Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory

About Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory

A one-mile hike from the Hanging Rock parking area will take you to the raptor observatory, sitting high atop Peters Mountain on the Eastern Continental Divide. From this vantage point, visitors have a 360 degree view of the surrounding areas and an eye-level view of migrating raptors. The site is situated along a popular, southern migration path so raptor viewing is best in the autumn, but the hike and the view are great all year long.

How to Get There

From Blacksburg, VA: Follow US 460 west for 17 miles. Turn right on Big Stony Creek Rd (SR 635). Go about 22 miles to Waiteville, WVA. (Note: SR 635 becomes Co. SR 17 in West Virginia.From Waiteville, VA: Take Gap Mills Road (County Route 15) 4 miles to Allegheny Trail parking lot on your left. There is a one-mile hike up to the tower from the parking lot. Total distance from Blacksburg: 43 miles.

Plan Your Visit to Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory

Heading to Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)