Roanoke River Overlook - Scenic spot in Roanoke - Blue Rdg Pkwy, USA

Beautiful overlook. Has a great trail down to the water, though parts are a little steep.

Great outlook. Trails are moderate. Can see the water in many areas cuz of the trail

The great area to walk through nature and down by the river. Would imagine the fishing is good, but I think it was too hot when I went.

The Roanoke River Overlook is a small gem along a rather sad stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. From the parking lot, it takes between 5-10 minutes to walk down to the river's edge. Be prepared to walk down quite a few steps. You will quickly discover that an old power plant and dam dominate much of the scenery, but the old structures have somewhat of a rustic beauty. The river bed is the main attraction for myself, full of interesting rock formations. There are numerous shallow pools, full of fish, crayfish, and tadpoles (depending on the time of year). Sadly, much like most of the Roanoke River, there tends to be litter scattered around. It can detract from the natural beauty of the area.

Rolled into Roanoke and found this overlook of the river. Beautiful spot with a trail to the bottom. I didn’t hike down but it’s there. Nice shady parking lot for a break and a look over the river.

It was a short hike down to the river bed. It was a lot of steps going back up but not too hard. The loop is a quick walk as well. Train went by as we were hiking. I enjoyed seeing it go by. Beautiful but some visitors left some trash around. I wish I bought some gloves and trash bag with me so I could do my part and keep the park beautiful.

Nice place to get outside and listen to the rushing water of the river. Fishing is available if you are interested. Walking in the rocks near the river is great too. There is a nice view from the parking lot and steps down to a bench and overlook. Nice sand near the river for kids to play a bit. Smallest hydroelectric dam here with some history behind it. A train passed by while we visited.

Beautiful view. Captivating!! The long walk down to the bottom , follow the fishing trail, is a bit tedious. Make sure to wear suitable foot wear. Good hiking shoes or boots preferably with ankle support and excellent tread. My brand of choice is Merryl. They're a bit expensive but well worth the money for performance, durability, and wear. The point is to not cut corners when choosing your foot wear for this hike. There are a couple benches along the way to stop and rest if needed. Be sure to have a well stocked first aid kit with supplies to make a splint if needed. Make sure you have your cell phones charged and an emergency radio if cell service becomes poor. Let someone know your going and what time to expect you back. Like I said its a beautiful hike but can be dangerous if caution is not taken. It's not terrible by any stretch. Just need to be prepared. Below are some pictures as words can not describe the beautiful and serene environment. My buddy and I did some fishing there. Good spots along the bank and out in open water were it's a bit turbulent. We spotted a few small mouth bass swimming near the Rocky shore line. A few carp jumped around. Apparently it's good fishing for grass carp. Hiking up to the rapids is a little tough. Hence the good foot wear. A hiking or treking stick is advisable. Happy trails everyone! 🎣