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  3. 24 Best Blue Ridge Overlooks for Seeing Mountain Vistas

24 Best Blue Ridge Overlooks for Seeing Mountain Vistas

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
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Blue Ridge Overlook Sign
Credit: alex grichenko/Getty Images

Panoramas, vistas, overlooks—the Blue Ridge Mountains offer countless places to admire a beautiful view. Whether at a pull-off overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway or along one of the countless hiking trails in the area's national and state parks, there are sights to see, and they're calling your name. We've chosen a few favorite overlooks to inspire your road tripping this season. They're beautiful year-round, but they also offer unparalleled points from which to see the leaves change during autumn. Pack up your car, and plan your trip today. You can find a number of interactive maps online that offer a full list of overlooks and their mile markers to help guide a mountain road trip full of panoramas along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Afton Overlook

Afton Valley Overlook
Credit: krblokhin/Getty Images

Mile Marker 0.2

Elevation 1895'

This Virginia overlook offers views of the Afton Valley and can be found at the north entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway along the Appalachian Trail.

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Rockfish Valley Overlook

Rockfish Valley Overlook
Credit: krblokhin/Getty Images

Mile Marker 1.5

Elevation 2150'

Rockfish Valley Overlook offers a panoramic view of Rockfish Valley on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson County, Virginia.

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Humpback Rocks Overlook

Humpback Rocks Overlook
Credit: sparhawk4242/Getty Images

Mile Marker 8.5

Elevation 3080'

A short, popular hike—which begins at a picnic area—leads to the Shenandoah Valley Humpback Rocks and the surrounding views.

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Stony Man Overlook

Stony Man Overlook
Credit: Buyenlarge/Getty Images

Between Mile Markers 41 and 42

Elevation 3100'

Stony Man Overlook is located on a nature trail along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park in Northern Virginia.

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Back Creek Valley Overlook

Back Creek Valley Overlook
Credit: Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Mile Marker 124.4

Elevation 1144'

Back Creek, which meanders through Back Creek Valley, feeds into the Roanoke River. The overlook is a good place to see the foliage turn and is near Pogues Mountain.

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Poages Mill Overlook

Poages Mill Overlook
Credit: Education Images/Getty Images

Mile Marker 129.3

Elevation 2036'

This scenic spot is located in Copper Hill, Virginia, and it gets its name from a 19th century mill that used to be in the area.

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Devil's Backbone Overlook

Devil’s Backbone Overlook
Credit: Jena Ardell/Getty Images

Mile Marker 143.9

Elevation 2687'

There's a place to pull off the road and enjoy the view at this overlook near Copper Hill, Virginia. The Pine Spur Overlook is another pull-off vista just a stone's throw south.

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Bluff Mountain Overlook

Bluff Mountain Overlook
Credit: Mableen/Getty Images (flowers)

Mile Marker 243.4

Elevation 3334'

Views of Bluff Mountain and access to hiking trails can be found at this overlook near Laurel Springs, North Carolina. Nearby are also Basin Cove and Otter Creek. (There's another Bluff Mountain and accomopanying overlook in Virginia at Mile Marker 52.8.)

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Thunder Hill Overlook

Thunder Hill Overlook
Credit: Photo by Cathy Scola/Getty Images

Mile Marker 290.4

Elevation 3795'

This popular overlook located along the Blue Ridge Parkway has dramatic panorama views of mountains stretching into the distance.

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Calloway Peak Overlook

Calloway Peak Overlook
Credit: alex grichenko/Getty Images

Mile Marker 299.7

Elevation 3798'

A 7.5 mile trail leads to views of Calloway Peak in Grandfather Mountain State Park.

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Wilson Creek Valley Overlook

Wilson Creek Valley Overlook
Credit: Jeff Yount/Getty Images

Mile Marker 302.1

Elevation 4356'

Located in Newland, North Carolina, this overlook can be found on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the edge of Grandfather Mountain State Park. Nearby are both the Yonahlossee and Green Mountain Overlooks.

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Grandfather Mountain Overlook

Grandfather Mountain Overlook
Credit: Craig Zerbe/Getty Images

Mile Marker 306.6

Elevation 4154'

Located in Grandfather Mountain State Park near Linville, North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak on the Blue Ridge range's eastern escarpment.

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Glassmine Falls Overlook

Glassmine Falls Overlook
Credit: Joel Carillet/Getty Images

Mile Marker 361.2

Elevation 5200'

These falls, located in Buncombe County near Barnardsville, North Carolina, flow down to the North Fork Swannanoa River.

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Tanbark Ridge Overlook

Tanbark Ridge Overlook
Credit: George Rose/Getty Images

Mile Marker 376.7

Elevation 3175'

Tanbark Ridge Overlook is located along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina.

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Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock
Credit: GetUpStudio/Getty Images

Mile Marker 384.7

Elevation 1096'

The famed Chimney Rock is a granite outcropping located in Chimney Rock State Park, and it offers incredible views of Lake Lure below.

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Mills River Valley Overlook

Mills River Valley Overlook
Credit: High Sights Aerial Imaging, LLC/Getty Images

Mile Marker 404.5

Elevation 4085'

This vista is located at the southern end of Blue Ridge Parkway near Candler, North Carolina.

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Buck Springs Gap Overlook

Buck Springs Gap Overlook
Credit: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images

Mile Marker 407.6

Elevation 4980'

This scenic overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a panoramic view of mountains and is located near the start of Buck Spring.

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The Cradle of Forestry Overlook

The Cradle of Forestry Overlook
Credit: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images

Mile Marker 411

Elevation 4710'

Located near Canton, North Carolina, this vista looks out over an area that was once home to the Biltmore Forestry School.

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Pounding Mill Overlook

Pounding Mill Overlook
Credit: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images

Mile Marker 413.2

Elevation 4700'

This pull-off overlook, located in Transylvania County, offers dramatic views of the surrounding landscape.

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Cherry Cove Overlook

Cherry Cove Overlook
Credit: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images

Mile Marker 415.7

Elevation 4327'

This view, which is located near the East Fork Pigeon River, gets its name from the cove below, where black cherry trees grow.

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Looking Glass Rock Overlook

Looking Glass Rock Overlook
Credit: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images

Mile Marker 417.0

Elevation 4492'

Looking Glass Rock is a distinctive mountain in Pisgah National Forest that has a bare granite face and is surrounded by hiking trails and overlooks.

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Graveyard Fields Overlook

Graveyard Fields Overlook
Credit: NetaDegany/Getty Images

Mile Marker 418.8

Elevation 5120'

This overlook offers views of the Graveyard Fields Valley, a popular hiking area, and its waterfalls.  

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Village of Saunook Overlook

Village of Saunook Overlook
Credit: fotoMonkee/Getty Images

Mile Marker 440

Elevation 4375'

Located in a grouping of overlooks between NC Highways 23 and 19, the Village of Saunook Overlook offers a view of the small community of Saunook.

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Waterrock Knob Overlook

Waterrock Knob Overlook
Credit: fotoMonkee/Getty Images

Mile Marker 451.2

Elevation 5820'

This overlook has a view of Waterrock Knob, the 16th highest mountain peak in the Eastern United States.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    View All

    1 of 24 Afton Overlook
    2 of 24 Rockfish Valley Overlook
    3 of 24 Humpback Rocks Overlook
    4 of 24 Stony Man Overlook
    5 of 24 Back Creek Valley Overlook
    6 of 24 Poages Mill Overlook
    7 of 24 Devil's Backbone Overlook
    8 of 24 Bluff Mountain Overlook
    9 of 24 Thunder Hill Overlook
    10 of 24 Calloway Peak Overlook
    11 of 24 Wilson Creek Valley Overlook
    12 of 24 Grandfather Mountain Overlook
    13 of 24 Glassmine Falls Overlook
    14 of 24 Tanbark Ridge Overlook
    15 of 24 Chimney Rock
    16 of 24 Mills River Valley Overlook
    17 of 24 Buck Springs Gap Overlook
    18 of 24 The Cradle of Forestry Overlook
    19 of 24 Pounding Mill Overlook
    20 of 24 Cherry Cove Overlook
    21 of 24 Looking Glass Rock Overlook
    22 of 24 Graveyard Fields Overlook
    23 of 24 Village of Saunook Overlook
    24 of 24 Waterrock Knob Overlook

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