Double Bear Rocks Hike

Double Bear Rocks is an 8.3-mile round-trip out-and-back from US-211 to a rocky, west-facing overlook, with about 1,700 feet of climbing. Allow five to six hours. You climb the Pass Mountain Trail to Pass Mountain Hut, take a short blue-blazed connector to the Appalachian Trail, then head north to the rocks. Choose this for the ridge walk as much as the view: Pass Mountain's rocky summit has no outlook, and the final outcrop is attractive without being a full panorama.

The blue-blazed Pass Mountain Trail winds uphill through forest on switchbacks. The first mile climbs steadily; after the old fire-road junction, the trail continues uphill before easing onto the ridge. Pass Mountain Hut is about 2.7 to 2.8 miles in. From the hut, follow the short blue-blazed spur to the Appalachian Trail junction, roughly three miles from the start.

Turn north on the white-blazed AT. The trail crosses the rocky top of Pass Mountain, which has no view, then descends before a side path on the left leads to Double Bear Rocks. The outcrop looks west over several layers of ridges. In winter or early spring, thinner foliage can open filtered views toward Marys Rock from the upper climb. Return the same way.

The described start is a gravel pull-off on US-211 about 12 miles east of Luray; the Pass Mountain Trail marker is across the road. The pull-off's designated status and current availability haven't been confirmed, so verify the access before you set out. The crossing is at a sharp, partly blind curve where traffic can arrive quickly. Pets can join on a physical leash no longer than six feet. Older accounts describe a spring and privy by the hut, but their current condition isn't verified; bring enough water for the full walk.