Sharp Top Mountain, Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

ABOUT THE PARK:
Peaks of Otter - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.443440, -79.609195

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Sharp Top Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:  Peaks of Otter - National Park Service

HIKE DISTANCE:  3 miles
There are other trails accessible from this parking lot (see map) to make longer hikes and my intention was to hike both Sharp Top and Flat Top together.  Due to the drizzly and foggy conditions at the higher elevation, I saved Flat Top for a clearer day.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
The Sharp Top Trail starts to the left of the building at the back of the parking lot.

Early on the trail crosses a paved road which is only for the bus which shuttles people to the top.

On this particular day, although the weather was nice driving to this area, Sharp Top was in a cloud and the fog became thicker as I ascended.

Buzzard's Roost supposedly has spectacular views but I did not bother taking that trail since I was pretty sure I heard the "thud, thud, thud" of a bear taking off in that direction and I was sure there would be no views in the fog.

At the summit...

These are the views I saw from the very top:

Click here to see what the views would look like on a clear day.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the Sharp Top Trail up the steps to the left of building at the end of parking lot
[         ]  Buzzard's Roost Trail intersection (forgot to mark mileage)
[  1.40]  Keep left when bus shelter trail goes right
[  1.45]  Keep right at fork
[  1.50]  Summit of Sharp Top; retrace steps
[  3.00]  Arrive back at parking lot

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