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Lookout · Blue Ridge Parkway

Looking Glass Rock Overlook

National Park Service
Looking south-east from Looking Glass Rock Overlook. Terrain and imagery at true elevation.
Overview · Assembled from verified data

Looking Glass Rock Overlook sits at 4,501 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway, facing 120 degrees with the land dropping 905 feet within 600 meters of the pullout. Looking Glass Rock itself is made of compressed volcanic rock that dense granite core remaining after long weathering and erosion of the surrounding mountain, and its exposed face is visible for miles, which has made it a landmark for travelers through the region. From the overlook, several waterfalls come into view: Logging Road Falls to the east at 1.0 mile, Big Bearpen Falls to the east at 1.6 miles, Caney Bottom Falls to the south-southeast at 1.8 miles, and Justus Cove Falls to the east at 2.0 miles. Bennett Knob rises to the southeast at 1.0 mile. The facing direction looks toward sunrise, with sunrise around 6:18 to 7:37 depending on the season. Asheville lies 24.5 miles to the northeast, with Greenville and Greer farther southeast. The site has parking and is positioned between East Fork Overlook and Log Hollow Overlook along the byway. Conditions should be checked before visiting.

Access
On the byway
Elevation
4,501 ft
View
Southeast · 120°
Light
Best at sunrise
Relief
905 ft drop
In view
5 named features
Photos · Real imagery only
Looking Glass Rock with the surrounding mountains
NPS Photo / A. Armstrong · Public domain (NPS) · NPS
Looking Glass Rock Overlook, October 2016
Thomson200 · CC0 · source
Mossy log lying at the base of Log Hollow Falls, in the Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina
Wncoutdoors · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Autumn Colors Overlook View Graveyard Fields Blue Ridge. Taken in Haywood County, North Carolina
bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 · source
Autumn Colors Overlook View Graveyard Fields Blue Ridge. Taken in Haywood County, North Carolina
bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 · source
Autumn Colors Overlook View Graveyard Fields Blue Ridge Pkwy NC
bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 · source
In view · Named features

What you’re looking at

Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.

  • Logging Road Falls3,428 fteast · 1.0 mi
  • Bennett Knob3,626 ftsoutheast · 1.0 mi
  • Big Bearpen Falls3,066 fteast · 1.6 mi
  • Caney Bottom Falls2,981 ftsouth-southeast · 1.8 mi
  • Justus Cove Falls3,033 fteast · 2.0 mi
When to look · Sun at this latitude

Light

This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.

DateSunriseSunsetGolden hour
March equinox07:3619:4319:10
June solstice06:1820:5020:12
September equinox07:2019:3018:56
December solstice07:3717:2316:44

Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.

Getting there · Position and access

Where it is

  • Asheville24.5 mi northeast
  • Greenville40.6 mi southeast
  • Greer43.1 mi southeast
← Before it: East Fork OverlookAfter it: Log Hollow Overlook →
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From the source · Verbatim

Looking Glass Rock Overlook · National Park Service

The massive, exposed face of Looking Glass Rock rises from the surrounding forest like a sentinel. Made of compressed volcanic rock that shimmers like glass when rain or ice settles on its surface, this steep-sided mountain is popular with hikers, climbers, and waterfall-chasers. Over time, geologic processes like weathering and erosion have whittled away at the mountain, taking all but the dense core of granite that you now see today. Because its unique and towering form is visible for miles, Looking Glass Rock has long been used as a landmark for travelers passing through the region. Although visitors can see Looking Glass Rock from several points along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Looking Glass Rock Overlook is one of the best places to view this monolith. With ample parking and unobstructed views, it’s a great place to snap a picture or enjoy a picnic. Check the conditions of the area before you visit.

Read it at National Park Service →
Common questions

How high is Looking Glass Rock Overlook?

Looking Glass Rock Overlook sits at about 4,501 feet (1,372 m).

What can you see from Looking Glass Rock Overlook?

From Looking Glass Rock Overlook: Logging Road Falls (E, 1.0 mi); Bennett Knob (SE, 1.0 mi); Big Bearpen Falls (E, 1.6 mi); Caney Bottom Falls (SSE, 1.8 mi).

Is Looking Glass Rock Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?

Sunrise. The land falls away from Looking Glass Rock Overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.

What is the nearest town to Looking Glass Rock Overlook?

Asheville, 25 miles NE of Looking Glass Rock Overlook.

What is the next lookout after Looking Glass Rock Overlook?

Log Hollow Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Looking Glass Rock Overlook.

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Locals make it Verified.

Looking Glass Rock 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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