Lookout/Ob Deck
This overlook on the Great River Road - Missouri sits at 420 feet, facing 300 degrees toward the northwest. The terrain drops 86 feet over the next 600 meters from the platform. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge lies northwest at 1.8 miles, with the Mingo Wilderness visible to the west at 3.7 miles. Several low ridges are within view, including Shaw Ridge to the west-northwest, Sand Blow Ridge to the north, and Bee OPress Ridge to the north-northwest, all under a mile in elevation gain from the overlook itself. Fry Bluff, at 489 feet, stands to the west-northwest at 3.4 miles, and the Monolopy Overlook Platform is visible northwest at 3.6 miles. Because the facing direction points toward the sunset side, roughly 30 degrees off square, the view aligns with evening light. Poplar Bluff is the nearest town, 19.9 miles to the southwest, with Sikeston and Cape Girardeau farther east. The route continues to the Scenic Overlook Mark Twain Memorial Bridge.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Lookout/Ob Deck413 ftwest-southwest · 0.5 mi
- Shaw Ridge337 ftwest-northwest · 0.9 mi
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge334 ftnorthwest · 1.8 mi
- Sand Blow Ridge342 ftnorth · 2.0 mi
- Bee OPress Ridge337 ftnorth-northwest · 2.3 mi
- Fry Bluff489 ftwest-northwest · 3.4 mi
- Monolopy Overlook Platform459 ftnorthwest · 3.6 mi
- Mingo Wilderness337 ftwest · 3.7 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:05 | 19:13 | 18:38 |
| June solstice | 05:42 | 20:24 | 19:46 |
| September equinox | 06:49 | 18:59 | 18:25 |
| December solstice | 07:11 | 16:48 | 16:08 |
Local time (America/Chicago). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Poplar Bluff19.9 mi southwest
- Sikeston31.8 mi east-southeast
- Cape Girardeau41.9 mi east-northeast
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How high is Lookout/Ob Deck?
Lookout/Ob Deck sits at about 420 feet (128 m).
What can you see from Lookout/Ob Deck?
From Lookout/Ob Deck: Lookout/Ob Deck (WSW, 0.5 mi); Shaw Ridge (WNW, 0.9 mi); Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (NW, 1.8 mi); Sand Blow Ridge (N, 2.0 mi).
Is Lookout/Ob Deck better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Lookout/Ob Deck toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Lookout/Ob Deck?
Poplar Bluff, 20 miles SW of Lookout/Ob Deck.
What is the next lookout after Lookout/Ob Deck?
Scenic Overlook Mark Twain Memorial Bridge is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Lookout/Ob Deck.
Drive to Lookout/Ob Deck with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Locals make it Verified.
Lookout/Ob Deck — 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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Field notes
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More lookouts on Great River Road - Missouri
Named places near this lookout
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge Nature reserve · 1.8 mi
- Fry Bluff Cliff · 3.44 mi
- Mingo Wilderness Nature reserve · 3.75 mi
- Devils Washboard Cliff · 4.96 mi
- Eagle Point Recreation Area Park · 7.29 mi
- Spillway Recreation Area Park · 7.77 mi
- Redman Creek Recreation Area Park · 8.14 mi
- Snake Bluff Cliff · 8.71 mi