Peaks of Otter
Peaks Rd, Bedford, VA
Bedford, VA
Three old mountains rising over a small lake, a landmark on the Blue Ridge for as long as people have traveled through these hills.
The Peaks of Otter are three distinct summits, Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill, that rise together along the Blue Ridge in the mountains above Bedford. For centuries they have been one of the most recognizable landmarks in Virginia's Blue Ridge, guiding travelers and drawing visitors who wanted to climb them for the view.
The peaks have been a destination since long before the Blue Ridge Parkway, which now passes at their feet, laced a scenic road along the crest of the mountains. Today a small lake, a historic lodge, and a visitor area sit in the gap below the summits, making this one of the most beloved stops on the entire parkway.
What Guests Love
- Hiking to the rocky summit of Sharp Top for a sweeping panorama of the Blue Ridge
- The mirror-still mountain lake reflecting the peaks in early morning
- An easy shuttle option and stone-and-timber lodge in the mountain gap
- Fall color rolling across the ridges when the hardwoods turn
Worth Knowing
- The summit trail up Sharp Top is short but steep and rocky, so wear sturdy shoes and take your time
- A seasonal shuttle sometimes carries hikers most of the way up Sharp Top, so check whether it is running
- The parkway and its facilities keep seasonal hours and can close in ice or snow, so check conditions in winter
- Weather on the summits shifts fast; carry a layer even on a warm valley day
Details
Bedford, VA
Learn about Peaks of Otter
Climbing Sharp Top
The most famous of the three is Sharp Top, a pointed summit that people have been climbing for their whole recorded history in these mountains. The trail to the top is short but steep and rocky, ending at a jumble of boulders with a wide, open view in every direction across the folded ridges of the Blue Ridge.
So popular was the climb that in an earlier era a stone was reportedly sent from Sharp Top to be placed in the Washington Monument, a token of the peak's standing as a Virginia landmark. In the warm months a seasonal shuttle has often carried visitors much of the way up, leaving a shorter walk to the summit for those who want the view without the full climb.
The lake, the lodge, and the gap
In the gap below the peaks lies a small, still mountain lake that mirrors the summits on a calm morning, one of the most photographed scenes on the parkway. A stone-and-timber lodge and a visitor area sit nearby, offering a base to stay, eat, and set out on the trails.
The gap has a long history of settlement, and a preserved mountain farmstead here interprets the hardscrabble life of the families who lived in these hills. Gentler trails loop around the lake and through the woods, giving those who do not want to summit plenty to enjoy on level ground.
Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Peaks of Otter are a marquee stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenic road that winds nearly 470 miles along the mountain crest between Shenandoah and the Great Smokies. The parkway brings the peaks within easy reach, with overlooks and trailheads strung along the drive in both directions.
Because the parkway keeps seasonal hours and can close in winter weather, it pays to check conditions before a cold-season visit. In the growing months, though, the drive to the peaks is half the pleasure, unspooling one mountain view after another on the approach.
Seasons on the peaks
Spring comes late to these heights, with wildflowers and fresh green climbing the slopes weeks after the valley has bloomed. Summer is cool and green at elevation, a relief from the lowland heat, and the busiest time on the trails.
Fall is the signature season, when the hardwood forest that covers the ridges blazes into color and the parkway fills with leaf-watchers. Winter is quiet and often icy, and while the summits can be spectacular under snow, access depends on the parkway staying open, so a winter trip calls for checking ahead.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Grey Pine Lodge
Honorable Mention494 Three Notched Mountain Hwy, Waynesboro, VA
57 miles away|Learn More ›
Things to Do Near Bedford
Bedford
About 15 miles south
A small Blue Ridge town, home to the National D-Day Memorial and a walkable historic center.
National D-Day Memorial
About 16 miles south
The nation's memorial to the Normandy landings, set on a hilltop with wide mountain views.
Blue Ridge Parkway
At the peaks
The scenic crest-line road linking the peaks to overlooks and trails in both directions.