Hiking Abbott Lake in Bedford, VA — To Make Much of Time

Abbott Lake at Peaks of Otter in Bedford, VA, with Sharp Top Mountain visible.

Related posts: Want to read more about Virginia? Check out all our Virginia posts here. Or, looking for more Roanoke-area hikes? Check out our Compendium of Hikes in and near Roanoke. For hiking gear recommendations, check out our Ultimate Guide to Hiking Gear. For this hike, I’d recommend hiking boots and a hydration backpack at a minimum.

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WHERE IS abbott lake trail LOCATED?

Abbott Lake Trail is located about 50 minutes north of Roanoke, VA, in Bedford in the heart of the area known as Peaks of Otter, and is located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information on the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which travels through Virginia and North Carolina, check out our post here.

To access Abbott Lake Trail, visitors can park in a parking lot at the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Lake View Restaurant. Depending on the time of year, the parking lot may get crowded, but there is a lot of parking so visitors should be able to find a spot. Nearby are some large parking lots at and across from the Visitor’s Center to provide additional parking options. This area is particularly popular during peak leaf season in the fall, which normally falls between mid- to late-October in the area.

what else is there to do near abbott lake trail?

Abbott Lake is situated at the base of Peaks of Otter and has numerous hikes nearby. Peaks of Otter is home to the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Lake View Restaurant, a national park visitor’s center, picnic areas, campsites, and several hikes. The hikes at this spot include Sharp Top, Flat Top, Harkening Hill and Johnson Farm Trails (two trails that we did together - read our post here), Fallingwater Cascades, and a few other nearby spots like Apple Orchard Falls (read our post here).

When in this area for hiking, we have typically brought a picnic to enjoy at the Peaks of Otter picnic area. There is a large wooded area along a creek that has a large amount of parking, picnic tables scatted throughout the woods and is - in our experience - barely used! The signs to the picnic area make it easy to find. If you’re driving up to the Sharp Top camp store, the road curves to the left with clear markings for the picnic area. On this particular visit, we decided to hike Fallingwater Cascades (1 mile total, half downhill and half uphill), followed by the Abbott Lake trail (1 mile in length, paved, around Abbott Lake), and then ate lunch at the Lake View Restaurant, where we had window seats overlooking the lake and peak beyond.

abbott lake trail’s BEST KEPT SECRETS

Abbott Lake Trail is a 1-mile, paved trail around the shores of the man-made lake. There are numerous great photo backdrops along the way. In fact during our visit we spotted professional photographers with several clients and the set-up for a wedding right outside the lodge for later that same day. This is a great hike for people who need easy walks and/or those with mobility issues and provides striking views, particularly in the fall. Or, it can be a great add-on walk for those doing more strenuous hikes in the Peaks of Otter area. The trail took us just over 20 minutes at a casual pace.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN HIKING AT abbott lake

The surface of Abbott Lake Trail is a combination of asphalt and a boardwalk. There are a couple of short bridges and a lookout point along the way. The trail is wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, and the trail gets relatively busy during peak leaf season. Because of the length of the trail and how accessible it is, a lot of people bring their dogs. It’s also common to fish and picnic along the shores of the lake.