Flat Top Tower via Flat Top Road
Overview
This is an easy one way trail to Flat Top Tower in Blue Ridge Parkway. The path is a very well maintained service road that takes you all the way to the Flat Top Observation Tower. The trail takes you through rolling hills and holds many wonderful views along the way. This trail can be done by all skill levels. The incline is slight and not very hard to walk up and the views from the tower are wonderful.
The low difficulty of this trail, highly rewarding views and ease of access makes this trail very popular. As a result, this trail gets very crowded and the parking lot gets full quickly. People end up parking all along the Blue Ridge Parkway road just above the bridge over the trail. If you want to hike this awesome trail, plan on coming very early to beat the crowds and finding a parking place.
This trail is easy but proper footwear is highly recommended because it is a 5 mile round trip.
Check out my track and pictures.
Getting Started
From the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the signs to the Moses H Cone Craft center. After turning off of the Blue Ridge Parkway into the park, follow the road all the way around to where the restrooms are located. From the parking lot go towards the Blue Ridge Parkway and the trail will go underneath the parkway bridge through a tunnel. Continue down the path and take the right path at the first fork. If you go left, you will go to what is called the trout pond. Along the trail to the Flat Top Observation tower is also a small cemetery that you can view. It's a neat little place that is only .1 miles off the main trail.
Taking Children
This is an easy hike for kids. The trail is a well maintained service road all the way from the parking lot to the observation tower. I think that even a stroller with off road tires could make this hike. I recommend good footwear for this hike, because it is a 5 mile round trip hike.
Sights to See
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