Hanging Rock Overlook Trail: A Hidden Gem for Roanoke Engagement Photos

If you’re looking for a hidden gem for engagement photos near Roanoke, Virginia, or Lewisburg, West Virginia, Hanging Rock Overlook Trail is a perfect choice. This easy half-mile trail leads to a quiet, scenic overlook. It’s ideal for couples who want intimate outdoor photos with minimal hiking and dramatic views.

Why Work With Me for Your Hanging Rock Engagement Photos

I’m Kara, a Virginia wedding and engagement photographer with nearly a decade of experience capturing adventure-filled sessions, intimate celebrations, and couples’ portraits. I specialize in helping couples plan and photograph sessions that feel relaxed, intentional, and deeply personal. When you book me, you get a partner who guides you through locations, timing, and poses so your Hanging Rock Overlook engagement photos look effortless and stunning. If you’re planning an engagement session at Hanging Rock, reach out today to check availability.

Hanging Rock Overlook Trail Overview

Hanging Rock Overlook Trail sits almost equidistant from Roanoke, VA, and Lewisburg, WV. The trail is only about half a mile from the parking area. It’s easy with almost no elevation change. The summit is small, which makes it perfect for a private photo session.

While the trail is a little overgrown and unmarked, it’s passable for first-time visitors. There’s just one path to follow, so getting lost is unlikely. The overlook is less crowded than nearby hikes like McAfee’s Knob. That means you have a good chance of getting the space to yourself for intimate couples portraits.

Trail Tips for First-Time Visitors

• The dirt road to the trailhead is about three miles long and can get muddy after rain. Low-clearance vehicles should drive carefully.
• Google Maps may drop you short of the parking area. The real parking lot is to the left and fits 4-5 cars.
• Look for the trailhead near the middle of the parking area.
• Bug spray is recommended because the trail is slightly overgrown.
• The hike takes about 10 minutes one-way. It is very easy and accessible to most visitors.

Stephanie + Stephen’s Anniversary Session

In Virginia’s summertime, it’s common for the forecast to predict a 50 percent chance of rain. But due to the mountains the rainclouds get blocked or diverted, and it either doesn’t rain at all, or they kind of get trapped and the rain downpours. 

This was a downpour situation. 

It rained heavily the entire time I drove to the trailhead to meet Stephanie and Stephen for their anniversary photoshoot. Stephanie is a bigger hiker and actually founded the group Girls Who Hike Virginia but apparently she doesn’t go out in the rain. She messaged me the day before the shoot and was like…”So what happens if it rains?” To which I responded glibly, “We get wet!” 

In central Virginia where I grew up – namely around Shenandoah National Park and the Shenandoah Valley – it’s pretty unusual for it to rain around sunrise. Typically what happens is that even if it rains overnight it will stop right around sunrise and then begin again a few hours after sunrise. 

I’m learning that is not necessarily the case in southwestern Virginia! 

By the time we got to the trailhead, the rain had slowed to a drizzle, but heavy fog had settled in around us. At the summit, the view was completely obscured.

Which is honestly a big bummer because the view would have been stunning!

But after I shot for about 10 minutes, the drizzle turned into rain in earnest.

Fog + rain means there is little point in staying at a summit with slick rocks so we decided to hike back down and take a few photos in the woods instead. 

Stephan has a big Ford truck so I had the idea of turning on the headlights and having them dance in the rain in front of the truck. The light from the headlights illuminated the rain and demonstrated just how hard it was coming down! The fog hung in the trees behind the truck. The road was a muddy mess. 

But honestly? Those are my favorite photos from the session. They are wild and playful and romantic. 

Interested in Hanging Rock Overlook for your own session? Get in touch with Kara here!