Top scenic viewpoints
Scenic ViewpointBacon Hollow Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBeagle Gap Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBeldor Hollow Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBig Run Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBrown Mountain Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBrowntown Valley Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBuck Hollow Overlook
Scenic ViewpointCalf Mountain Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBaldface Mountain Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBeahms Gap Overlook
Scenic ViewpointAfton Overlook
Scenic ViewpointBald Face Mountain Overlook
Scenic Viewpoints by county
- Albemarle County4
- Amherst County15
- Augusta County17
- Bedford County24
- Botetourt County8
- Dickenson County4
- Floyd County4
- Franklin County6
- Greene County3
- Madison County4
- Nelson County6
- Page County11
- Patrick County4
- Rappahannock County11
- Roanoke County11
- Rockbridge County5
- Rockingham County16
- Shenandoah County4
- Warren County6
All scenic viewpoints (171)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Greene County | 738 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Beagle Gap OverlookShenandoah | Albemarle County | 757 m | Dooms | 4 |
| Beldor Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 697 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Big Run OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 874 m | Grottoes | 3 |
| Brown Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 868 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Browntown Valley OverlookShenandoah | Warren County | 879 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Buck Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Rappahannock County | 824 m | Luray | 4 |
| Calf Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Augusta County | 757 m | Dooms | 4 |
| Baldface Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Greene County | — | Elkton | 3 |
| Beahms Gap OverlookShenandoah | Page County | — | Luray | 4 |
| Afton Overlook | Nelson County | 575 m | Waynesboro | 5 |
| Bald Face Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 1,016 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Bald Mountain Overlook | Augusta County | 1,007 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Black Rock Hill Overlook | Botetourt County | 972 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Bluff Mountain Overlook | Amherst County | 563 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| Briery Branch Overlook | Augusta County | 1,172 m | Bridgewater | 3 |
| Buck Mountain Overlook | City of Salem | 448 m | Narrows | 6 |
| Buena Vista Overlook | Rockbridge County | 706 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| Bull Run Knob Overlook | Franklin County | 879 m | Cave Spring | 4 |
| Buzzard Rock Overlook | Shenandoah County | 473 m | Strasburg | 4 |
| Cahas Overlook | Franklin County | 916 m | Shawsville | 4 |
| Clarksville Overlook | Mecklenburg County | 98 m | Clarksville | 3 |
| Clinchfield Overlook | Dickenson County | 601 m | Clintwood | 2 |
| Crescent Rock OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,078 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Crimora Lake Overlook | Augusta County | 904 m | Crimora | 4 |
| Dancing Creek Overlook | Amherst County | 407 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Devils Backbone Overlook | Franklin County | 822 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| Doyles River Overlook | Rockingham County | 874 m | Grottoes | 3 |
| Dundo Overlook | Rockingham County | 844 m | Grottoes | 4 |
| Eaton Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 765 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Fallingwater Overlook | Botetourt County | 776 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Flat Top Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 760 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Fork Mountain Overlook | Nelson County | 1,001 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Fort Valley Overlook | Shenandoah County | 545 m | Woodstock | 4 |
| Fort Valley Overlook | Shenandoah County | 544 m | Strasburg | 4 |
| Franklin Cliffs OverlookShenandoah | Madison County | 958 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Gimlet Ridge Overlook | Warren County | 818 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Gooney Manor Overlook | Warren County | 592 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Gooney Run Overlook | Warren County | 647 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Goose Creek Valley Overlook | Bedford County | 590 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Great Valley Overlook | Bedford County | 757 m | Blue Ridge | 4 |
| Greenstone Overlook | Augusta County | 927 m | Nellysford | 4 |
| Harveys Knob Overlook | Botetourt County | 772 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Hazel Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Rappahannock County | 845 m | Luray | 3 |
| Hazeltop Ridge OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,006 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Headforemost Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 870 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Hemlock Overlook Regional Park | Fairfax County | 89 m | Buckhall | 7 |
| Hemlock Springs OverlookShenandoah | Madison County | 1,030 m | Luray | 3 |
| Hensley Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 819 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Hogwallow Flat Overlook | Rappahannock County | 796 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Horsehead Mountain Overlook | Augusta County | 783 m | Crimora | 4 |
| House Mountain Overlook | Amherst County | 772 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| Indian Run Overlook | Rappahannock County | 704 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Iron Mine Hollow Overlooks | Botetourt County | 719 m | Blue Ridge | 4 |
| Ivy Creek Overlook | Rockingham County | 883 m | Elkton | 3 |
| James River Valley Overlook | Bedford County | 569 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Jenkins Gap Overlook | Rappahannock County | 720 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Jeremys Run Overlook | Rappahannock County | 740 m | Luray | 4 |
| Jewell Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,015 m | Luray | 3 |
| Kerr Dam Overlook | Mecklenburg County | 100 m | Bracey | 3 |
| Loft Mountain Overlook | Greene County | 747 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Lost Mountain Overlook | Roanoke County | 682 m | Cave Spring | 5 |
| Lower Otter Creek Overlook | Amherst County | 215 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Masons Knob Overlook | Roanoke County | 434 m | Cave Spring | 6 |
| McCormick Gap Overlook | Albemarle County | 751 m | Waynesboro | 5 |
| Metz Run Overlook | Roanoke County | 573 m | Cave Spring | 5 |
| Middle Otter Creek Overlook | Amherst County | 273 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Monitor-Merrimac Overlook Park | City of Newport News | 2 m | Newport News | 8 |
| Montvale Overlook | Bedford County | 744 m | Blue Ridge | 3 |
| Moormans River Overlook | Albemarle County | 906 m | Crimora | 4 |
| Mount Marshall Overlook | Rappahannock County | 881 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Naked Creek OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 997 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Norfolk and Western Overlook | Botetourt County | 355 m | Laymantown | 5 |
| Old Rag View OverlookShenandoah | Madison County | 1,093 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Onion Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 959 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Otter Creek Flats Overlook | Amherst County | 306 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Pass Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 753 m | Luray | 4 |
| Piedmont Overlook | Carroll County | 879 m | Cana | 3 |
| Pilot Mountain Overlook | Patrick County | 896 m | Cana | 3 |
| Pine Spur Overlook | Franklin County | 825 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| Pine Tree Overlook | Bedford County | 741 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Pinnacle OverlookShenandoah | Rappahannock County | 1,014 m | Luray | 3 |
| Piprap Overlook | Augusta County | 884 m | Crimora | 4 |
| Poages Mill Overlook | Roanoke County | 611 m | Cave Spring | 5 |
| Poor Mountain Overlook | Roanoke County | 916 m | Cave Spring | 4 |
| Porters Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 635 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Purgatory Overlook | Botetourt County | 733 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Quarry Overlook | Botetourt County | 666 m | Blue Ridge | 5 |
| Range View Overlook | Rappahannock County | 854 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Ravens Roost Overlook | Augusta County | 977 m | Nellysford | 3 |
| Read Mountain Overlook | Roanoke County | 352 m | Vinton | 5 |
| Red Rock Overlook Regional Park | Loudoun County | 75 m | Leesburg | 6 |
| Rice Mountain Overlook | Amherst County | 514 m | Buena Vista | 3 |
| Roanoke Basin Overlook | Roanoke County | 375 m | Vinton | 5 |
| Roanoke Valley Overlook | Roanoke County | 652 m | Cave Spring | 5 |
| Rock Point Overlook | Augusta County | 950 m | Nellysford | 3 |
| Rocky Mount OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 751 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Rockytop Overlook | Rockingham County | 872 m | Grottoes | 3 |
| Round Meadow Overlook | Patrick County | 854 m | Stuart | 3 |
| Sandy Bottom OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 780 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Sawmill Ridge Overlook | Augusta County | 678 m | Dooms | 4 |
| Sawmill Run Overlook | Augusta County | 664 m | Dooms | 4 |
| Shags Gap Overlook | Roanoke County | 873 m | Cave Spring | 4 |
| Sharp Top Overlook | Bedford County | 708 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Shenandoah Valley Overlook | Augusta County | 716 m | Lyndhurst | 4 |
| Shenandoah Valley Overlook | Shenandoah County | 576 m | Strasburg | 4 |
| Shenandoah Valley Overlook | Warren County | 426 m | Front Royal | 5 |
| Signal Knob Overlook | Warren County | 641 m | Front Royal | 4 |
| Slings Gap Overlook | Franklin County | 870 m | Cave Spring | 4 |
| Smart View Overlook | Franklin County | 779 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| South River OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 897 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Spitler Knoll OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,002 m | Stanley | 3 |
| State Line Overlook | Dickenson County | 537 m | Clintwood | 2 |
| Stewart Knob Overlook | Roanoke County | 413 m | Vinton | 6 |
| Stony Man OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 939 m | Luray | 3 |
| Granite Quarry Parking Overlook | Carroll County | 916 m | Cana | 3 |
| Swift Run OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 813 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Tanners Ridge OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,052 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Taylors Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 712 m | Blue Ridge | 4 |
| Terrapin Hill Overlook | Amherst County | 237 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Terrapin Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 868 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| The Breaks Overlook | Dickenson County | 550 m | Clintwood | 2 |
| The Oaks OverlookShenandoah | Rockingham County | 959 m | Elkton | 3 |
| The Point OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 989 m | Stanley | 3 |
| The Priest Overlook | Augusta County | 819 m | Nellysford | 3 |
| The Riffles Overlook | Amherst County | 251 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| The Slacks Overlook | Augusta County | 844 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| The Towers Overlook | Dickenson County | 523 m | Clintwood | 2 |
| Thornton Hollow Overlook | Rappahannock County | 747 m | Luray | 4 |
| Thorofare Mountain OverlookShenandoah | Madison County | 1,092 m | Luray | 3 |
| Three Ridges Overlook | Nelson County | 817 m | Nellysford | 3 |
| Thunder Ridge Overlook | Bedford County | 1,075 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Timber Hollow OverlookShenandoah | Page County | 1,020 m | Stanley | 3 |
| Top Dirve Overlook | Rockbridge County | 900 m | Lexington | 3 |
| Trayfoot Mountain Overlook | Albemarle County | 769 m | Grottoes | 4 |
| Tunnel Parking OverlookShenandoah | Rappahannock County | 776 m | Luray | 4 |
| Turk Mountain Overlook | Augusta County | 819 m | Crimora | 4 |
| Twenty Minute Cliff Overlook | Nelson County | 819 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Twomile Run Overlook | Rockingham County | 845 m | Elkton | 3 |
| Upper Otter Creek Overlook | Amherst County | 329 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| White Oak Plats Overlook | Amherst County | 445 m | Buena Vista | 3 |
| Whites Gap Overlook | Amherst County | 782 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| Rockfish Valley Parking Overlook | Nelson County | 654 m | Waynesboro | 5 |
| Parking Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway | Augusta County | 970 m | Nellysford | 3 |
| Spy Mountain Parking Area, Blue Ridge Parkway | Nelson County | 961 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Chimney Rock (Silver Peak) Parking Overlook | Rockbridge County | 759 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| James River Parking Overlook | Bedford County | 207 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Otter Lake Parking Overlook | Amherst County | 205 m | Glasgow | 4 |
| Otter Lake Parking Area | Amherst County | 228 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Fallingwater Cascades Parking Area | Bedford County | 787 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| 1J Station 92 Parking Overlook | Botetourt County | 1,202 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Tree Wall | Bedford County | 854 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Arnolds Valley Parking Area | Bedford County | 1,106 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Roanoke River Parking Overlook | Roanoke County | 312 m | Vinton | 6 |
| Shortts Knob Overlook | Floyd County | 765 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| Grassy Knoll Parking Area | Patrick County | 902 m | Stuart | 3 |
| Humpback Gap Overlook | Augusta County | 729 m | Lyndhurst | 4 |
| Whetstone Ridge Overlook | Rockbridge County | 977 m | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Burch's Hill Overlook | Amherst County | 707 m | Buena Vista | 4 |
| Battery Creek Overlook | Bedford County | 308 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Petites Gap Overlook | Rockbridge County | 728 m | Glasgow | 3 |
| Poplar Spring Overlook | Bedford County | 842 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Flattop Mountain Overlook | Bedford County | 842 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Mills Gap Overlook | Bedford County | 736 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Parking Overlook | Bedford County | 732 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| McFalls View Overlook | Bedford County | 653 m | Buchanan | 3 |
| Looney Mill Valley Overlook | Bedford County | 756 m | Blue Ridge | 4 |
| Parking Overlook | Floyd County | 829 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| BRLI Parking Overlook | Floyd County | 765 m | Ferrum | 3 |
| Grassy Knoll Overlook | Floyd County | 1,046 m | Stuart | 3 |
| Parking Overlook | Patrick County | 863 m | Cana | 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.