Best Skyline Drive Overlooks for Engagement Photos

If you want stunning mountain views for your engagement photos without hiking for hours, the overlooks along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park are perfect. Skyline Drive stretches 105 miles through the park, with numerous overlooks that provide sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some are simple pull-offs with retaining walls, while others have short walking paths leading to natural rocks and scenic viewpoints.

About me: I’m Kara, a Shenandoah National Park engagement and wedding photographer with nearly a decade of experience capturing couples in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’ve photographed hundreds of engagement sessions across Skyline Drive and know the best overlooks for flattering light, beautiful scenery, and natural, candid shots. Couples trust me to guide them to the perfect spots and help make their session feel effortless, romantic, and fun. Get in touch to book your engagement session.

When planning your session along Skyline Drive, I usually look for overlooks where we can hop over the retaining wall and reach natural vantage points. This ensures your photos don’t look like you’re standing in a parking lot—even though the mountains are right there!

So, which overlooks are the best for engagement photos? There are many options, but here are five of my favorites in the Central District. I love them because they’re relatively close together, making it easy to get a variety of shots, and they give the illusion of being farther from your car than you actually are—perfect for sunset photos with dreamy Blue Ridge backgrounds.

Baldface Mountain

Baldface Mountain Overlook is a west-facing overlook near the Swift Run entrance for Skyline Drive. It features a large, flat-ish rock and beautiful views of Massanutten Mountain.

The Point

The Point is a leg stretcher overlook. Once you park, you can walk down the path about .1 miles to a rocky outcropping with panoramic west-facing views. It’s very popular so I usually don’t recommend this spot unless we are on a weekday in the offseason, but it does have lovely west-facing sunsets.

Tanner’s Ridge

Tanner’s Ridge is right beside Big Meadows. So it’s easy to come visit this west-facing overlook and explore the meadows behind it. The tree here is iconic and a beautiful spot for both picnics and elopement ceremonies.

Franklin Cliffs

Franklin Cliffs is a northwest facing overlook that features a large rock. It looks out over the Shenandoah Valley and the town of Stanley, Virginia. Depending on which angle you either see the valley or simply the mountains peaking out on either side of the overlook.

Crescent Rock

Crescent Rock Overlook is lovely because just to the left of the parking area is a .1 mile “leg stretcher” path to a narrow rocky overlook. If you scramble down the rocks, there is an open area to the right that leads to an incredible view of the mountains that’s a little bit hidden from where others go so you can often get this little spot to yourself!