Scenic pullout · Shenandoah National Park
A west-facing sunset stop over wooded ridges and Elkton.
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 place
Naked Creek Overlook: Elkton Beyond the Ridges“Naked Creek Overlook is ahead, with a westward view across wooded ridges toward Elkton. It's an easy roadside pause, and a good choice for sunset.”
Plays as you drive up to Naked Creek 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
Naked Creek Overlook is a roadside pullout on Skyline Drive, with a westward view from about 3,250 feet across wooded ridges toward Elkton. It’s an easy scenic pause rather than a hike. The west-facing view makes this a good one to save for sunset.
The town of Elkton sits in the foothills below. One historic building singled out in the view is Jennings House, an eight-room brick home Dr. Simeon Jennings built in 1840. After the Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic, it became a Confederate hospital where Jennings and his wife cared for wounded soldiers.
Long Ridge, capped by the Weverton Formation, crosses the westward view. Farther west, much of the mountain country is underlain by Catoctin, Swift Run, and Pedlar formations. At the base of the western ridges, the Chilhowee Group lies directly on the Pedlar Formation—a useful bit of geology to keep in mind as the layers recede toward Elkton.
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
ModerateRapidan Camp via Mill Prong4 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.5 mi awayThree stream crossings lead to Hoover’s historic mountain retreat.
ModerateMill Prong - Laurel Prong Loop7.4 mi · 7.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayA 7.4-mile loop to Hoover’s Rapidan Camp with three stream crossings.
EasyHazeltop Mountain via Milam Gap4.2 mi · 2.3 hr · 0.5 mi awayA gentle Appalachian Trail climb to a rocky western view from Hazeltop.
EasyAppalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road2.1 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayAn easy A.T. walk to old farm traces and a family cemetery.ChallengingRapidan, Fork Mountain & Rose River Circuit22.9 mi · 16 hr · 1.7 mi awayAn overnight circuit through Hoover’s historic Rapidan Camp.
ChallengingBear Church Rock via Bootens Gap9.7 mi · 5.5 hr · 1.8 mi awayLong forest miles end at a rock ledge above the Rapidan Valley.
EasyStory of the Forest Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.8 mi awayAn easy woods loop past a stream and air-quality station.
ModerateDark Hollow Falls1.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA shady creek descent, a waterfall, and a steep climb back.
Scenic pullout · 1.1 mi awayHazeltop Ridge OverlookBeldore Hollow opens a clear-day look toward distant southern peaks.
Scenic pullout · 1.6 mi awayTanners Ridge OverlookLook across the field toward Stanley and the Shenandoah Valley.Sight · 1.7 mi awayRapidan CampA creekside Hoover retreat with history worth the uphill return.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayBig MeadowsAn open break from the forest, rich in wildlife and rare wetlands.
Food · 1.8 mi awayBig Meadows WaysideA practical food and supply stop on the park's central stretch.
Visitor center · 1.8 mi awayHarry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor CenterSee how the park was made before you head out exploring.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayLewis FallsA steep, rocky loop to an 81-foot waterfall.
Sight · 1.9 mi awayBig Meadows CCC CampA short walk through Big Meadows' CCC camp footprint.Parkwolf’s Shenandoah ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
