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

Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, George Washington National Forest, VA - Cold/Cole Mountain Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area - USDA
Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area Hiking Trails - USDA

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.759545, -79.190515

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 You can either park at the lot above or the Appalachian Trail lot you pass on the way:

The only difference is a .30 mile gravel road walk at the beginning or at the end of the hike because the hike starts at the far parking lot and ends at the A.T. parking lot.  For this hike I parked in the A.T. lot and did the gravel road walk at the beginning.

TRAIL MAP:
National Geographic Map #789 Lexington/Blue Ridge Mountains Trail Map

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.80 miles
This hike can be done in conjunction with the Mount Pleasant Loop for a 12 mile hike.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

The trail takes you through beautiful pine forests.

According to "Wild Virginia" this is a Civil War-era stone fence.

Cowcamp Gap Shelter

The Hotel Trail ends at the white-blazed Appalachian Trail shortly after the Cowcamp Gap Shelter.  The Appalachian Trail switchbacks up with views along the way

There were some nice break spots at the views:

Then at the top of Cold Mountain, come to a bald stretch of about 1/2 mile with views all around.  The pictures to not do it justice.  You have to be there to see how spectacular it really is.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[ 0.00]  From A.T. parking lot continue walking along gravel road
[ 0.20]  Right on blue-blazed trail leaving gravel road
[ 0.30]  Turn right at the intersection on the Hotel Trail and cross the horse fence.
[ 1.15]  Turn right at fork
[ 1.40]  Trail continues to the right on the right side of the fire pit
[ 2.15]  At clearing bear right at the fork
[ 2.75]  Rock hop over creek
[ 2.85]  Cowcamp Gap shelter on right; left at intersection towards Appalachian Trail
[ 3.35]  Turn right on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail; trail switchbacks up with views
[ 4.40]  Begin to cross bald
[ 4.95]  Leaving bald
[ 5.15]  AT leave woods road as footpath to the left
[ 5.50]  Cross over woods road
[ 5.80]  Right on gravel road to parking

Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, George Washington National Forest, VA - Mount Pleasant Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area - USDA
Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area Hiking Trails - USDA

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.759545, -79.190515

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TRAIL MAP:
National Geographic Map #789 Lexington/Blue Ridge Mountains Trail Map

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.15 miles
This hike can be done in conjunction with the Cole/Cold Mountain Loop for a 12 mile hike.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
With your back to the gravel road you came in on, take the trail to the far left, the blue-blazed Pompey Mountain Trail, which begins at the horse gate.

Near the summit of Pompey Mountain, watch for an unmarked side trail to a rock outcropping with a limited view at the top of the rocks.

Follow the trail to the Mount Pleasant Summit with west and east overlooks.

The west overlook requires a short rock scramble to the views.

The east overlook:

Retrace your steps back to the intersection with the Henry Lanum Memorial Trail and follow the Henry Lanum Memorial Trail back to the parking lot crossing a scenic creek on your way down.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[ 0.00]  From the Mount Pleasant parking lot take the far left trail, the blue-blazed Pompey Mountain Trail, beyond horse fence
[ 0.70]  False summit of Pompey Mountain
[ 1.10]  Trail turns left when obviously unused trail goes right
[ 1.55]  Unofficial trail to left goes to limited views
[ 1.70]  After out and back to view, continue left on blue-blazed trail
[ 2.45]  At intersection with Henry Lanum Memorial Trail turn left to Mount Pleasant Summit
[ 3.05]  At sign turn right to West Overlook
[ 3.20]  Come to clearing, climb rocks on left to view; retrace steps
[ 3.35]  At intersection, continue straight to East Overlook
[ 3.45]  Keep right past several side trails on left to rock outcrop with views; retrace
[ 3.55]  At intersection turn right retracing back to Henry Lanum Memorial Trail
[ 4.15]  At intersection continue straight on Henry Lanum Memorial Trail
[ 5.00]  Turn left when unused trail comes in from right; rock hop over creek with waterfalls
[ 5.10]  Trails turns right when unused trail comes in from left
[ 6.15]  Arrive at Mount Pleasant parking lot

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Appomattox, VA

ABOUT THE PARK:  Appomattox Court House National Historical Park - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.376238, -78.797153

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(NOTE:  Parking fees apply at the historic village unless it is a free entrance day.)

TRAIL MAP:
This hike consists of two separate areas, the historic village on the west side of Route 24 and the hiking trails on the east side of Route 24.  The two do not officially link together but I did make a loop out of both for this hike by walking along the grassy part of Route 24 to get from one to the other.
Historic Village Birdseye View Map - National Park Service
Hiking Trail Map - National Park Service

I highly recommend downloading the free podcast which you can listen to on an iPod for the historic village tour at the beginning of this hike.  NOTE: The National Park Service web site states that the podcast is a 5-mile tour.  That is incorrect as it is a 5-stop tour of 1/2 mile.

HIKE DISTANCE:  6 miles

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
The historic village:

McLean House, site of surrender meeting between Generals Lee and Grant.

Store and Jonathan Woodson Law Office

Clover Hill Tavern where parole passes were printed.

Site of old jail house.

Peers House, site of final Civil War battle.

After the podcast tour of the historic village, the hike continues down to the Appomattox River and over to the hiking trails.  The northern end of the hiking trails start at Lee's Headquarters Parking.  Although I crossed over Route 24 and walked in the tall, wet grass .65 mile along Route 24 to Lee's HQ, it was not one of my better ideas and I do not recommend it although it is possible to do.  Just be really, really careful crossing over Route 24 as cars speed by FAST!  Or go back and get your car and drive there to do an out and back of the northern section of trails.  The southern trails are woods roads, therefore less interesting than the northern section so if you skip that part, nothing lost.

Trail crossed the Appomattox River on a concrete bridge.

This was a great hike to do on a dreary, drizzly day because the new spring leaves on the trees really brightened things up.

The southern section of the trail follows woods roads coming out at the North Carolina Monument.

The trail comes back out on to Route 24 at the North Caroline Monument parking lot.  On the other side of Route 24 is the Confederate Cemetery.

Leaving the cemetery heading away from Route 24, follow the fence towards the historic village back to the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From Appomattox Court House parking lot follow the podcast tour
[  0.50]  End podcast tour; continue down the hill on mowed grass trail towards Route 24
[  0.90]  Arrive at picnic areas at Appomattox River; cross river on Route 24 bridge and continue straight
[  1.00]  Sweeney historical marker and grave on left; cross over Route 24; turn left and follow Route 24 on grass
[  1.65]  Lee's HQ parking lot - northern trailhead; follow white-blazed History Trail
[  1.90]  Turn left to continue following History Trail; right goes back to parking lot
[  2.05]  Turn right on orange-blazed Nature Trail as white goes straight
[  2.25]  Cross footbridge
[  2.35]  Cross footbridge; come to end of the Nature Trail; continue across field back to History Trail
[  2.40]  At white-blazed History Trail junction, turn left briefly to Sweeney's Prizery
[  2.50]  Sweeney's Prizery; Retrace steps and continue straight on white-blazed History Trail
[  2.70]  Cross the Appomattox River on a concrete bridge and continue to the right
[  3.80]  Cross through power cut
[  3.95]  Cross paved River Ridge Road
[  4.75]  Trail switchbacks down and crosses Plain Run on wooden bridge
[  4.85]  Keep straight on white-blazed History Trail when blue-blazed Sears Lane goes right
[  5.40]  North Carolina Monument
[  5.45]  Lee's Last Attack wayside exhibit; turn right towards Raine Cemetery
[  5.55]  Cross through North Carolina Monument parking lot; follow mowed path through field parallel to Route 24
[  5.70]  Turn left leaving mowed path and cross Route 24 to Confederate Cemetery
[  5.80]  From Confederate Cemetery turn right (with back facing Route 24) and follow along split rail fence towards historic village
[  6.00]  Arrive back at parking lot