Old Rag View Overlook sits at 3,575 feet along Skyline Drive, facing east at 90 degrees, with the land dropping 391 feet within 600 meters of the pull-off. Three peaks are visible: Robertson Mountain to the east-northeast at 3.1 miles (3,272 ft), Pinnacle Peak to the northeast at 4.1 miles (3,370 ft), and Old Rag Mountain to the east at 4.2 miles (3,258 ft). Because the overlook faces the sunrise direction, morning light comes in low and direct; sunrise times run from about 05:50 at the June solstice to 07:28 at the December solstice, with sunset between 16:57 and 20:42 depending on season. Harrisonburg lies 26.7 miles west-southwest, Charlottesville 36.0 miles south, and Staunton 46.0 miles southwest. Hawksbill Viewing Platform precedes this stop on Skyline Drive, and Spitler Knoll Overlook follows it.
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
This overlook faces sunrise — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:18 | 19:26 | 18:51 |
| June solstice | 05:50 | 20:42 | 20:02 |
| September equinox | 07:02 | 19:12 | 18:37 |
| December solstice | 07:28 | 16:57 | 16:15 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.
Looking east-northeast from an elevation of 3,585 ft (1,092 m), Old Rag View Overlook will give you a glimpse of Old Rag, located about 3 miles away. The summit of Old Rag sits at 3,291 ft (1,003 m), and the climb up from the Park boundary is one of the most popular hikes in Shenandoah National Park. The strenuous circuit hike has an elevation gain of 2,415 ft (736 m) and is a little over 9 miles long.
Robertson Mountain is a 3,297 feet (1,005 m) mountain near Sperryville in Madison County, Virginia. It is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is the peak is located within Shenandoah National Park near the popular hiking area of Old Rag Mountain. Waters from the slopes of Robertson Mountain form the headwaters of the Rappahannock River.
Old Rag Mountain is a 3,284-foot (1,001 m) mountain near Sperryville in Madison County, Virginia. A part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the peak is located within Shenandoah National Park and is the most popular hiking destination within the park.
Old Rag View Overlook sits at about 3,575 feet (1,090 m).
From Old Rag View Overlook: Robertson Mountain (ENE, 3.1 mi); Pinnacle Peak (NE, 4.1 mi); Old Rag Mountain (E, 4.2 mi).
Sunrise. The land falls away from Old Rag View Overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
Harrisonburg, 27 miles WSW of Old Rag View Overlook.
Spitler Knoll Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Old Rag View Overlook.
Byway plans the scenic way there — real places along Skyline Drive, real weather, zero hallucinations — and hands the turns to the navigation you already use.
Old Rag View 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.
No local confirmations yet. Stood here? Yours is the one that upgrades this lookout to Verified.
No ratings yet. Stood at this lookout? Be the first to rate it.
No written reviews yet.
No field notes yet. Know the gate hours or the best pull-in? Leave the note you wish you'd had.
No photos yet.
Sign in to confirm this lookout, rate it, add photos, and leave field notes.
