Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter: Abbott Lake Loop (Blog Hike #302)

Trail: Abbott Lake Trail

Hike Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter

Geographic Location: northwest of Bedford, VA (37.44457, -79.60148)

Length: 1 mile

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: May 2010, May 2014

Overview: A flat hike around Abbott Lake.

Trail Information: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/peaks-otter-trails.htm

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=192310
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Bedford, take SR 43 north 14 miles to the Peaks of Otter Picnic Area.  The picnic area is reached just before SR 43 intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Turn right to enter the picnic area.  Follow the picnic area road to its final cul de sac, and park in this cul de sac.

The hike: For my general comments on Peaks of Otter, see the Fallingwater Cascade Trail description.  While there are numerous trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway that take you around small lakes, the Abbott Lake Trail is special for its great views of the surrounding peaks and its extreme ease of hiking.  Indeed, the Abbott Lake Trail is the easiest trail at Peaks of Otter, a major hiking destination along the Parkway.  Thus, this trail can be hiked by itself, or it can be hiked as an add-on to one of the more substantial hikes in the area.

Blue heron in Abbott Lake

            From the cul de sac at the end of the picnic area road, begin by climbing to the Polly Wood’s Ordinary, a small wooden cabin less than 100 feet from the lake.  This cabin was operated as an inn by Mary “Polly” Wood from 1830 to 1855.  Just beyond the cabin, the trail forks.  The gravel trail heading left across the dam will be our return route.  To get the developed part of the trail out of the way first, head straight on the blacktop trail with the lake on your left.

Wherever another paved trail heads right for Peaks of Otter Lodge, stay left to remain close to the lake.  Some benches provide great views of the lake with pointy Sharp Top looming large just beyond.  At 0.4 miles, the pavement turns to gravel as you reach the west end of the lake.  Ignore the trail that heads under the Parkway and leads to the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center.  Instead, remain on the Abbott Lake Trail by turning left to stay near the lake.

Sharp Top behind Abbott Lake

            The rest of the hike passes through much more natural surroundings than what you have experienced so far.  Just before crossing a new wooden bridge over one of the lake’s main tributaries, peer into the lake’s unusually clear waters and try to see some fish.  On my visit, I saw numerous small guppies swimming around in the shallow waters of the lake.

Starting boardwalk section of trail

            After crossing the bridge, the wide trail turns to dirt as it heads into the forest along the southern side of the lake.  I noticed a pair of deer grazing just uphill as I entered the forest.  The deer did not seem to care that I and several other hikers were just a few yards away.  Once in the forest, you can look across the lake and see rounded Flat Top just beyond.

At 0.9 miles, the trail comes out of the forest at an intersection.  The trail heading uphill to the right leads to the Peaks of Otter Campground, but the Abbott Lake Trail turns left to cross the dam that creates Abbott Lake.  On the other side of the dam, you will close the loop just above Polly Wood’s Ordinary.  A right turn and short downhill walk will return you to the picnic area and complete the hike.