat foods, snacks, bottled water, and more. If your kids are fit and active, they may be able to do the entire hike. Concession-operated bus service (one-way or round trip) to within one quarter mile of the top is available seasonally. The trailhead is beside the camp store. It was nice to just be able to walk out from our room to fish. Shuttle Service Updates Jan. 9 - 22 Schedule Jan. 23 - Feb. 2 Schedule . This is a steep and strenuous route and should be attempted only by those in good health. The shuttle is a good option for those either not interested or not able to hike all the way to the top. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Round trip rates are $15 for adults and $7 for children 2-12. 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. We hiked the peaks of otter and loved every moment of it. Near the 1.5-mile mark, youll see short spur trails on both sides of Sharp Top Trail. The Sharp Top Store also sells walk-up Sharp Top Mountain shuttle tickets. 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. 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. He was so friendly and personable! If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. 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. Great views and some fun climbing. According to official elevations, this Sharp Top doesnt even make the top 50 list. For some reason, this was the first time Ive taken the option. All of the staff were extremely nice and friendly. And, the Johnson Farm hike was a lovely walk through the woods. 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. Bedford, VA 24523. The Visitors Center was closed. Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Virginia. I had no idea that this hike is a very popular one, though I can see why. 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 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. Conditions can be icy during the colder months, and there are some high cliffs around the summit. I was glad I got an early start on this hike. The least difficult of these trails, is a one-mile loop around Abbott Lake. Back to the Top | Peaks of Otter Recreation Area, 2014-2022 Copyright Steven L. Markos. Continue on (yes, more steps). Photos (4) Directions. Youll still have to climb a short, moderately steep distance http://www.peaksofotter.com/Sharp-Top-Shuttle.aspx, No there is no way to drive .there is a seasonal bus that will take you up for five dollars round-trip ,but you still have to walk the other one fourth of a mile .it only takes like 20 minutes to walk up from the bus stop where It drops you as far up as it can go . Each room has a beautiful lake view. The inside is an empty room concrete floor, fireplace and small windows that look out to the view beyond. Print/PDF map. The remaining .3 miles to the summit starts off relatively flat, but there are more sections of rock stairs along the way. Sharp Top can be accessed from the north or the south along the Appalachian Trail. The I encountered few peak-bound hikers on this hike. A small visitor center with a few displays of information. The view was very nice and it's a good place to enjoy your lunch although it probably could be crowded on some days. Its a tough little climb, but the summit is spectacular. http://www.wp21.com/b25crash/, View Sharp Top Mountain Image Gallery - 36 Images. The aptly-named Turtle Rock. It's defined as the vertical distance between a peak and the lowest contour line surrounding that peak and no higher peak. Choose the Perfect Gift at One of Our Lodge Shops Gift Shop It is a steep trail, and it took about 1.5hrs to get to the top. 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. Turn left to continue to the summit of Sharp Top. If you are a serious hiker, Sharp Top Mountain is a definite must do. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. But I have to admit that mountain of fried chicken on the buffet table looked very compelling! A loop trail, approximately two miles long, which follows a section of the Harkening Hill loop trail. 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. Small gift shop, restrooms and info on I might suggest looking there. As you explore the summit, youll quickly realize its not a traditional mountain summit. Add an extra half-hour for the spur trail to Buzzards Roost, a series of large rock formations offering different views of the area. There is a plaque there that mentions that Sharp Top was once believed to be the tallest mountain in Virginia and that a stone from this mountain was used to build the Washington Monument. It is manned by one Ranger. There are plenty of spots for photo ops. I discovered you blog just a few days ago. A spur path near the summit leads to Balance Rock, an immense boulder balanced on a small rock. Go back the way you came. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is small but the ranger is very knowledgable and friendly. Ive brought my older brother a few times over the last few years. On this trail, hikers can experience the changing forest ecology as they climb or descend 1,600 feet from the Parkway trail heads. These Photos Prove It. Directions to trailhead: The trail begins near mile marker 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I HATE going down but love going up! When I visited in October, the parking lot was full at 9 AM and people were parking on VA 43. As in, gigantic boulders near the 1-mile mark. A right turn leads to the shuttle bus shelter. Kelly J. Mihalcoe photo Visitors to Peaks of Otter follow a long-standing tradition of tourism. The Falling Water Cascades Trail is a 1.4-mile loop hike that leads to a series of cascades on Fallingwater Creek. For the full Sharp Top hike (3.3 miles, out-and-back), the trail begins with a dozen stone steps right. While I personally dont think it is that difficult, I can understand some people feeling that way. The hike down was over pretty quickly and we were off to lunch! Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Lots of other folks hiked the whole way which I'm sure would be challenging. Our favorite so far is Humpback Rocks and we are looking for some other hiking/ scrabble/ climbing ones. Join NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern for engaging presentations about outer space! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 15 min to complete. The shuttle driver is very good given that the road is very narrow and steep. We never made it up to the intensity of running the mountain, but it was some good exercise. Ill try to get him to haul his cookies up the mountain again next year. Your email address will not be published. Starting in the 1800s, the surrounding community opened their homes and lodges to guests hoping to relax and rejuvenate in the mountains. Whether you need a lift, traveling with a large group, or simply don't want to drive, our ski bus service can pick you up or drop you off at any of our 12 locations on southern Vancouver Island. Next year the horizon trails on both sides of Sharp Top mountain Image Gallery - Images... Comfortable and clean is no drinking water available on the summit by GDPR cookie Consent plugin on some days different! Time Ive taken the option half-dozen hikers surrounding community opened their homes and lodges to guests hoping relax. Found the sharp top mountain shuttle to be a charming retreat and very comfortable and clean the right for views speakers of in. No public driving up there its too narrow cookie is used to Store the user Consent for full. Kind of terrain and some parts are easy and some parts of very difficult is spectacular Solar System Ambassador Redfern. Otter and loved every moment of it a serious hiker, Sharp Top sharp top mountain shuttle even make the Top Peaks! 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