Several years ago Nancy and I drove the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. One evening we stopped for dinner at the Peaks of Otter Lodge.
Recently after dropping our daughter off at college in Lynchburg, Virginia we decided to take a side trip and go back to take a peek at the Peaks of Otter.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Before I tell you about the Peaks of Otter I should take a minute to talk briefly about the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway is often called America’s Motorway. It connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Along the way, the Parkway travels along 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Portions of it feature waves and waves of mountains. Other parts are rolling countryside.
There are more than 400 different units in the National Park System. Year in and year out the Blue Ridge Parkway gets the most visitors. But there are pull outs, picnic areas, visitor centers and other attractions along the way so usually those visitors are spread out. The low speed limits combined with the way the motorway lays on the land force you to take time to see and enjoy the views and vistas. When we drove the Parkway from end to end we spent all or part of 4 days enjoying the drive.
On this day we planned a few hours at Peaks of Otter. Then we would drive a little more than 2 hours along the Parkway to Interstate 64.
Peaks of Otter
The Peaks of Otter consist of three mountain peaks. They are Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill. Thomas Jefferson had homes in Charlottesville (Monticello) and near Lynchburg (Poplar Forest) so he was familiar with this area. At one time he stated that the Peaks of Otter were the tallest mountains in our country. Of course this is not true. But rock from the Peaks was sent by Virginia to be included in the construction of the Washington Mounument.
There are several theories for the name. The Otter River is nearby. The Cherokee word “Otari” which means high places could have been Anglicized. Some early settlers to the area were from Scotland. Their surname was Ewing which in Scottish Gaelic becomes “Clan Ewing of Otter”.
Facilities
The Peaks of Otter is one of the most developed areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nearby, and open seasonally, is a National Park Service (NPS) Visitor Center and book/craft store. There is also an NPS campground and a separate picnic area. Visitors can see Polly Wood’s Ordinary. Although plain on the outside, this simple structure was important as a source of accommodations dating back to the 1830’s. The Johnson Farm, a living history farm, is nearby.
Of course there are many trails to choose from ranging from an accessible loop trail around Abbott Lake to hikes to the tops of the three peaks.
Peaks of Otter Lodge
Peaks of Otter is one of only two places along the Parkway where you can stay without driving to a nearby community. The lodge at Peaks of Otter features more than 60 rooms and has a restaurant and lounge. The restaurant and lodge rooms overlook Abbott Lake. There is also a craft shop just off the main lobby.
On our recent visit we enjoyed lunch and then afterwards followed the trail around the lake. It is a nice leisurely walk of a little more than a mile. The trail is a paved smooth surface. Only a few gentle inclines are along the way and much of the trail is in the shade. Fishing is allowed in the lake and there were many people trying their luck.
After a pleasant stay of a few hours we headed along the Parkway towards I-64 and on to home.
Our visit was only a peek at Peaks of Otter but there are many things available to do in the area. It is only a short drive from Lynchburg or Roanoke and can be a nice afternoon get away. Or, you can spend one or several days relaxing and enjoying the area. Happy Sightseeing!
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