Hike Flat Top Mountain Jefferson National Forest, VA

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Jun 22, 2020 — Flat Top Mountain is an easily accessible trailhead along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia at a paved parking lot. I started hiking along the trail, which begins pretty flat and really well-maintained. The Flat Top Mountain Trail then started zig-zagging up a bunch of forested switchbacks. It passed a trail junction a half mile before the summit and also passed a couple of pretty rock outcrops covered in mosses. Aside from some ferns and these boulders, there's nothing particularly of note along the hike, especially since there isn't even a sliver of a view. It's a nice stroll up a mountain.

Eventually I made it to the summit area, where a small cluster of boulders comprised the summit block. Flat Top Mountain is one of the three "Peaks of Otter". I also visited Sharp Top Mountain, another of these three named peaks, which pairs nicely with Flat Top Mountain.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Flat Top Mountain

3994 ft

1474 rise

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Starting up Flat Top Mountain.

Lots of switchbacks on the forested trail to Flat Top Mountain.

Mostly just a green tunnel the whole way up.

Some minor views through the trees, but nothing notable.

A junction on the way up to Flat Top Mountain.

After the switchbacks end and the trail heads west along a forested ridge toward the top of the mountain, some mossy rocks add a little more prettiness to the trail.

Flat Top Mountain visible ahead through the trees.

A pretty section with massive boulders just below the summit.

Flat Top Mountain summit boulders on the left.

A view just off the trail I stopped for on the way back down. The summit had no views.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!