Signal Knob Overlook

Signal Knob Overlook is a roadside pullout on the north end of Skyline Drive, at about 2,090 feet. Face west-northwest: Shenandoah Valley spreads below, with the South Fork's bends between fields and the long blue ridges of Massanutten beyond. It's an easy scenic pause to pair with the drive, rather than a separate hike or an outing on its own.

Late-day light and fall color are recurring draws. Keep some of the valley floor in the lower part of your frame, then wait for sunset to watch the light move across the river and ridges. It's a broad view, so give your eyes a moment to pick out the river's bends instead of taking one quick look and getting back in the car.

Signal Knob is the northern end of the Massanutten ridge across the valley, not the overlook itself. Confederate soldiers used the knob as a lookout, notably in connection with the Battle of Cedar Creek; Union soldiers later took control in 1864. From this pullout, the layered ridgeline helps make sense of why that high ground mattered.