Scenic Viewpoints in Mississippi: 17 Photo Spots, Light & Night Sky Guide

Name	County	Elevation	Nearest town	Sky
Black Belt Overlook, Milepost 251.9	Lee County	—	Verona	3
CCC OverlookGulf Islands	Jackson County	—	Gulf Park Estates	6
Lauderdale Lookout Tower	Lauderdale County	190 m	Marion	5
Noxubee Lookout Tower	Noxubee County	74 m	Macon	2
Porterville Lookout Tower	Kemper County	118 m	De Kalb	2
Quitman Lookout Tower	Clarke County	112 m	Quitman	2
Hilda Lookout Tower	Jackson County	7 m	Hickory Hills	5
Observation Deck	Jackson County	—	Gulf Park Estates	6
Fire Tower	Oktibbeha County	—	Starkville	5
CCC Dining Hall Ruins	Jackson County	—	Gulf Park Estates	6
Burnsville Overlook Area	Tishomingo County	143 m	Iuka	3
Bywy Overlook	Choctaw County	172 m	Ackerman	2
Divide Overlook Area	Tishomingo County	156 m	Iuka	3
Old Town Overlook	Lee County	93 m	Tupelo	5
Paden Overlook Area	Tishomingo County	159 m	Belmont	3
Pine Mountain Overlook	Marshall County	183 m	Holly Springs	4
Scruggs Bridge Overlook Area	Tishomingo County	129 m	Iuka	3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph scenic viewpoints

Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.

Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.

Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.