Hiking

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes by the Peaks of Otter, along its amazing 2,174-mile-long path. Fifty-three miles of the trail run through the Glenwood Ranger District, where elevations range from 700 feet at the James River to 4,225 feet at Apple Orchard. Eight shelters are available. The trail visits the James River Face and Thunder Ridge wildernesses and meanders near the Cave Mountain Lake and North Creek recreation areas. In the Bedford area, you can join the trail at Blue Ridge Parkway mileposts 80.5 Floyd Field, 90.9 Bearwallow Gap, or Milepost 92.5 Sharp Top Overlook.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Several hiking trails can be accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Trail Name Milepost Length (miles) Difficulty

Apple Orchard Falls 78.4 1.2 Strenuous
Onion Mountain Loop 79.7 0.1 Easy
Trail of Trees 63.6 0.5 Moderate
Thunder Ridge Trail 74.7 0.1 Easy
Roanoke River Trail 114.9 0.6 Moderate

Peaks of Otter Trails

Sharp Top Trail 86 1.5 Strenuous
Elk Run Loop Trail 85.9 0.8 Moderate
Harkening Hill Loop Trail 85.9 3.3 Strenuous
Fallingwater Cascades Trail 83.1 1.5 Moderate
Flat Top Trail 83.5 4.4 Strenuous
Abbott Lake Loop Trail 85.7 1.0 Easy

Jefferson National Forest Trails

27 Ranger Lane, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579, (540) 291-2188

www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj

Buchanan Trail
Cornelius Creek Trail
Cove Mountain
Hammond Hollow Trail
Hoop Hope Trail on Pine Mountain
Hunting Creek Trail
Little Cove Mountain Trail
Locher Tract
Patterson Mountain Trail
Roaring Run Furnace
Spec Mines Trail
Sulphur Spring Trail
Wildcat Mountain Trail
White Tail Trail

Smith Mountain Lake State Park:

Four different hiking trails, each less than two miles long, meander through the park ’s hardwood forests, pine forests, and secluded coves bringing hikers to many picturesque vistas. The Chestnut Ridge and Turtle Island trails are open year round; all others are open when the visitor center is open. Resource for hiking trail information: www.virginia.org



				Hiking Appalachian Trail The Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes by the Peaks of Otter, along its amazing 2,174-mile-long path. Fifty-three miles of the trail run through the Glenwood Ranger District, where elevations range from 700 feet at the James River to 4,225 feet at Apple Orchard. Eight shelters are available. The trail visits the James River Face and Thunder Ridge wildernesses and meanders near the Cave Mountain Lake and North Creek recreation areas. In the Bedford area, you can join the trail at Blue Ridge Parkway mileposts 80.5 Floyd Field, 90.9 Bearwallow Gap, or Milepost 92.5 Sharp Top Overlook. Blue Ridge Parkway Several hiking trails can be accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway: Trail Name Milepost Length (miles) Difficulty Apple Orchard Falls 78.4 1.2 Strenuous Onion Mountain Loop 79.7 0.1 Easy Trail of Trees 63.6 0.5 Moderate Thunder Ridge Trail 74.7 0.1 Easy Roanoke River Trail 114.9 0.6 Moderate Peaks of Otter Trails Sharp Top Trail 86 1.5 Strenuous Elk Run Loop Trail 85.9 0.8 Moderate Harkening Hill Loop Trail 85.9 3.3 Strenuous Fallingwater Cascades Trail 83.1 1.5 Moderate Flat Top Trail 83.5 4.4 Strenuous Abbott Lake Loop Trail 85.7 1.0 Easy Jefferson National Forest Trails 27 Ranger Lane, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579, (540) 291-2188 www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj Buchanan Trail Cornelius Creek Trail Cove Mountain Hammond Hollow Trail Hoop Hope Trail on Pine Mountain Hunting Creek Trail Little Cove Mountain Trail Locher Tract Patterson Mountain Trail Roaring Run Furnace Spec Mines Trail Sulphur Spring Trail Wildcat Mountain Trail White Tail Trail Smith Mountain Lake State Park: Four different hiking trails, each less than two miles long, meander through the park ’s hardwood forests, pine forests, and secluded coves bringing hikers to many picturesque vistas. The Chestnut Ridge and Turtle Island trails are open year round; all others are open when the visitor center is open. Resource for hiking trail information: www.virginia.org