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52 Weeks in Bedford County, Va: Week 4 The Peaks of Otter

By Melissa Markham on August 31, 2008 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Oops....I forgot last week to do my weekly report and by the time I remembered, it was too late to get something put together and our first week of school was about to launch. Sorry about that!

Bedford County is in the Piedmont (foothills) of Virginia). And the peaks of Sharp Top and Flat Top dominate the horizon. These are twin peaks and called The Peaks of Otter. These are favorite destinations on the Blue Ridge Parkway, not just for locals, but for people visiting from around the country. Both mountains have a hiking trail to the top and Flat Top is actually the higher peak, though the pointy top of Sharp Top gives the illusion that it is the taller of the two.

Here are some quotes about the Peaks of Otter that date back to the days of Thomas Jefferson.

More people hike up Sharp Top than they do Flat Top. In fact, while I have hiked to the top of Flat Top twice in my 42 years, I have been to the top of Sharp Top 6 or 7 times. Sharp Top is a big draw because of the rocks and the cabin that you will find at the top. Also, if you don't feel like walking, you can always take the bus up, and you only have to hike the last bit...I have never done it that way, but it is a nice option.

Yes, this cabin is indeed located at the top of Sharp Top!

And then there is the amazing view from the top of Sharp Top. One of my most romantic memories is when a guy I was dating, picked me up at my house at 4 in the morning and we hiked up Sharp Top to see the sunrise. It was beautiful.

At the base of Sharp Top you will find Abbot Lake and Peaks of Otter Lodge. For my 40th birthday, Daniel booked us a night at the lodge. It is really nice. You don't go to stay for posh accomodations. You go for the quiet, for the lack of television, for the scenery, and for the yummy food at the Peaks of Otter restaurant. When I was growing up, my parents took me to the Peaks of Otter Restaurant for my birthday breakfast. They had an awesome buffet and a lady who walked around with the best sticky buns in the world! One of my highschool friends got married by Abbot Lake. Below the lake there are picnic tables and a creek where loads of people go for everything from homeschool meets to family reunions.

We are blessed to live in such a beautiful area. There is a ranger station at the Peaks of Otter. It is a great place to see examples of some of the local flora and fauna. And the rangers often have classes and story times that cover everything from local folk lore to how to make apple head dolls.