Parkway Overlooks is a community-driven project dedicated to documenting every overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our goal is to create the most comprehensive, freely accessible guide to the Parkway's scenic overlooks by combining detailed information, interactive maps, and contributions from visitors.
My name is Hunter Wilson, and I'm originally from Shallotte, North Carolina, a small town near the state's southeastern coast. Today, I'm a Cybersecurity major at Appalachian State University, where moving to the High Country introduced me to the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
As I spent more time exploring the Parkway, I realized there wasn't a single place that documented every overlook with detailed information, quality photographs, and an easy way for visitors to contribute their own experiences. I wanted something that was more than just a list of locations—I wanted a community-driven resource that showcased everything the Parkway has to offer.
Parkway Overlooks began as a personal side project to solve that problem. What started as an idea has grown into a platform where visitors can discover overlooks, share photos, submit information, and help build a comprehensive guide to one of America's most scenic roads.
Building Parkway Overlooks has allowed me to combine my interests in software development, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity while creating something that gives back to a place that has become like a second home during my time at Appalachian State.
Parkway Overlooks is built using modern web technologies to provide a fast, reliable, and interactive experience. The frontend is developed with Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Chakra UI, while Cloudflare's global edge network powers hosting, asset delivery, and image storage for users around the world.
Behind the scenes, a custom backend written in TypeScript manages authentication, overlook submissions, moderation, user profiles, and media uploads. All project data is stored in a MySQL database, providing a reliable foundation for the growing collection of overlooks and community contributions.
Interactive maps powered by MapLibre allow visitors to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway visually, while community submissions help keep the information accurate, up to date, and continually expanding.
Parkway Overlooks is an independent project created and maintained by Hunter Wilson. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Park Service, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or the U.S. Department of the Interior.
All information is collected through personal research, publicly available resources, and contributions from the Parkway Overlooks community.
Parkway Overlooks is always growing, and the community plays a huge role in making it better. Whether you've visited one overlook or every overlook along the Parkway, your contributions help create a more complete and useful resource for everyone.
You can contribute by submitting photos, sharing information, reporting corrections, or simply exploring the map and discovering new places to visit.
Explore Cataloged Overlooks →