We recently had a married couple staying with us who found themselves in a pickle. They originally planned a vacation full of hiking and sightseeing but the wife had since become pregnant. Her mobility became very limited so their plans had to change. They had never been to West Virginia and wanted to see several roadside mountain overlooks. In particular, they hoped for a drive similar to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. I came up with a list that saved their vacation and ultimately inspired this article. I hope you find this useful while vacationing with us at Golden Anchor Cabins!
Where are the best roadside overlooks in WV? I’ll list them by order of a driving loop starting at Golden Anchor Cabins in case you want to make a day of it. My Top 10 West Virginia Roadside Mountain Overlooks are:
- Rich Mountain Overlook
- Middle Mountain Overlook (Wymer, WV)
- Forks Inn Overlook
- Fred Long Centennial Park
- Blackwater Falls State Park
- Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge “Valley Overlook”
- Rt 48 Scenic Overlook
- Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods
- Germany Valley Overlook
- Spruce Knob
Read on for details about each roadside overlook including Google Map links so you can easily find them!
Rich Mountain Overlook
1 – The Rich Mountain Overlook near Job, WV is the closest overlook to our cabins. Located immediately off of Rt 33, the Rich Mountain Overlook has a parking area where Rt 33 intersects Rich Mountain Rd. There are no markers making this an official “overlook” but the view is one of my absolute favorites. Locals recognize the mountain that dominates this view, called Tory Mountain, as the location of a failed ski resort that was developed in the 80s but never opened. The slopes were located on the back side of this mountain and they are still visible as you drive from Harman.
Navigate to Rich Mountain Overlook here
Middle Mountain Overlook
2 – Much like #1, The intersection of Rt 33 and Middle Mountain is another unmarked turnout with a special view. Turn onto the gravel road (Middle Mountain Rd) and simply pull over to take in this roadside overlook.
Navigate to Middle Mountain Overlook here
Forks Inn Roadside Overlook
3 – The view of Bickle Knob from Rt 33 is a stunner for sure. But the best way to appreciate this mountain overlook is actually from The Forks Inn. From their parking lot, you can see for miles across the Otter Creek Wilderness Area to Bickle Knob and beyond. This is also a wonderful place for dinner (check their Facebook page for availability and specials)
Navigate to Forks Inn’s Roadside Overlook here
Fred Long Centennial Park Mountain Overlook
4 – In my opinion, the Fred Long Centennial Park is the prettiest unsung roadside overlooks in all of West Virginia. There is a picnic area and visibility for 20+ miles plus an opportunity nearby to get up close to one of the giant windmills that stretch across Backbone Mountain.
Navigate to Fred Long Centennial Park Scenic Overlook here
Blackwater Falls and Pendleton Point Overlook
5 – There are actually a few drive-up overlooks in the Blackwater Falls State Park. Follow the road to the sled run area and you will pass two major overlook points. Even if you can’t walk far from your car, Pendleton Point is also a good option for you. While this one is not technically a drive-up overlook, it couldn’t be more than 50 yards away from the parking lot.
Navigate to Blackwater Falls Roadside Overlook here
Valley Overlook
6 – Tucked away on a winding gravel road lies the little-known and seldom-visited Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge “Valley Overlook”. Follow the A-Frame road off of Rt 48 until the Valley Overlook landing comes into view on the right hand side of the road. I’d hoped to share photos I’ve taken from this spot but alas, I’ve lost them. For now, here is a screenshot from Google Maps to give you an idea of what it looks like from the overlook. It is a one of a kind view of the footprint of Canaan Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Navigate to CVNWR’s Valley Overlook here
Rt 48 Scenic Overlook
7 – The Rt 48 Scenic Overlook near Scherr, WV is VAST. The view is almost too big to properly photograph. The overlook turnout is only accessible when traveling east on Rt 48. This is the newest roadside mountain overlook on my list as Corridor H has been only completed from Moorefield to Scherr since 2010 and on to Davis since then.
Navigate to the Scherr Scenic Overlook here
Bear Rocks Preserve
8 – This one you will have to work for. The view from Bear Rocks Preserve is gorgeous but it is a long, narrow gravel road to the top. The drive is a unique experience even without the view at the end. You aren’t a true Mountaineer until you’ve driven up to Dolly Sods and across to Bear Rocks! On a clear day from the parking lot at Bear Rocks you can see beyond the town of Petersburg and across the Virginia state line.
If you’re heading to Dolly Sods from our cabins for hiking or exploration, take the forest road from Lanesville. But if you’re simply going for this view, it is easier to access it from the Petersburg side than the Dryfork side.
Navigate to Bear Rocks Preserve here
Germany Valley Scenic Overlook
9 – Germany Valley is another of my absolute favorites. If you’re heading to Seneca Rocks, Seneca Caverns or Spruce Knob this needs to be on your list of places to go. It is a beauty! It is located just a few miles east of the Rt 33/Rt 28 intersection on Rt 33.
Navigate to Germany Valley Roadside Overlook here
Spruce Knob Overlook
10 – Spruce Knob is the icon and the epic finale on my list. It is the highest point in the state and is a must-see for any sightseeing excursion in our area. The road from Riverton is paved and well maintained all the way to the top so it is easy to get to. The Whispering Spruce Trail at the top is worth walking around but the view from the road and the roadside overlook is nearly as good. I’ve taken a few sunset pictures from the parking lot myself and I always welcome an excuse to go back to appreciate that amazing view again.
Those are all of my favorite roadside mountain overlooks near our cabins. If you’ve found one that I’ve left out, please email me! We’d love to check it out and share it with everyone here. If you are new to our site and have questions about vacationing with us, feel free to email me at goldenanchorcabins@gmail.com or call me at 304-704-8764. I also send out a monthly newsletter where I keep all our guests up to date with what is going on at our cabins and the area. If you’d like to hear from us you can sign up for the newsletter here. Finally, you can always see all our current cabin availability and book your stay online at https://guest.rezstream.com/search/golden-anchor-cabins. Thanks so much for reading, we hope to host your next cabin getaway soon!
—————————————————
Article written by Daniel Marsh. The Marsh Family has owned and operated Golden Anchor Cabins in Canaan Valley, West Virginia since 2014.
