Best lookout points in West Virginia
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, gets 2 million visitors per year. The city of Page, Arizona, where Horseshoe Bend is located, has spent more than $5 million in parking and safety improvements due to the growing crowds.
More than 2 million people visit 30 Rockefeller Plaza to get a panoramic view of a landscape that's a little different than Horseshoe Bend: the concrete-laden skyline of New York City. Since visitors get an 850-foot-high-up view on the building's observation deck named Top of the Rock, it attracts everyone from out-of-town visitors to people ready to propose a wedding engagement.
There are thousands of lookout points across the United States that offer special views like these, which means there are beautiful vistas near you. Stacker compiled a list of the best lookout points in West Virginia using April 2024 data from Tripadvisor to help you find your next great view.
Tripadvisor ranks businesses using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5.
#8. Mount Wood Cemetery & Overlook
- Rating: 3/5 (1 reviews)
- Address: Mount Wood Road Wheeling, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Dorsey's Knob Park
- Rating: 4/5 (24 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Bickel Knob Observation Tower
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: Forest Road 91A Elkins, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Split Rock Overlook
- Rating: 5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: Loudoun Heights Trail Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. East River Mountain Overlook
- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: Route 598 Bluefield, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Fort Boreman Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (128 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Jefferson Rock
- Rating: 4.5/5 (141 reviews)
- Address: Shenandoah St. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. The Point
- Rating: 4.5/5 (139 reviews)
- Address: Near the intersection of Shenandoah and Potomac Streets Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Sheeka Sanahori, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 37 states.