DMV Hikes: Bearfence Mountain, Shenandoah National Park

Photo courtesy of author.

Do you live in Washington D.C.? Are you looking for a short hike with great views? Then you should check out Bearfence Mountain. 

Bearfence is a 1-mi loop rock scramble in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains. The trailhead is just 2 hrs 30 mins from DC; 2 hrs from Richmond, VA; and 1 hr from Charlottesville, VA. If you’re new to hiking in Shenandoah and have good balance, strong quads and glutes, you’ll love this hike! 

Bearfence rises 311 ft (95 m) above Skyline drive, a scenic two-lane road which runs north to south through the park. There’s a small trailhead parking lot and signage instructing hikers to cross the road to begin. 

The first section is an earthen staircase which takes you to the base of the rock scramble. That’s where the fun begins! It’s time to watch your feet, and mind your balance. Follow the blue painted rocks to stay on course. 

On busy days there are a few chokepoints where you may have to wait for the people in front of you to scramble up trickier sections where three points of contact are required. 

There’s only one section with a tiny bit of exposure where you actually feel like you could fall. I’ve seen hikers reach this section with younger children, get stuck and turn back (or require help).

Bearfence Mountain offers 360-degree views. Photo courtesy of author.

I think there are plenty of other trails in the park that are beautiful and kid friendly. Then again, so many kids are naturally amazing at scrambling. They tend to move low and parallel to the rock unlike adults that scramble upright lurching from step to step and reaching for things they shouldn’t, like branches, to steady themselves. Many kids also have better balance, stronger knees and ankles. So if your child isn’t afraid of heights, they will probably love this trail. But if you’re on the fence, I get that too.

Once you complete the rock scramble portion, you should find yourself heading back towards the parking lot. If not, you probably missed your turn. Retrace your steps or enjoy the Appalachian Trail! I hear Maine is lovely this time of year.

The views from Bearfence 

The 360-degree views at the top are fantastic. I love doing this hike in the late afternoon or early evening so I can watch the sunset. It’s a visual reminder that Shenandoah is part of Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains and, also, ethereally beautiful. It’s also a great spot to bring a book or a snack and chill. There's enough space to rest and still keep out of the flow of traffic. I haven’t hiked it during leaf peeping season though so don’t quote me on that.

Safety 

The rock is pretty jagged and, overall, the footwork is tricky. You could easily sprain or break an ankle. So watch your step! 

Don’t hike this trail during or after a rainstorm. The rock is super slippery when wet. 

Follow the blue paint for the best foot and hand holds.

There’s some shade on the approach but otherwise not much up top. Make sure you bring plenty of water and sun protection.

@utena86 Fun fact: I’m not a fast hiker. 😅 #DMVTikTok #BlackGirlsHike #Spoonie #DiversifyOutdoors ♬ Sound of peace - unkownvvs

Wildlife

Shenandoah is home to hundreds of black bears; although I’ve spotted exactly zero ‘in the wild’ and four close to campgrounds. But you never know; when hiking alone on Bearfence and anywhere else in the park, I try to make enough noise to avoid accidentally startling one. That’s just me. My goal is to have a safe, boring hike, not stumble across a black bear and her cubs. And since I also enjoy hiking at dusk and dawn when bears are more active, noise seems like a good safety precaution.

Check out the park service’s page on bear safety before your visit. Black bears have their own set of safety tips in addition to the obvious ones (e.g. - leave them alone, they are wild animals!) For example, you shouldn’t ever play dead if attacked by a black bear.

Another wildlife safety concern is deer. The park service urges visitors to drive the speed limit to avoid accidentally hitting them as they cross Skyline Drive. A surprising number of accidents occur when people stop in the middle of the road to photograph wildlife. So if you stop to take photos, please pull onto the shoulder.

Finally, you’ll most likely run into mosquitoes, swarms of gnats, horse flies and lantern flies. So come prepared.

Pets

Pets are not permitted on this trail. 

Amenities

There are no amenities at Bearfence (e.g. - no benches, trash cans, pit toilets etc) other than the trail and the parking lot. 

The nearest campgrounds are Lewis Mountain (1.4 mi), Big Meadows (6.3 mi). Lewis is smaller and first-come, first-serve operated while Big Meadows is larger and can be reserved via recreation.gov. 

The nearest camp store is at Lewis Mountain. 

Prepare for your visit 

Check weather conditions, hours and road closures here on the Shenandoah NP website.

Pack water, a first aid kit, and a fully charged phone. 

Entrance fees

Your one-time park entry fee will set you back $15 on foot; $25 on motorcycle and $30 via privately owned vehicle. Annual park passes cost $55. 

America the Beautiful annual passes, which also cover U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entrance fees run for $80.  American the Beautiful passes are free for U.S. military veterans and their families; U.S. fourth graders; and permanently disabled visitors.