View Purgatory Mountain Overlook at milepost 92.1 is a beautiful pull-off style overlook. Its wide view looks over the town of Buchanan and to the surrounding mountains. The huge overlook is amazing for sunset and is close to several other awesome stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
View Purgatory Mountain is just a few miles from Peaks of Otter at milepost 86 and it is one of the best views in the area.
The first thing you will notice when you visit is the enormous view, and the unusual mountain name – more on that later. The overlook is named for the nearby mountain with a sharp sloping ridge.
You can see the James River skirting around the base of Purgatory Mountain if you look closely.
All combined the view is great and definitely worth stopping at.
This is a great overlook to stop at in all seasons. The mountains are covered in deciduous trees and peak fall color usually hits the area in the last 10 days of October.
You can check this foliage map for when it will be best – we’ve been using their map for years and have found it to be pretty good for timing visits throughout the Blue Ridge.
Every once in awhile it snows on the mountains but not in the valleys. When that happens, as long as the Blue Ridge Parkway hasn’t closed, the view is stunning.
Is View Purgatory Mountain good for sunrise and sunset?
A lot of people like to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway looking for the perfect sunrise or sunset. View Purgatory Mountain Overlook is an excellent spot for sunset!
In fact, it is on our list of the best overlooks for sunset on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.
For sunrise, it wouldn’t be my first choice. Pine Tree Overlook milepost 95.2 is incredible for a beautiful sunrise.
The section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Roanoke and Peaks of Otter doesn’t close too often in winter so you can enjoy the views all year long.
How did View Purgatory Mountain get its name?
Whenever you go searching for how overlooks got their name you frequently run across colorful stories. Purgatory Mountain’s naming is one of those stories.
The name “Purgatory Mountain” doesn’t inspire happy feelings. The name originates from a journal entry by a man that accompanied Thomas Jefferson’s father (yes, that Thomas Jefferson) up the mountain while doing surveying work for Virginia.
The ordeal of reaching the top was fraught with downed timbers and impenetrable ivy. It sounds like it was a wholly wretched experience.
In his journal he called the place “Purgatory”. I suppose that’s what casting shade was in the 1700s.
There is quite a lot of history related to Thomas Jefferson in this area. Poplar Forest – his summer home – is just outside of Lynchburg, Virginia and is an absolutely great place to spend an afternoon. You may also want to stop by the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center. They have quite a few old laminated documents you can read though. If you visit Poplar Forest we strongly recommend buying the bundle ticket that also gets you into the National D-Day memorial in Bedford, Virginia.
View Purgatory Mountain is a must stop overlook. There are a lot of those on the Blue Ridge Parkway along the 30 miles north of Roanoke.
You may want to check out some of the other amazing overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway before your next visit.
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