There are three opinions on how the Peaks of Otter got their name. The name may come from the Cherokee Indian word, "ottari," which means "high places." The Peaks may have been named after the Otter River, which has its headwaters in the area. Finally, Scottish settlers may have named the Peaks after Ben Otter, a mountain in their homeland that resembles Sharp Top. The Peaks of Otter include three mountains; Sharp Top has an elevation of 3,865 feet above sea level, Flat Top is slightly taller at 4,001 feet, and Harkening Hill has an elevation of 3,375 feet.
There are many different Peaks of Otter trails that range from easy (the one-mile loop around picturesque Abbott Lake) to strenuous (the one and one-half miles trek to the summit of Sharp Top), but no matter what the effort required, the reward justifies the endeavor. CLICK HERE for more information about the trails.
From the Blue Ridge Parkway, hikers can gain access to the Appalachian Trail at Bearwallow Gap, five miles south of the Peaks of Otter on State Road 43. Access is also available at the Cornelius Creek Shelter five miles north of the Peaks at Milepost 80.5.
Visitors may also enjoy a hike to Johnson’s Farm. The Johnson family lived at and worked this rustic farm between 1852 and the 1930s. The Park Service has restored the farm to represent a typical Blue Ridge Mountain home of the 1920s/1930s in the Peaks of Otter area. Costumed interpreters work the farm and offer discussions and programs daily.
For those hikers who wish to explore during the peak of the autumn season, you can expect under normal weather conditions, that the colors will be at their best for about a two-week period during the period October 15-November 15. If you are more interested in seeing the purple blooms on the Catawba Rhododendron or the pale pink blooms of the Mountain Laurel, then the first two weeks in June is the best time to visit.
|
