# Scenic viewpoint

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High place for viewing scenery

"Overlook" redirects here. For other uses, see [Overlook (disambiguation)](/source/Overlook_(disambiguation)).

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Scenic overlook in [Scioto Trail State Park](/source/Scioto_Trail_State_Forest), Ohio

Scenic overlook in the [Outeniqua Pass](/source/Outeniqua_Pass), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), over [George](/source/George%2C_Western_Cape) and the [Indian Ocean](/source/Indian_Ocean). Parking and picnic tables are provided next to the road.

A **scenic viewpoint**—also called an **observation point**, **viewpoint**, **viewing point**, **vista point**,[1] **scenic overlook**,[1] etc.—is an elevated location where people can view [scenery](/source/Scenery) (often with [binoculars](/source/Binoculars)) and [photograph](/source/Photograph) it. Scenic viewpoints may be created alongside [scenic routes](/source/Scenic_route) or [mountain](/source/Mountain) [roads](/source/Road), often as simple [turnouts](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/turnout) or [lay-bys](/source/Lay-by) where [motorists](/source/Motorist) can pull over onto pavement, gravel, or grass on the [right-of-way](/source/Right-of-way_(property_access)).

## Locations

Many viewpoints are larger, having [parking areas](/source/Parking_area), while some (typically on larger [highways](/source/Highway)) are off the road completely. Viewing points may also be found on hill or mountain tops or on rocky spurs overlooking a [valley](/source/Valley) and reached via a [hiking trail](/source/Hiking_trail). They may be protected by railings to protect the public or be enhanced by a [viewing tower](/source/Viewing_tower) designed to elevate visitors above the surrounding terrain or trees in order to offer [panoramic views](/source/Panoramic_view).

Overlooks are frequently found in [national parks](/source/National_park) and in the U.S. along [national parkways](/source/National_parkway) such as the [Blue Ridge Parkway](/source/Blue_Ridge_Parkway), which has numerous individually named overlooks for viewing the [Blue Ridge Mountains](/source/Blue_Ridge_Mountains) and their [valleys](/source/Valley). Other overlooks are next to [waterfalls](/source/Waterfall), especially since mountain roads tend to follow [streams](/source/Stream).

Many overlooks are accessible only by [trails](/source/Trail) and [wooden walkways](/source/Boardwalk) and [stairs](/source/Stairs), especially in ecologically sensitive areas. These overlooks are often wooden decks, which minimize the impact on the land by reducing the need to disturb it for [construction](/source/Construction).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## History

The word viewpoint is from 1856, but it was thought to have been used as a physical sense in 1858. From time on, many scenic viewpoints have since become [tourist attractions](/source/Tourist_attraction), with numerous vistas inscribed as [world heritage-listed](/source/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site) natural sites.

## See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Scenic overlooks](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Scenic_overlooks).

- [Observation Point (disambiguation)](/source/Observation_Point_(disambiguation)) for specific places called "Observation Point"

- [Observation deck](/source/Observation_deck)

- [Observation post](/source/Observation_post)

- *[Stratum Pier](/source/Stratum_Pier)* by artist Kendall Buster

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-note_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-note_1-1) These terms are more commonly used in North America.

Authority control databases: National United States Czech Republic Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Scenic viewpoint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenic_viewpoint) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scenic_viewpoint?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.