Everyone loves a great skyline picture, right?

I have been searching for the ultimate place for a bird’s eye view of the Salt City, and I have found two spots that are superb that I recommend checking out.  

Woodland Reservoir is the first spot that I found to be not only picturesque, but also a nice spot for a walk or perhaps even a socially-distanced picnic overlooking Syracuse. 

If you take Stolp Avenue to Hancock Drive, you can park and either climb the hill or take the stairs up to get the best view. 

This is the best spot for a wide, panoramic view of the city that you can likely take with just your phone, like I did. If you’d rather catch a sunset over the reservoir itself, just turn around and face west, away from the skyline!

The other spot that I really enjoy that I just recently discovered is a spot I’ve driven by numerous times without actually visiting: The Orange Lot. 

Located right across I-690 from the Fairgrounds, you can take Exit 7 right into the Orange Lot, and then head over to the trail that is adjacent to the lot. In about a minute, you’ll come up to a bend in the trail at which, with the right camera and a beautiful day, you can get a perfect view of the Syracuse skyline.  

The day I took this shot a few weeks ago was a little too hazy for my liking, but you get the idea of what vantage point you would be at. I recommend a telephoto/zoom lens to get the clearest, tightest shot. 

If you haven’t been to either of these locations, I recommend both even if you’re not into skyline views. Both offer a great photo spot as well as an opportunity for some exercise on a fair weather day. 

Do you have another picturesque spot you love here in Syracuse? Email me at Carson.Metcalf@charter.com! I would love to check it out!