Parking
Start at Bearfence Parking Area on Skyline Drive at mile 56.4; cross the drive to reach the trail.
Overview
About Bearfence Viewpoint Hike
Why go
- A Shenandoah Valley viewpoint without the rock scramble.
Heads up
- You must cross Skyline Drive and climb access stairs.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation3,310–3,586 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Shenandoah alerts
- ClosureOld Rag Trailhead main lot closedThe Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot is closed to vehicles and pedestrians for infrastructure improvements; use the existing overflow lots. - Work is expected to be completed by November 2026.Official details
- ClosureBackcountry camping and zone closuresBackcountry camping is prohibited on the Appalachian Trail from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, and the Naked Creek backcountry zone is closed.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
Your drive to Bearfence Viewpoint Hike, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Shenandoah National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Shenandoah audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Bearfence: Choose the Scramble or the Viewpoint0:00 / 0:25
“You're approaching Bearfence Mountain's trailhead, where a short hike leads to a hands-and-feet scramble and a full-circle view.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Point Overlook: Take the Path to the Rocks
- Bootens Gap: The Long Hike to Bear Church Rock
- Lewis Mountain: A Picnic Stop with Important History
- Hazeltop Ridge Overlook: The View Through Beldore Hollow
- 146 audio storiesacross Shenandoah’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Bald Eagle, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 163 trails, 142 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Bearfence Viewpoint Hike
The no-scramble routeBearfence Viewpoint Hike is a 1.
Bearfence Viewpoint Hike is a 1.1-mile round-trip out-and-back to a 180-degree view across the Shenandoah Valley. From Bearfence Parking Area on Skyline Drive at mile 56.4, cross the drive and climb the bank stairs. At the trail post, turn right onto the Appalachian Trail south, then left onto the connector and right onto Bearfence Loop Trail. The viewpoint is on your right; turn there and retrace your steps. Allow about 45 minutes for the walk and its 305-foot climb.
Choose the right Bearfence hikeThis is the shorter choice without the rock scramble.
This is the shorter choice without the rock scramble. The separate Bearfence Rock Scramble is a 1.4-mile route to a 360-degree view and is rated moderate. Stop at the 180-degree viewpoint and return the way you came; that keeps this outing distinct from the scramble.
Access and rulesThe approach begins with a Skyline Drive crossing and stairs up the bank.
The approach begins with a Skyline Drive crossing and stairs up the bank. The trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines, and pets are not allowed on Bearfence Loop Trail.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Shenandoah
325 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
21 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
1,036 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
167 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
93 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Shenandoah. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
