Horsehead Overlook sits at 2,569 feet along Skyline Drive, facing west at 270 degrees, directly toward sunset. The terrain drops 801 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving an open view across the land below. Three peaks are visible: Calvary Rocks to the west-southwest at 1.0 mile (2,870 ft), Horsehead Mountain to the west-northwest at 1.2 miles (2,056 ft), and Rocks Mountain to the west-southwest at 1.3 miles (2,939 ft). Because the view faces the setting sun squarely, this spot suits evening stops; sunset times range from about 16:59 at the December solstice to 20:42 at the June solstice. Staunton lies 17.4 miles west, Harrisonburg 18.7 miles north-northwest, and Charlottesville 19.0 miles southeast. The previous stop along the byway is Horsehead Mountain Overlook, and the next is Chimney Rock. According to the National Park Service, the overlook looks northwest into Augusta County in the southern Shenandoah Valley, a county formed in 1738 and named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and mother of the future King George III.
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
This overlook faces sunset — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:19 | 19:27 | 18:52 |
| June solstice | 05:53 | 20:42 | 20:03 |
| September equinox | 07:03 | 19:14 | 18:39 |
| December solstice | 07:29 | 16:59 | 16:18 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
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Look northwest to the Shenandoah Valley from an elevation of 2,580 ft (786 m) at Horsehead Overlook. You are looking into Augusta County in the southern Shenandoah Valley. Augusta County was formed in 1738 and named after Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and mother of future King George III.
Horsehead Overlook sits at about 2,569 feet (783 m).
From Horsehead Overlook: Calvary Rocks (WSW, 1.0 mi); Horsehead Mountain (WNW, 1.2 mi); Rocks Mountain (WSW, 1.3 mi).
Sunset. The land falls away from Horsehead Overlook toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
Staunton, 17 miles W of Horsehead Overlook.
Chimney Rock is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Horsehead Overlook.
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Horsehead Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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