Shock Rock
Shock Rock sits at 1,038 feet along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, facing 300 degrees with the land dropping 518 feet within 600 meters of the overlook. The view opens west across Lock 29, 1.3 miles away at 266 feet, and the Catoctin Aqueduct, 1.8 miles distant at 242 feet. Farther out, to the west-northwest, Galyn Manor Green Park and Othello Regional Park lie at 4.0 and 4.5 miles respectively, with Brunswick Heights Park visible to the west at 5.0 miles. The facing direction points roughly toward sunset, about 30 degrees off square, making evening light a factor at this stop. Arlington, Washington, and Alexandria all lie well to the southeast, between 37 and 44 miles away. This overlook follows Point of Rocks Overlook and precedes the CS Sharpshooter's position along the byway route.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Lock 29266 ftwest · 1.3 mi
- Catoctin Aqueduct242 ftwest · 1.8 mi
- Galyn Manor Green Park445 ftwest-northwest · 4.0 mi
- Othello Regional Park501 ftwest-northwest · 4.5 mi
- Brunswick Heights Park448 ftwest · 5.0 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:15 | 19:22 | 18:47 |
| June solstice | 05:44 | 20:41 | 20:01 |
| September equinox | 06:58 | 19:09 | 18:34 |
| December solstice | 07:27 | 16:51 | 16:08 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Arlington37.7 mi southeast
- Washington39.2 mi southeast
- Alexandria43.6 mi southeast
Take the scenic way to Shock Rock.
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How high is Shock Rock?
Shock Rock sits at about 1,038 feet (317 m).
What can you see from Shock Rock?
From Shock Rock: Lock 29 (W, 1.3 mi); Catoctin Aqueduct (W, 1.8 mi); Galyn Manor Green Park (WNW, 4.0 mi); Othello Regional Park (WNW, 4.5 mi).
Is Shock Rock better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Shock Rock 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 Shock Rock?
Arlington, 38 miles SE of Shock Rock.
What is the next lookout after Shock Rock?
CS Sharpshooter's position is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Shock Rock.
Drive to Shock Rock with Byway
Byway plans the scenic way there — real places along Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, real weather, zero hallucinations — and hands the turns to the navigation you already use.
Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Brunswick · 5 mi
- Middletown · 9 mi
- Frederick · 10 mi
- Harpers Ferry · 11 mi
- Frederick County · 13 mi
- Leesburg · 13 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Shock Rock — 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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