A short but thrilling rock scramble leads to 360° views of the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. It’s one of the few overlooks in the park that rewards you for a little scrambling.

A broad highland meadow surrounded by forest, Big Meadows offers sweeping views, wildlife sightings, and access to trails and facilities at the Byrd Visitor Center. It’s a central hub where nature and history meet.

This seldom-heralded roadside lookout offers quiet views of forested ridges and distant valleys. It’s a peaceful spot to pause and absorb the layered mountain scenery.

From this trailhead, you can ascend to more dramatic vantage points overlooking the forested ridgelines. The summit route balances effort and panorama.

Starting from this pull-off, the moderately steep trek takes you to a 70-foot waterfall tucked into a forest gorge. It’s one of the more accessible waterfall hikes in the park.

One of the first visitor centers on Skyline Drive, Dickey Ridge offers interpretive exhibits, valley views, and a chance to orient yourself to park history.

This trailhead leads to a pair of cascades—upper and lower falls—along a scenic stream valley. The fall views deepen as you venture further in.

With its name suggesting a ridge profile, the Hogback Overlook provides panoramas over rolling slopes and forested valleys. It’s a classic silhouette view of the park’s terrain.

Beneath forest canopy breaks, Ivy Creek Overlook offers a more intimate vantage point over ridgelines and distant hills. It’s quieter than many of the main overlooks.

A short, accessible loop that passes through rhododendron, mountain laurel, and shaded forest. It’s an ideal stroll to experience the quieter forest textures.

The only vehicular tunnel along Skyline Drive, this 670-foot passage was blasted through Mary’s Rock in 1932 under CCC crews. It’s a dramatic marker of human engineering amid natural grandeur.

This vantage frames the well-known rugged peak of Old Rag Mountain, giving hikers a preview of its dramatic form.

Facing north over the valley floor, this overlook gives you a classic vista of the Shenandoah Valley framed by distant ridgelines and fluted peaks.