This delightful farm brewery in Northern Virginia is less than. In total, the hike was 1.9 miles.įor those eager for a sip or a snack post-hike, look to Bear Chase Brewery We then took another 35 minutes to walk to and through the campground, then looping back to the overlook and back to our car (1.3 miles). Wrap-Up Notesįrom the main parking lot, it took my kids and me 35 minutes to reach the overlook (.7 miles) and that included stops to pose on boulders and let hikers pass. However, be warned that the trail quickly descends, meaning you’ll be in for quite a steep hike on the return back to your car.įor a more strenuous hike, look across Route 7 to the Raven Rocks hike, a 5.1-mile hike on the roller coaster section of the Appalachian Trail. For one, you can decrease mileage by simply back-tracking from the overlook (1.4 miles).įor a very short hike (.5-miles round-trip), park at the Bears Den Trail Center adjacent to the campground for a short walk to the overlook to explore the area.įor more miles, simply keep trucking along the Appalachian Trail past Bears Den Overlook. It’s a snap to make this hiker longer or shorter if you choose to do so. 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.Īs a side note, my first time tent camping was at the Bears Den campground with my son’s Cub Scout pack. The Bears Den Trail Center is adjacent to the campground and serves the needs of Appalachian Trail hikers with short-term resupply, showers, laundry and bunk rooms.Īs you walk through the campground, you’ll exit onto a nature trail that circles back to the overlook, allowing you to re-trace your steps as you hike back to the parking lot. The overlook is sizeable and relatively flat, enabling children to easily scramble.Ĭontinue on past the overlook and follow the sign for the Bears Den Trail Center, which leads hikers onto a small gravel road to a well-kept, primitive campground in. It’s also a beautiful vantage point for enjoying gorgeous fall foliage in mid-October. Plan to eat lunch or a snack at the overlook, which wows with panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains.įrom Bears Den Overlook, the views are to the west and northwest, making this scenic viewpoint a go-to spot for colorful sunsets. This engaging, kid-friendly forest trail is interesting and fun for kids. Kids navigate tree roots, boulders, wildflowers and rocky terrain across the trail.īears Den Overlook is a short. However, as if by magic, you will notice that the road noise dissipates as you approach the rocky cliffs. 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. You’ll also benefit from fewer hikers at the overlook (fall weekends can be especially crowded). #EDITCH GAP OVERLOOP HIKE FREE#The lot spaces are unmarked, so it can be something of a free for all at times. While the parking lot is large, it will behoove you to arrive early in the day to hike this trail, which has been open during the COVID pandemic. The primary parking lot adjacent to Route 7 is large too, ensuring that families don’t get shut out from the insatiable views at Bears Den Overlook. 25-mile from the AT, on a leafy stretch marked with blue blazes. As you approach the overlook, you’ll be glad you opted for this family-friendly hike in Virginia. The hike is short – not quite two miles round-trip – but the views are long. Set in pastoral Loudoun County, the Bears Den hike takes visitors to a scenic overlook by way of a delightful, shady stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Bluemont.
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