Hike along on one of the most scenic trails in North Carolina – Art Loeb Trail. This fairly short hike takes you through a forest full of balsam fir and berry bushes and open fields of meadow grasses and wildflowers with panoramic views. The trail summits two mountains with the first being Black Balsam Knob, sitting at 6,214 feet, and Tennent Mountain, sitting at 6,040 feet.
Take a short hike to (what used to be) one of the most popular waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway. After a tropical storm in 2021, Skinny Dip Falls has been completely changed. It used to be a popular swimming hole, and lots of people would travel to take a dip in the refreshing, cold water.
Skinny Dip Falls is now made up of smaller cascades creating small, shallow pools. On a hot summer’s day, you can still cool off in the cold, crisp water! Although the waterfall looks different, it’s worth a visit!
Take a hike through a forest of rhododendron, a field of wildflowers, pick blueberries in the fall, and visit two amazing waterfalls all in a 3.5-mile trail. Graveyard Fields is a popular and unique hike off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Don’t miss this perfect family-friendly and pet-friendly hike!
Sitting at 5,720 feet at its peak, Devil’s Courthouse is a prominent landmark along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike nearly half a mile with 280 feet of elevation gain to reach an observation point on Devil’s Courthouse. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views as far as the eye can see! On a clear sunny day, you can see all the way to South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
The B25 Bomber crash site is truly a hidden gem on Sharp Top Mountain. Add an extra 0.5 miles to your hike to Sharp Top (and Buzzard’s Roost) to see this historical spot. Please be respectful if you go and follow the leave no trace principles. This is an incredible yet unfortunate sight to see.
Read my Complete Guide to Visiting Peaks of Otter to help plan your trip! Learn more about the best time to visit, where to stay, places to eat and drink, and the top things to do at Peaks of Otter and the surrounding area. It is a great area to explore and has so much history and beauty! Hiking to each of the three Peaks of Otter is the best part, in our opinion. 😉
Harkening Hill is part of the three Peaks of Otter located within the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. It is smallest peak with a height of 3,372 feet as compared to Flat Top and Sharp Top (the other two peaks). This hike is full of fun things to see, including an old farm! Harkening Hill and Johnson Farm Loop Trail is the perfect family-friendy (and pet-friendly) hike to do year-round!
Flat Top Mountain is an amazing hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is one of three other peaks known as the Peaks of Otter. This peak compared to the other ones is special because it is the tallest, sitting at 4,001 feet, and also it comes with more solitude. Its sister mountains (Sharp Top and Harkening Hill) get a lot more attention than Flat Top does, but that’s okay! We love hiking trails that are less popular.
Do you enjoy hiking up mountains to summits with beautiful views? If you answered yes, then add Sharp Top to your hiking bucket list! Not only does this hike lead you to the summit of Sharp Top, but there is also an extra surprise summit near the top called Buzzard’s Roost. Out of the three Peaks of Otter, Sharp Top is by far our favorite!