Sharp Top Store on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Across the road from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center is Virginia 43, a turn off from the Blue Ridge Parkway that leads to the Sharp Top Store, the Peaks of Otter Campground, and the Peaks of Otter Picnic Area. To get to the store, take the first right after exiting the Parkway. Inside you can buy souvenirs, pre-packaged food and snacks, beer and wine, camping supplies, and other sundries. This is also where you can purchase tickets for the Sharp Top Shuttle—a bus to the top of Sharp Top Mountain. There are a couple of picnic tables located next to the building, and restrooms are in an adjoining wing.
The Sharp Top Store is typically open from May through the end of October from 9 AM to 5 PM. Schedules can change, so for the latest information be sure to check the National Park Service’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Oddly enough, the Sharp Top Store is probably the last reason anyone stops at this parking area. The main draw is Sharp Top Mountain. Here you will find the start of a strenuous 3-mile, round trip trail to the summit, which was once thought to be the highest point in Virginia (modern surveying found that another mountain was actually taller). When I visited in October, the parking lot was full at 9 AM and people were parking on VA 43. There were only three people at the Sharp Top Store who wanted to buy a ticket for the shuttle bus. Everyone else was walking to the top.
Trailhead for Sharp Top Mountain Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway
For those who do not want to hike to the top, the Sharp Top Shuttle can take you there for a fee from May through October. The shuttle runs every hour (maybe every half hour on a busy day) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the top. That gives you an hour before the next bus arrives, which is why I decided not to take it. What was I going to do at the top of Sharp Top Mountain for an hour? Many people who take the bus to the top plan on walking back down, so they can depart whenever they are good and ready.
The Sharp Top Shuttle is operated by the same concessionaire that operates the Peaks of Otter Lodge. For a schedule, visit the Lodge’s Sharp Top Bus Tour web page. Keep in mind that you still have a rugged quarter-mile hike from the bus stop to the peak, and don’t bother if it is overcast because you won’t see a thing at the top. No cars or hikers are allowed on the road to the top.
Back to the Top | Peaks of Otter Recreation Area
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Last updated on December 12, 2023
