Bears Den Overlook Hike: Parking, Trail Guide & Tips

Bears Den Overlook is a rocky outcrop on the Appalachian Trail in Bluemont, Virginia, with sweeping west-facing views across the Shenandoah Valley. 

The most popular route is a 1.9-mile out-and-back from the Snickers Gap parking area on Route 7 and includes a short loop past the Bears Den Trail Center.

For the simplest hike, walk 0.7 mile from the Route 7 parking area to the overlook and return the same way for a 1.4-mile outing.

This hike is short and family-friendly. Allow about one hour for the hike. The overlook is also reachable from the Bears Den Trail Center.

Bears Den Hike at a Glance
Length	1.4-1.9 miles
Difficulty	Easy
Trail Type	Out-and-back with optional loop
Elevation Gain	289 feet
Duration	1 hour
Terrain	Mostly rock & dirt trails
Dog-Friendly	Yes
Fee	Free
Driving Directions	Click Here

Bears Den Overlook Parking 

The main hike begins at the large, free Snickers Gap parking lot adjacent to Route 7. Despite its size, the lot can fill on weekends, especially during fall foliage season.

From the lot, follow the blue-blazed connector trail for about 0.25 mile to the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. 

For the shortest walk to the overlook, use the Bears Den day-use lot off Blue Ridge Mountain Road. Parking there currently costs $3 per vehicle.

Here are driving directions to Bears Den for the short 0.5-mile round-trip hike to the overlook. 

Hiking from Snickers Gap to Bears Den Overlook 

Given the parking lot and trailhead sit alongside a four-lane state highway, you will hear cars motoring along as you make your way to the overlook.

However, as if by magic, the road noise dissipates as you approach the rocky cliffs. Kids navigate tree roots, boulders, wildflowers and rocky terrain across the trail.

Bears Den Overlook is a short 0.7-mile hike from the parking lot. This engaging, kid-friendly forest trail is interesting and fun for kids.

Plan to eat lunch or a snack at the overlook, which wows with panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Bears Den Overlook Views

From Bears Den Overlook, the views are to the west and northwest, making this scenic viewpoint a go-to spot for colorful sunsets.

It’s also a beautiful vantage point for enjoying gorgeous fall foliage in mid-October. The overlook is sizeable and relatively flat, enabling children to easily scramble.

Bears Den Trail Center 

Continue past the overlook and follow signs for the Bears Den Trail Center, which leads hikers onto a gravel road to a primitive campground in 0.25 mile.

The Bears Den Trail Center is next to the campground and serves the needs of thru-hikers with short-term resupply, showers, laundry and bunk rooms.

As you cross the campground, you’ll exit onto a nature trail that leads back to the overlook, allowing you to re-trace your steps as you return to the parking lot.

If you need to hit the restroom before you return, there are two vault toilets in the campground, as well as a restroom inside the Bears Den Trail Center.

Shorter & Longer Bears Den Hike Options

It’s a snap to make this easy hike longer or shorter if you choose to do so. For one, you can decrease mileage by simply back-tracking from the overlook (1.4 miles).

For a very short hike (0.5-mile round-trip), park at the Bears Den Trail Center adjacent to the campground for a short walk to the overlook to explore the area.

For more miles, simply keep trucking along the Appalachian Trail past Bears Den Overlook, all the way to Sam Moore Shelter on the AT Roller Coaster.

However, be warned that the trail quickly descends, meaning you’ll be in for quite a steep hike on the return to your car.

How Long Does the Bears Den Hike Take? 

From the main parking lot, it took my kids and me 35 minutes to reach the overlook, including stops to pose on boulders and let other hikers pass.

We then continued to the campground and looped back past the overlook to our car, which took another 35 minutes. In total, our Bears Den Overlook hike was 1.9 miles.

What to Do After the Hike? 

For those eager for a sip or a snack after tackling the Bears Den hike, look to Bear Chase Brewery.

This farm brewery is less than 0.5 mile from the parking lot and is a fantastic place to relax after a hike while taking in views across the Shenandoah Valley.

There is a huge grassy space and inviting Adirondack chairs that encourage visitors to sit and stay for a spell.

Bear Chase Brewery has a variety of craft beers on tap, as well as pizza, pretzels and cornhole. It’s definitely a fan favorite in Loudoun County.

Eager for more steps? Take a look at 15 of the best hikes near Bluemont, Virginia to find a few more area hikes, including the Raven Rocks hike. 

Raven Rocks is better when the hike itself—not only the overlook—is the main event. Bears Den is tops when you have only an hour or want to catch a sunset.