Shenandoah Valley Overlook
Shenandoah Valley Overlook sits at 2,349 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with terrain dropping 433 feet within 600 meters of the pull-off. The view faces due west (270°), a direction that lines up with sunset. JJJ Mountain rises to the west at 0.8 miles, while a cluster of higher points spreads across the southwest, including Cedar Cliffs, Dripping Rock, Rock Point Overlook, Raven's Roost Overlook, Ravens Roost Overlook, and Torry Mountain, ranging from about 5 to 7 miles out and reaching up to 3,850 feet at Devils Knob. To the northwest, Hickory Hill and Gibson Hill sit lower, at 1,630 and 1,593 feet respectively. Staunton lies 14.2 miles northwest, Charlottesville 22.5 miles east, and Harrisonburg 30.7 miles north. On the Parkway, this overlook falls between The Lump Overlook and Greenstone Overlook. Given the westward orientation, sunset light reaches the overlook directly, with sunset times ranging from about 17:00 in December to nearly 20:42 in June.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- JJJ Mountain2,097 ftwest · 0.8 mi
- Cedar Cliffs2,856 ftsouthwest · 5.1 mi
- Dripping Rock3,006 ftsouth-southwest · 5.2 mi
- Rock Point Overlook3,171 ftsouthwest · 5.7 mi
- Raven's Roost Overlook3,314 ftsouthwest · 5.8 mi
- Ravens Roost Overlook3,210 ftsouthwest · 6.0 mi
- Hickory Hill1,630 ftnorthwest · 6.1 mi
- Torry Mountain2,776 ftsouthwest · 6.6 mi
- Gibson Hill1,593 ftnorthwest · 6.9 mi
- Devils Knob3,850 ftsouth-southwest · 7.1 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:20 | 19:28 | 18:53 |
| June solstice | 05:54 | 20:42 | 20:03 |
| September equinox | 07:04 | 19:14 | 18:40 |
| December solstice | 07:29 | 17:00 | 16:19 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Staunton14.2 mi northwest
- Charlottesville22.5 mi east
- Harrisonburg30.7 mi north
Take the scenic way to Shenandoah Valley Overlook.
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How high is Shenandoah Valley Overlook?
Shenandoah Valley Overlook sits at about 2,349 feet (716 m).
What can you see from Shenandoah Valley Overlook?
From Shenandoah Valley Overlook: JJJ Mountain (W, 0.8 mi); Cedar Cliffs (SW, 5.1 mi); Dripping Rock (SSW, 5.2 mi); Rock Point Overlook (SW, 5.7 mi).
Is Shenandoah Valley Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Shenandoah Valley Overlook 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 Shenandoah Valley Overlook?
Staunton, 14 miles NW of Shenandoah Valley Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Shenandoah Valley Overlook?
Greenstone Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Shenandoah Valley Overlook.
Drive to Shenandoah Valley Overlook with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Charlottesville · 22 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Shenandoah Valley 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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