Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout
Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout sits at 2,142 feet along the Blue Ridge Parkway, facing due east toward the sunrise, with terrain dropping 841 feet within 600 meters of the overlook. The view spans a mix of parks and peaks at varying distances: Mount Pleasant Park and Jae Valley Park lie 2.5 to 2.6 miles out to the northeast and east, while Tory Knob rises to 1,779 feet, 5.3 miles east. Farther out, Lynville Mountain, Chestnut Mountain, and Horsepen Mountain extend the view to the northeast and east, with Horsepen Mountain the most distant feature at 8.1 miles and 1,817 feet. Because the overlook faces the sunrise directly, morning light crosses the scene with little offset; sunrise times range from about 06:01 at the June solstice to 07:31 at the December solstice. Roanoke is 4.1 miles north, and Cave Spring is 4.2 miles west-northwest, making this a short detour from either town. The Roanoke River Overlook precedes this stop on the route, and Devil's Backbone Overlook follows it.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Mount Pleasant Park1,128 ftnortheast · 2.5 mi
- Jae Valley Park962 fteast · 2.6 mi
- Mayflower Hills Park1,094 fteast-northeast · 4.0 mi
- Tory Knob1,779 fteast · 5.3 mi
- Goode Park1,124 ftnortheast · 6.0 mi
- Lynville Mountain1,431 fteast · 6.6 mi
- Chestnut Mountain1,568 ftnortheast · 6.7 mi
- Stonebridge Park1,159 ftnortheast · 6.8 mi
- Horsepen Mountain1,817 ftnortheast · 8.1 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunrise — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:24 | 19:32 | 18:57 |
| June solstice | 06:01 | 20:44 | 20:05 |
| September equinox | 07:08 | 19:18 | 18:44 |
| December solstice | 07:31 | 17:07 | 16:26 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Roanoke4.1 mi north
- Cave Spring4.2 mi west-northwest
- Blacksburg26.3 mi west
Take the scenic way to Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.
How high is Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout?
Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout sits at about 2,142 feet (653 m).
What can you see from Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout?
From Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout: Mount Pleasant Park (NE, 2.5 mi); Jae Valley Park (E, 2.6 mi); Mayflower Hills Park (ENE, 4.0 mi); Tory Knob (E, 5.3 mi).
Is Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. The land falls away from Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout 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 Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout?
Roanoke, 4.1 miles N of Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout.
What is the next lookout after Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout?
Devil's Backbone Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout.
Drive to Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout with Byway
Byway plans the scenic way there — real places along Blue Ridge Parkway, real weather, zero hallucinations — and hands the turns to the navigation you already use.
Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Roanoke · 4 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Roanoke Mountain Loop Lookout — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
Confirmed by locals
No local confirmations yet. Stood here? Yours is the one that upgrades this lookout to Verified.
Ratings
No ratings yet. Stood at this lookout? Be the first to rate it.
No written reviews yet.
Field notes
No field notes yet. Know the gate hours or the best pull-in? Leave the note you wish you'd had.
Photos
No photos yet.
Sign in to confirm this lookout, rate it, add photos, and leave field notes.