Exploring the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Virginia’s Peaks of Otter is one of my favorite spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. With multiple incredible hikes, a lodge, and the beautiful Abbott Lake in the shadow of Sharp Top Mountain, it’s a perfect stop for hikers. Visitors can stay at the campground or the Peaks of Otter Lodge for a weekend getaway, or could easily day trip here from one of the surrounding cities like Roanoke. There are five main hikes in this area that offer a variety of scenery and difficulty levels, and a reasonably fit hiker could do all of them in two days.

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Sharp Top

Sharp Top Mountain, with its aptly named triangular peak, is perhaps the area’s most iconic and popular hike. The trail gains 1300 feet over the 1.5 miles to the summit, where hikers are rewarded with 360-degree views of the Peaks of Otter, the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, and Abbott Lake below. I’ve done this hike twice, both times for sunrise, and it is one of my all time favorites. The trail is quite steep with large rock steps so you will definitely be huffing and puffing up! I would give yourself at least 1.5 hours before sunrise to get to the top if you want to watch it. Trekking poles would be handy for the way down as there are lots of large step downs. If you aren’t able to or don’t want to hike all the way up, there are shuttles that will take visitors up to ¼ mile from the summit during the day.

Flat Top

Flat Top Mountain is another excellent hike for stunning views, especially in the afternoon or at sunset. There are two trails one can take to get up to the summit; I would recommend hiking the trail that begins between mile marker 83 and 84, just down the road from the Fallingwater Cascades trailhead. At 5.1 miles roundtrip and with 1600 feet elevation gain, this trail is far from flat! The actual summit is tree covered but there are a couple of rock outcroppings that showcase the area’s rolling mountain views, one to the right past the summit sign and one to the left before the summit sign. 

Harkening Hill to Johnson Farm Loop

This hike is a bit of an underrated hidden gem as it doesn’t have any overlooks but it’s a lovely walk through the woods featuring a stunning mountain meadow. In the summer, the meadow is full of swaying tall grasses bursting with wildflowers and buzzing with butterflies and bumblebees. A short side trail along the way takes you to Balance Rock which is worth a quick stop. If you hike clockwise, then you’ll finish out the hike with a visit to the Johnson Farm, an old mountain farm and home that sometimes has demonstrations. The whole loop is 3.7 miles and 875 feet elevation gain so it is a more moderate option compared to Sharp Top and Flat Top.

Abbott Lake

If you’re wanting an easy stroll, then the loop around Abbott Lake is perfect. At 1 mile and with 32 feet of elevation gain, this paved, ADA-accessible trail is perfect for the whole family. It starts by the Peaks of Otter Lodge and offers beautiful lakeside views as well as views of Sharp Top Mountain. 

Fallingwater Cascades

This 1.3 mile loop just north of the Flat Top parking area leads to a pretty cascading waterfall. While the trail is short, it is not easy, gaining 445 feet in a steady climb on the way back out. The waterfall is not much more than a trickle in the summer so I would recommend hiking this in the spring when the creek is at its most full or in early June when the rhododendron and laurel are blooming.

With stunning vistas and plenty of hiking, the Peaks of Otter is definitely the place to spend at least a day or two while driving the Blue Ridge Parkway! The NPS has a nice trail map here.

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