Best time to visit
- Light: Sunrise and especially sunset bring the drama.
- Seasons: Fall for color; winter/early spring for the clearest views.
- Crowds: Midday sees more drive-by traffic; come early or late for easier parking and calmer vibes.
Overview
About Lickstone Overlook (MP 458.9)
A classic high-elevation pullout at MP 458.9, Lickstone Overlook delivers big Blue Ridge layers with almost zero effort. It sits around 5,150 feet near the crest, just north of the Lickstone Ridge Tunnel, making it an easy hit on a south-end Parkway drive.
Why stop
- Wide mountain views with gorgeous sunset color
- Easy roadside stop with paved pullout and parking
Heads up
- No restrooms or on-site services
Map
Where it is
Loading the Blue Ridge Parkway map
Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Lickstone Overlook (MP 458.9)
Aim for sunset and get there 20–30 minutes early for the best light.
Leaf-off months (winter/early spring) offer the widest views.
No restrooms here; the nearest are at Waterrock Knob (MP 451.2).
Driving northbound, the pullout comes up quickly after Lickstone Ridge Tunnel.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
- ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
- ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Your drive to Lickstone Overlook (MP 458.9), narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this place
Lickstone Overlook and Its Salty StoryListen
“The next pullout is Lickstone Overlook, an easy stop for a big view of the mountains stacked one behind the other. It gets its name from an old farming practice of using a flat 'lick stone' to put out salt for livestock.”
Plays as you drive up to Lickstone Overlook (MP 458.9) in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bunches Bald Overlook: A Classic Smokies View
- Plott Balsam Overlook and the State Dog
- Jenkins Ridge Overlook's Limited View
- How to Catch Peak Fall Color
- 277 audio storiesacross Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 112 trails, 232 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Guide
More about Lickstone Overlook (MP 458.9)
What You'll SeeExpect long, rolling ridgelines and deep valleys—prime “stacked mountain” scenery.
Expect long, rolling ridgelines and deep valleys—prime “stacked mountain” scenery. Sunsets can be outstanding, and fall color really pops here. In winter and early spring, when the leaves are down, the view opens even wider; in full leaf, you’ll still get scenery, just through a bit more green.
A Little BackstoryThe name comes from the old practice of using a smooth "lickstone" to spread salt for livestock.
The name comes from the old practice of using a smooth "lickstone" to spread salt for livestock. Nearby, the 406-foot Lickstone Ridge Tunnel adds a cool bit of Parkway engineering to the stop.
WildlifeThis is typical Parkway forest habitat—think deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and songbirds.
This is typical Parkway forest habitat—think deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and songbirds. It’s not a wildlife hotspot, but keep your eyes peeled along the edges.
PracticalitiesThis is a quick pullout with room for cars and small RVs.
This is a quick pullout with room for cars and small RVs. There are no restrooms, picnic tables, or a trailhead here—plan it as a scenic pause, not a full stop. If you need facilities, aim for Waterrock Knob (MP 451.2).
Wildlife
Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
