Where to See Black Bears in Shenandoah National Park

No matter how many times you’ve seen them, seeing black bears in the wild is always an exciting experience. For some of America’s best black bear viewing, spend a few days in Shenandoah National Park, exploring its woodlands, meadows and waterfalls.

This mountainous park stretches along the crest of central Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, characterized by densely forested slopes, stands of mast producing trees, rocky summits, grassy clearings, lots of waterfalls and cascading streams. It’s absolutely perfect black bear habitat, essentially.

At any given time, there could be several hundreds of black bears in Shenandoah National Park.

According to the National Park Service, the Shenandoah National Park black bear population ranges “from the low to high hundreds.”

The actual numbers fluctuate based on food availability, breeding cycles and hunting pressing from surrounding lands, among other factors.

Considering that Shenandoah National Park encompasses about 310 square miles, that means there’s usually at least one black bear per square mile in the park. At certain times, there may be as many as three per square mile, greatly increasing your chances of seeing one (or more) in the wild.

Below, you’ll find the best places to see black bears in Shenandoah National Park, from trails to popular tourist areas and, of course, the park’s famous Skyline Drive.

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Best Places to See Black Bears in Shenandoah National Park

The following list of great locations to see black bears in Shenandoah National Park is based on my own experiences in the park—I’ve seen bears at all these places myself, often more than once—as well as accounts by other visitors.

Generally speaking, your chances of seeing a black bear at Shenandoah are best in the middle third of the park, while the wilderness areas in the south are also home to plenty of bears.

I’d like to point out that it’s very much possible to encounter a black bear in other areas in Shenandoah National Park, too, including all of Shenandoah’s hiking trails, from the south all the way to the north.

5. Rose River Falls

One of the nicest waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park, the Rose River Falls Trail is a beautiful 4-mile loop to a 67-foot waterfall.

The trail is in one of Shenandoah’s federally designated wilderness areas, which means it runs through pristine forests that provide the ideal home to black bears.

I’ve personally seen black bears here twice, including a sow with two cubs, both times on the way down from the trailhead at the Fishers Gap parking area to Rose River Falls.

Additionally, the loop also gets very close to Dark Hollow Falls, arguably the park’s most popular waterfall. It’s a very short detour to this beautiful waterfall.

4. Trayfoot Mountain

If you’re looking for a long wilderness hike in Shenandoah National Park with a good chance to see black bears, I can’t think of a better one than the Trayfoot Mountain-Paine Run Loop.

This 9.6-mile circuit starts at the Blackrock Gap parking lot. It passes by popular Blackrock Summit on the way to an area of wooded wilderness in the southern part of the park.

The Trayfoot Mountain Trail runs through beautiful forest scenery, boasting lots of wildflowers in late-spring.

What makes this loop such a great place to see black bears in Shenandoah National Park is its relative remoteness and general lack of other day hikers.

The area around the intersection of the Trayfoot Mountain Trail and the Paine Run Trail, which is basically as far removed from bustling Skyline Drive as you can get on a trail in the park, is where you’re most likely to spot a bear.

3. Bearfence Mountain

Although it’s one of the shorter summit hikes in Shenandoah, climbing Bearfence Mountain does require some effort. The emphasis here is very much on the word “climbing.”

To reach the top of Bearfence Mountain, you need to do some actual rock scrambling, which is not recommended for people with a fear of heights or who aren’t comfortable climbing rocks.

It’s only 1.4 miles roundtrip, but the rock scramble near the summit makes it a pretty exciting hike.

What makes it an even better hike is the opportunity to enjoy some spectacular sunrises from Bearfence Mountain, too. This is easily one of my top three places to see the sunrise in Shenandoah National Park, while the sunsets aren’t bad either.

Additionally and not less importantly, the mountain’s name pretty much indicates how likely you are to see a black bear here. According to Appalachian Trail Histories, “the origins of Bearfence name likely came from a nearby pasture which was fenced in to keep bears out.”

I’ve done this hike four times myself, once in the dark before sunrise, twice in the afternoon and once at sunset. I saw a bear here two times: in the afternoon and in the evening.

For all these reasons—the fun rock scramble, the amazing sunrises and sunsets, and the relatively high likelihood of seeing a black bear—Bearfence Mountain is one of my favorite places in all of Shenandoah National Park.

2. Big Meadows

Situated in the heart of Shenandoah National Park, Big Meadows is an expansive clearing in the vast forests of the Blue Ridge.

While its origins remain unclear, this high-elevation meadow is home to lots of flora and fauna, from the smallest insects to the park’s largest mammals, including deer and black bears.

Black bears are often seen wandering along the edges of Big Meadows, where the forest meets the grassland. Just after sunrise or late in the evening are the best times to see them in this area.

Consider spending the night at the Big Meadows Lodge or Big Meadows Campgrounds for the best black bear viewing opportunities at Big Meadows.

1. Skyline Drive

The road connecting (almost) every major landmark, attraction and trail in Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive offers the easiest black bear viewing in the park.

This 105-mile mountain road, one of America’s greatest national park drives, parallels the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, traversing Shenandoah National Park from north to south.

It’s possible to see black bears along the entire length of Skyline Drive. The best section, however, is its southern half, roughly between Big Meadows and the Loft Mountain area.

Shenandoah’s bears seem to love the greater Big Meadows area, as well as the west-facing wilderness areas in the park’s southern third.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen black bears while driving Skyline Drive. It must be eight or nine times, out of maybe fifteen times I’ve been on this road.

And those Skyline Drive black bear sightings occurred at all times of the day, in the morning, around noon, in the afternoon and, particularly, in the evening.

Besides bears, you can also see lots of other wildlife on Skyline Drive, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, bobcats and skunks.

Black Bear Safety in Shenandoah National Park

Seeing black bears in Shenandoah National Park is one of the most common reasons people visit the park. And it’s an exciting experience, for sure.

However, it’s crucially important to remember that these animals are very much wild. As calm and comfortable as they may appear, they can be unpredictable and dangerous. Treat them with respect.

The three main rules are:

• Don’t speed on Skyline Drive,
• Keep your distance from bears when on foot, and
• Properly store your scented items when camping

When you spot a black bear when driving Skyline Drive, always pull completely off of the road, making sure all four wheels of your vehicle are off the road.

On trails, at campgrounds or overlooks, or anywhere else really, you must stay at least 150 feet (or 50 yards) from black bears in Shenandoah National Park.

You can read much more about black bear safety here.

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