Destination Bedford offers big, bold and unforgettable experiences. You’ll see stunning beauty in the Blue Ridge Mountains and hear stories of bravery that will take your breath away at the National D-Day Memorial.
In Bedford County, when someone says they are going to the lake, it is generally assumed that they mean Smith Mountain Lake. Meanwhile, on the northern side of the county, Abbott Lake is an under-the-radar piece of paradise along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Abbott Lake is the scenic centerpiece of the Peaks of Otter area. It is located in the middle of the three mountains that give the area its name and offers views of each. The restaurant and guest rooms at The Peaks of Otter Lodge all overlook the lake. It is also located close to the campground. While no campsites are actually waterfront, it’s a short walk to the lake and the trail.
If you’re staying at the Peaks of Otter Lodge, you’re lucky enough to be able to walk right out the door and onto the Abbott Lake Trail, or simply relax on one of the Adirondack chairs with your morning coffee. If you are staying anywhere else in Bedford County, consider an early morning or late afternoon visit to Abbott Lake. Why are those times the best? We could say it’s because that is when the lighting is best to take some stunning photos of the lake and the mountains, but the truth is that breakfast and dinner at the Peaks of Otter Restaurant are both worth the trip.
The Abbott Lake Trail, also called the track, is a one-mile loop around the lake. Walking the trail is a peaceful experience. Next to the lodge, you’re likely to hear the hum of air conditioning units, but within a minute, that sound disappears and is replaced by bird calls and the breeze rustling through the trees. On a recent morning walk, the loudest sound was a croaking bullfrog that was either offering its own version of a welcome to his neighborhood, or possibly was annoyed that someone was stirring at such an early hour.
The entire Abbott Lake Trail is paved, except for where it crosses a few wooden footbridges, which means it is accessible to everyone. For such a short trail — it can be completed in 20 minutes — it has multiple personalities. Just outside the lodge it feels like you’re sitting in a quiet back yard. Where it is closer to the Blue Ridge Parkway, some wooden bridges wind through overhanging trees with high marsh grasses and cattails, making it feel like a nature walk. You expect to see songbirds in the trees and butterflies floating about. On the opposite side of the lake, the trail passes through dense forest that creates a tunnel effect.
The Abbott Lake Trail is a lovely place to get some fresh air and see why the Peaks of Otter is one of the most photographed spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rays of sun streaming through the trees and glistening off the lake lead to some great Instagram-worthy photos. Having enjoyed the beauty on sunny days, we can just imagine how magical it must be to gaze at the starlit sky on a cool, clear evening. That is definitely something to include on the Bedford Bucket List for a future visit.
Bonus:
The Abbott Lake Trail is the easiest of the entire Peaks of Otter trail network. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, which is what makes it wonderfully relaxing and ideal for all ages. The trails that ascend Flat Top and Sharp Top are more challenging, because of the length and elevation change.
The perfect compromise between easy and challenging is the Johnson Farm Trail. This moderate hike begins across the Blue Ridge Parkway from Abbott Lake behind the Visitor Center. The 2-mile loop trail leads to an old farmhouse built in the 1850s.