5 Best Places To Watch The Sunrise In Shenandoah National Park 2024
Shenandoah National Park is considered a treasure trooper for hikers and photographers who want to watch the beautiful sunrise or sunset. Skyline Drive is a stunning 105-mile-long road with many overlooks facing the east or west.
The road goes through the park’s heart with fantastic views of Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors need to know the exact locations of the overlook spots to get an overwhelming sunrise view.
Here is a list of the 5 best places to watch the sunrise in Shenandoah National Park to get a stunning view of the phenomenon in Virginia, USA.
5 Top Places To Watch The Sunrise In Shenandoah National Park, VA
1. Hazel Mountain Overlook
Photographers can get many of the best sunrise shots from Hazel Mountain Overlook on Skyline Drive. The spot is filled with large boulders. Hikers climb on these to reach the high ground for a stunning sunrise view.
This popular spot is always crowded with early risers, especially from late summer to mid-spring. You can take great photos of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding landscape from different angles.
The fastest way to reach here is through the Thornton Gap entrance off Route 211. You need to drive towards the south for 2 miles along Skyline Drive. The overlook point is on the left side of the road.
- Direction: East
- Elevation: 2270 ft.
- Attribute: Straight sunrise views from the mountain ranges and ridges beside the forest.
- Location: Milepost 33.0, Skyline Drive
- Sunrise Potential: Great view
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2. Buck Hollow Overlook
Buck Hollow Overlook can be spotted along the 32.8 marked milepost on Skyline Drive. It’s situated on the north side of the central district of Shenandoah National Park. The best way to reach here is the Thornton Gap entrance off Route 211.
Visitors need to drive south for 1.8 miles along Skyline Drive. Buck Hollow Overlook will appear on the left side of the road. Hikers can get a stunning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from this overlook.
The spot is best for getting sunrise photos during late spring and summer till the summer solstice. Experienced photographers choose Buck Hollow Overlook for photo shooting during fall and winter to get the ridge’s illuminated texture and bright colors.
- Direction: North East
- Elevation: 2,710 ft
- Attribute: Straight views of the sunrise from the mountain ranges and ridges.
- Location: Milepost 32.8, Skyline Drive
- Sunrise Potential: Great view
3. Thorofare Mountain Overlook
Thorofare Mountain Overlook is the most popular sunrise point among all the spots on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. It’s pretty close to the historic Skyland Resort.
The most popular sunrise points on the Old Rag Mountain of this overlook are the Upper Hidden Crag, Dead Tree Crag, Summit Wall, Mega Low-Angle Slab, and the Sunshine Buttress. All these spots are part of an exciting hiking trail.
Use various focal lengths from a wide-angle telelens camera for beautiful photos of the mountains and sunrise.
- Direction: East
- Elevation: 3,595 ft
- Attribute: Straight views of the sunrise, Woods
- Location: Milepost 40.5, Skyline Drive
- Sunrise Potential: Great View
4. Tunnel Parking Overlook
Tunnel Parking Overlook is the first east-facing sunrise point among the 3 best overlooks south of the Thornton Gap Entrance Station. It’s named after the adjacent tunnel. You can get a panoramic view of Blue Ridge Mountain during the sunrise from Tunnel Parking Overlook.
Photographers love to use the line of peaks as the background of a great photo while shooting from this spot. This overlook lets you get beautiful sunrise shots during late spring and summer.
- Direction: Northeast
- Elevation: 2,510 ft
- Attribute: Straight views of the sunrise, Woods
- Location: Milepost 32.5, Skyline Drive
- Sunrise Potential: Photogenic view
5. Loft Mountain Overlook
Loft Mountain Overlook offers a great view of Blue Ridge Mountain, slowly descending to the foothills of the Slopy regions of Virginia. The beautiful view of the farmland with the mountain peaks in the backdrop is perfect for a stunning photograph.
Autumn and Winter are the best time to view the sunrise from Loft Mountain Overlook. The sun rises straight above the mountain. The shade of the color changes based on the time of the year.
- Direction: South East.
- Elevation:2,455 ft
- Attribute: Sunrise view, lush green forest, farmland
- Location: Mile 74.5, Skyline Drive
- Sunrise Potential: Beautiful View
Conclusion
There are many other places on Skyline Drive to watch the sunrise in Shenandoah National Park. Visitors must use different focal lengths of their telelens camera for shooting during sunrise. The mountain peaks and different colors during sunrise create stunning photos.
