Shenandoah National Park, VA
Pools and cascades reward a steady climb up the wooded gorge.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
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
Graves Mill: River Walk or Bear Church Rock“You're nearing Graves Mill trailhead, where the Bear Church Rock hike follows rivers and cascades before climbing to a broad forested view.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
Staunton River Trail is an out-and-back from Graves Mill Boundary Access with about 8.6 miles round trip and roughly 2,100 feet of climbing. Start on the yellow-blazed Graves Mill Trail; after about half a mile, turn onto the blue-blazed Staunton River Trail and follow it to Fork Mountain Fire Road. Retrace the same way. This is a long, wooded river hike with pools and small cascades instead of a summit viewpoint. Allow about five to six hours.
The first half-mile follows the Rapidan River to the Staunton River junction. The blue-blazed route then stays in the wooded gorge, climbing gradually with several stream crossings and short spurs to the water. Expect pools and small cascades along the way; the steady climb adds up even though there is no summit scramble. At the Jones Mountain and McDaniel Hollow junctions, stay on Staunton River Trail toward Fork Mountain Fire Road. Turning onto Jones Mountain sends you onto the different Bear Church Rock route.
The Graves Mill / Route 662 boundary lot has room for about 12 cars and one or two horse trailers. Pay the park entrance fee in advance through Recreation.gov or at an entrance station. Toilets and potable water were not listed for this access or route, so bring enough water for the full climb and return. Pets are allowed here, with a physical leash no longer than six feet.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ChallengingGraves Mill - Rapidan - Jones Mountain Loop18.6 mi · 12.5 hr · At the trailheadA two-night backpack pairs Hoover history with a remote mountain cabin.
ChallengingJones Mountain to South River Circuit34.9 mi · 1.3 days · At the trailheadFive days of ridgeline walking, an 83-foot waterfall, and mission ruins.
ChallengingBear Church Rock via Graves Mill7.8 mi · 5 hr · At the trailheadRiver bends, cascades, and a sharp climb end at a rocky view.
ChallengingJones Mountain and Staunton River Loop14.7 mi · 11 hr · At the trailheadA 14.7-mile loop joins a cascade, open ridge, and old mill sites.
EasyGraves Mill Trail4.2 mi · 2 hr · At the trailheadGentle river miles with swimming holes and a flexible turnaround.
ModerateUpper Dark Hollow Trail4.2 mi · 2.8 hr · 4.4 mi awayA 4.2-mile out-and-back with a steady 1,000-foot climb.
ChallengingBear Church Rock via Bootens Gap9.7 mi · 5.5 hr · 5.4 mi awayLong forest miles end at a rock ledge above the Rapidan Valley.
EasyBearfence Viewpoint Hike1.1 mi · 45 min · 5.5 mi awayShort out-and-back for a Shenandoah Valley view without scrambling.
Lodging · 1.6 mi awayJones Mountain CabinA restored log cabin with a strenuous 3.8-mile hike-in.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayBear Church Rock OverlookA broad ridge view earned by a long, rocky hike.
Sight · 4.7 mi awayRapidan CampA creekside Hoover retreat with history worth the uphill return.
Sight · 5.4 mi awayBearfence MountainA short summit scramble opens a full-circle Blue Ridge panorama.
Sight · 5.4 mi awayThe Point OverlookA short, steep path opens onto sunset views across the Blue Ridge.
Scenic pullout · 5.6 mi awayHazeltop Ridge OverlookBeldore Hollow opens a clear-day look toward distant southern peaks.
Scenic pullout · 6 mi awayNaked Creek OverlookA west-facing sunset stop over wooded ridges and Elkton.
Lodging · 6 mi awayLewis Mountain CabinsA wooded cabin stay with outdoor meals and important history.Parkwolf’s Shenandoah ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
