Best lookout points in California by visitors
Visit any given lookout point near you on a Saturday afternoon, and you're likely to be joined by several other people angling to get a glimpse of the view. Humans have always been drawn to vista points, whether for practical reasons such as surveying a large swath for scouting or simply to enjoy the natural (or human-made) landscape.
This has led to local and federal governments investing in parking, platforms, and public binoculars to better manage crowds gathering at lookout points across the United States. Arizona's Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River snakes around sandstone rock, draws around 2 million visitors annually. The city of Page, Arizona, has invested over $5 million in expanded parking, trail upgrades, and safety railings to manage the growing crowds.
Each year, more than 2 million people visit 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City for the panoramic skyline views from its "Top of the Rock" observation deck, perched roughly 850 feet above the streets. The spot attracts everyone from first-time visitors to couples planning proposals.
There are thousands of lookout points across the United States that offer special views like these, which means there are likely beautiful vistas near you. Stacker compiled a list of the best lookout points in California using August 2025 data from Tripadvisor to highlight the top-rated spots.
Tripadvisor rankings consider several factors—including average rating, total number of reviews, and page views—so a location with a perfect 5.0 might still rank below a 4.0 with more traffic. Only spots with at least 20 reviews were included.
