2013 Map of Peaks of Otter

About this map

Peaks of Otter dominates the landscape of this Blue Ridge region, where the high peaks descend into a network of creek-side milling communities. This 2013 survey documents a historic mill economy along the waterways, evidenced by Old Mill, Big Otter Mill, Kelso Mill, and Penicks Mill. The Blue Ridge Pkwy traverses the high elevations, connecting several vistas such as the Flat Top Mountain Overlook and Fallingwater Overlook. In the lower valleys, settlements like Peaksville and Wheats Valley are defined by the convergence of Stony Cr and Little Stony Cr. The geography transitions from the rocky outcrops of Buzzards Roost and Sharp Top Mountain to the managed waters of Abbott Lake and the Bedford Reservoir, illustrating the area's dual character as both a recreation destination and a working mountain landscape.