Swift Run Overlook sits at 2,686 feet on Skyline Drive, facing 300 degrees toward the west-northwest, with the land dropping 576 feet within 600 meters of the edge. An orientation shelter at the overlook provides information for visitors, though the source text notes the view is overgrown for most of the year. Peaks and features visible from the overlook include Dollys Knob, Hanse Mountain, Giants Grave, Rocky Mount, Elkton Spring, Stonewall Memorial Park, Rocky Mountain, Bear Lithia Spring, Brown Mountain, and Rockytop, ranging from just under 4 miles to about 9 miles away. Because the overlook faces roughly toward sunset, evening light crosses the view at an angle rather than straight on. Harrisonburg lies 18.4 miles to the west-northwest, Charlottesville 22.0 miles to the south-southeast, and Staunton 30.8 miles to the west-southwest. Hensley Hollow Overlook is the previous stop along the drive, and Sandy Bottom Overlook is next.
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:19 | 19:26 | 18:51 |
| June solstice | 05:52 | 20:42 | 20:02 |
| September equinox | 07:03 | 19:13 | 18:38 |
| December solstice | 07:28 | 16:58 | 16:16 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
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Facing north from an elevation of 2,715 ft (827 m) the view from Swift Run looks out to the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain on the horizon. The view here is overgrown for most of the year. There is an orientation shelter at this overlook with information to help you during your visit.
Swift Run Overlook sits at about 2,686 feet (819 m).
From Swift Run Overlook: Dollys Knob (NNW, 3.8 mi); Hanse Mountain (NW, 3.9 mi); Giants Grave (WNW, 4.9 mi); Rocky Mount (W, 5.0 mi).
Sunset. The land falls away from Swift Run Overlook toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
Harrisonburg, 18 miles WNW of Swift Run Overlook.
Sandy Bottom Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Swift Run Overlook.
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Swift Run 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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