Photograph Buck Hollow Overlook

Buck Hollow Overlook is one of 72 beautiful overlooks that are on Skyline Drive.  Skyline Dive is the road that winds through the heart of Shenandoah National Park. Over 105 miles long, Skyline Drive offers great views of the surrounding Blue Ride Mountains and valleys while simultaneously offering photographers the chance to glimpse the outstanding scenery of Shenandoah.  Buck Hollow Overlook is located at Mile marker 32.8 long Skyline Drive.  Located in the northern part of the Central District of Shenandoah less then one mile south of Mary’s Rock Tunnel, Buck Hollow Overlook allows viewers to enjoy the beautiful sunrises while in Shenandoah National Park.  The quickest way to reach this outlook is through the Thornton Gap entrance off of Route 211 and then drive south 1.8 miles along Skyline Drive until you reach Buck Hollow Overlook which will be on the left side. 

Buck Hollow Overlook has an outstanding view of the some Blue Ridge Mountains and is less popular because of its proximity to Mary’s Rock Tunnel Overlook and Hazel Mountain Overlook.  Buck Hollow Overlook looks Northeast making it ideal to photograph during the late spring and summer around the summer solstice, June 21, when the sunrises in the Northeast. During this period, the sun will rise directly behind the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If you are photographing Shenandoah National Park during the fall or winter, then you are able to capture some nice side light on the mountain ridges which will help illuminate the textures and the fall colors. If you are photographing Shenandoah National Park during the late summer through mid spring and want to actually capture the sun rising, then I suggest traveling south along Skyline Drive 0.2 miles to Hazel Mountain Overlook, which is an overlook that has a spectacular due east vista.