Blue Ridge Parkway: Otter Creek Trail (Blog Hike #288)

Trails: Otter Creek, Otter Lake Trails and Trail of Trees

Hike Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Otter Creek Recreation Area

Geographic Location: northwest of Lynchburg, VA (37.57608, -79.33787)

Length: 7.4 miles round-trip

Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: September 2009, May 2014

Overview: A creekside hike with good James River views.

Area Information: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/otter-creek-james-river-trails.htm

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940884
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Lynchburg, take US 29 north to SR 130 and turn left on SR 130.  Follow SR 130 for 15 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway and enter north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The Otter Creek Recreation Area is less than 1 mile ahead on the right.  The trail departs from the right side of the parking area.  (Note: taking US 501 out of Lynchburg to reach the Blue Ridge Parkway is shorter on the odometer, but it is a winding mountain road and hence longer on the stopwatch.)

The hike: Although the James River is the low point of the Blue Ridge Parkway in terms of elevation, it is certainly not the low point in terms of scenery.  Within 4 miles of the river lie two Parkway Visitor Centers: the James River Visitor Center, located on the river bank, and the Otter Creek Recreation Area, located a few miles up Otter Creek.  Connecting these areas is the Otter Creek Trail, the main subject of this hike.

True to its name, the Otter Creek Trail stays close to Otter Creek, which in turn stays close to the Parkway.  Thus, you will never be far from civilization on this trail.  Yet this trail takes you far enough into the wild to do some good wildlife viewing.  For example, I had a blue heron fly within feet of my head at one point along the trail.

Since the trail crosses Otter Creek several times on stepping stones, this hike should be avoided during times on unusually high water, at which times these crossings would be difficult or dangerous.  On the other hand, during normal water levels you should be able to cross with dry feet.  Also, since the Otter Creek Trail does not form a loop, much of this hike involves backtracking.  If you have a car shuttle and want to avoid back-tracking, you could park one car at each Visitor Center and simply hike the trail one direction.

Trailhead at Otter Creek Recreation Area

            From the Otter Creek Recreation Area, the trail leaves at a grey information board on the right side of the parking area.  Almost immediately the trail arrives at creek level.  Do not follow the stepping stones across the creek (they lead to the Otter Creek Campground), but instead continue downstream on the west bank.  A few hundred feet further downstream, the trail does cross Otter Creek on another set of stepping stones.

Now treading along the east bank, the trail passes under a Parkway overpass at 0.3 miles.  The trail here is right beside the creek and hence would be impassible during high water.  A few rocky sections such as the one just past the bridge will impede your progress somewhat but should not be a major problem.  More problematic is the presence of poison ivy.  I wish I could tell you exactly where the worst of it is and hence how to avoid it, but unfortunately I failed to spot it...and then had the telltale rash pop up all over my left ankle the next day.  Poison ivy likes streamside areas, so this point is one candidate for the source of my rash.

Otter Creek

            At 0.6 miles, a spur trail heads left to Terrapin Hill Overlook, a seldom-used parking area along the Parkway.  Just past the overlook, the trail passes under overpasses for the Parkway and SR 130 in quick fashion.  Next, the trail crosses back and forth over Otter Creek, each time using stepping stones.  In between, you get to see why these crossings are necessary, as a jagged rock cliff rises directly from the creek on the east bank.  The still water here makes for a very tranquil setting.

Trail passing under Parkway

            Back on the east bank, the trail climbs steeply for a short time as it begins its only section away from the creek.  Now roughly 100 feet above the creek, the trail traces around three small tributaries of Otter Creek, crossing the first one on an iron and wood bridge and stepping across the other two.  The middle creek would have a nice, small spout waterfall just below the trail if it had sufficient water, which it did not on my visit.

After stepping across the third creek, if you look up and to the left, you will see a small rock overhang with a bench underneath it.  The trail curves sharply left at this point, passes over one final rocky bluff, and then descends steeply for a short distance back to creek level.  The next 0.4 miles stay very close to the creek on the right and the Parkway just beyond that.  It was along this section that I saw the heron.

At 1.8 miles, the trail crosses Otter Creek twice, both times using a wood and iron footbridge, as it passes through the Parkway’s Lower Otter Creek overlook.  The next 0.5 miles is one of the easiest and best sections of trail in this hike.  The wide, flat trail passes through lovely oak forest with the noisy Parkway getting more and more distant on the right.

Hiking through creekside forest

            At 2.4 miles, the trail forks to form the Otter Lake Loop.  The shortest route around the lake exits to the right, but it also stays closest to the Parkway.  For more solitude, angle left, cross Little Otter Creek on a footbridge, and soon begin a steep climb up a ridge.  At the top of the ridge, a short 150 foot spur trail leads right to a scenic overlook of Otter Lake.  A bench at this overlook makes a great spot to rest just when you need it.

Otter Lake

            Back on the main trail, the trail descends equally steeply to cross another small tributary, this time on stepping stumps.  Wet muddy wood can be very slippery, so watch your step if you choose to use the stumps.  After crossing over another small bluff, the stone dam which forms Otter Lake appears on the right as the trail descends some steps to arrive at creek level just below the dam.  The dam is not natural, but the water splashing over the dam is very pleasant to the ears.

Soon after returning to creek level, the other arm of the Otter Lake Loop enters from the right via stepping stones across the creek.  Do not cross the creek here, but instead continue downstream on the Otter Creek Trail.  The final 0.6 miles of the Otter Creek Trail stay very close to the creek, clinging at first to the left bank and then crossing the creek one final time on stepping stones to cling to the right bank.  At a couple of points only a retaining wall separates the trail from the creek.

At 3.7 miles, the trail comes out at a small grassy picnic area at the rear of the James River Visitor Center.  To continue this hike, climb the steps to the Visitor Center and walk down the concrete walkway, heading for the Parkway’s bridge over the James River.  Upon arriving under the Parkway bridge, an interesting pedestrian bridge leads across the river to Battery Creek Lock, an old James River and Kanawha Canal lock built in 1848.

Pedestrian catwalk under Parkway bridge

            After touring the lock, return to the north side of the Parkway bridge and turn left to begin the Trail of Trees.  This short loop explores the forest along the north bank of the James River and features numerous small signs identifying trees along the trail.  When the trail splits to form the loop, stay left to arrive at a fantastic overlook of the river.  From this point, you can look upstream and watch the broad, powerful river flow through the James River water gap, the only point where a major waterway flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

James River flowing through water gap

            Past the overlook, the Trail of Trees features some interesting jagged rock outcrops, a bridge over a small creek, some steep hillsides navigated by wooden steps, and the interesting Putts family cemetery.  Many of the headstones at the cemetery are illegible, but the few exceptions date to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  After closing the loop, retrace your steps back to the Visitor Center and prepare for the return route.

Most of the return route retraces your steps along the Otter Creek Trail.  The only chance for some variety is to use the other (west) arm of the Otter Lake Trail.  This route is less scenic than the route you used earlier, but it is different and shorter.  You will cross Otter Creek twice, once on stepping stones below the lake and again on a pair of wooden/iron bridges above the lake.  Rejoin the Otter Creek Trail above the lake, and continue to retrace your steps 2.4 miles to the Otter Creek Recreation Area parking lot to complete the hike.