Not too long ago, I set out for a hike on Bear Den Mountain via the Appalachian Trail, a 7.7-mile out-and-back near Greenwood, Virginia. It’s tucked inside Shenandoah National Park, so keep in mind there’s an entrance fee if you don’t already have a pass.

Trail Overview

If you’re up for a moderate-to-strenuous workout and don’t mind retracing your steps, this one’s got some decent payoff. The trail climbs steadily with views of Calf Mountain, crosses Beagle Gap, and leads up to the summit of Bear Den..

Getting There

The longer version of the hike starts at Jarman’s Gap parking area (Skyline Drive, mile 96.8), but if you’re looking to cut it shorter, you can hop on at Beagle Gap (mile 99.5). That shaves off a lot of distance, but you’ll miss the views from Calf Mountain.

We started from Jarman’s Gap and made it a full day. The weather cooperated, and we were glad we packed plenty of water and snacks.

What You’ll See

The trail weaves through classic Shenandoah forest, with some steep sections that’ll get your heart going. At the summit of Bear Den, there’s a pretty open view in nearly every direction—radio towers included, unfortunately. That said, someone added old tractor seats near the top, which made for a quirky lunch spot with a breeze and a view.

My Take

This is one of those trails I’m glad I did, but probably won’t rush back to—not because it was bad, just because out-and-back hikes aren’t usually my thing. I much prefer a loop where I can keep moving forward and see something new around every turn.

Still, it’s a solid option if you’re building endurance or want to knock out a section of the AT. And if you’ve never hiked Calf or Bear Den before, it’s worth doing once just to say you did.

As always: wear solid shoes, bring more water than you think you need, and pack food you’ll actually want to eat when you’re hungry on the mountain. It made all the difference for us.