Scenic pullout · Shenandoah National Park
A Skyline Drive overlook with a public seasonal photo station.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Shenandoah National Park. 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 Shenandoah audio tourRecorded for this area
Doyles River Falls: Make Time for Both“Doyles River's trailhead is coming up, with a hike to two waterfalls stepping down dark rock ledges.”
Plays on the road 0.1 mi from Big Run Overlook in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Big Run Overlook is a roadside pullout on Skyline Drive at mile 81.2, facing northwest from 2,860 feet toward Shenandoah Valley. Overgrowth obscures the mountains and valley beyond for much of the year, so this is a quick bonus stop when the view is open, not a panorama to plan your drive around.
The overlook takes its name from the drainage below. Big Run is the park's largest watershed, between Brown Mountain, Rockytop and Loft Mountain. When the view opens, look beyond the nearer wooded ridges toward the valley.
Wildlife
325 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
21 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
1,036 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
167 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
93 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Shenandoah. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateBig Run Portal via Big Run Loop5.4 mi · 4.5 hr · At the trailheadA flexible backcountry trip with repeated Big Run crossings.
ChallengingSouth District Highlights in 7 Days59.1 mi · 1.6 days · 0.1 mi awayA rugged weeklong loop of waterfalls, river valleys, and rocky ridges.
ChallengingJones Run, Furnace Mountain, and Big Run Circuit21.9 mi · 4 days · 0.1 mi awayA four-day circuit linking three waterfalls and Big Run valley.
ModerateBig Run Loop Trail5.8 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayDrop to Big Run, then climb back to a Skyline Drive view.
ModerateDoyles River Falls Hike3.3 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayTwo waterfalls reward the climb back up to Skyline Drive.ChallengingDoyles River–Jones Run Loop8 mi · 5.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayThree waterfalls, two creek trails, and an Appalachian Trail return.ChallengingJones Run, Big Run & Brown Mountain Backpacking Loop29 mi · 20 hr · 0.1 mi awayThree waterfalls and four days around a rugged mountain watershed.ChallengingBig Run, Doyles River, and Frazier Loop18.1 mi · 12.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayThree waterfall valleys make this a serious backcountry loop.
Lodging · 0.3 mi awayDoyles River CabinA CCC cabin stay with a porch over Cedar Mountain.
Scenic pullout · 0.7 mi awayDoyles River OverlookA south-facing cove view with a history worth pausing for.
Campground · 0.9 mi awayLoft Mountain CampgroundA ridgeline camp with sunset views and waterfall hikes nearby.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayDoyles River FallsTwo waterfalls, a forest stream, and a long climb back out.
Food · 1.4 mi awayLoft Mountain WaysideA practical mile-79.5 break for shakes, souvenirs and picnic tables.
Sight · 2 mi awayRockytop OverlookA quick pull-off with a wide view across the southern Blue Ridge.Sight · 2 mi awayJones Run FallsA 42-foot cascade; save energy for the uphill return.
Picnic area · 2.3 mi awayDundo Picnic GroundsA shady picnic stop with a small Civilian Conservation Corps story.Parkwolf’s Shenandoah ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
