Groups at Bear’s Den

We host a wide variety of groups.

Hikers

The sixty-six acre retreat boasts two stone turrets, three circuit trails, a campground, and a secluded cottage in the woods. The lodge is 150 yards from the Appalachian Trail. There you stand in the middle of the Roller Coaster section, a 13.5-mile up and down rocky path that offers challenging hiking, scenic overlooks, and bubbling mountain stream crossings. Don’t forget to catch the beautiful sunset over Shenandoah Valley at the Bears Den Rocks Overlook.Bears Den has something to offer for long-distance backpackers, section hikers and day hikers!

Hiker Hostel for Long-Distance Backpackers

Bears Den is no mere hiker shack; it is the premier hostel on the Appalachian Trail.

The co-ed hiker hostel is accessible at any time of the day to long-distance backpackers. The hiker door is around the back of the lodge; use your guidebooks and maps, enter the code and open the door. Inside, you’ll find 10 bunk beds, a lounge area, sodas for sale, a community computer, TV, and a bathroom with shower and basic hygiene products. If you are staying the night, grab a bunk and make yourself at home. Linens and towels are provided. If you are passing through and just want to buy a soda ($0.75) and a shower ($3), leave your money in the refrigerator door and happy trails!

The upstairs will open at 5pm, when you can access laundry facilities and detergent ($3/load), a full kitchen and our store that sells short-term resupply, pizzas and pints of ice cream. We even have a piano and guitar for the musically inclined!

Guests pay only $25 for a bunk and shower. We also offer a hiker special which includes: bunk, shower, laundry, 1 soda, pizza and a pint of ice cream for only $35! Check out all our rates here.

We accept mail drops for long-distance hikers. We store them in our office/store, which opens at 5pm. If you need us to leave it in the hiker hostel, please call or e-mail to make prior arrangements. Shuttle and slack-packing services are available through trusted partners. A list of phone numbers is posted in the hostel or you can contact us for some numbers before you arrive.

There are no dogs allowed inside the lodge, but you can camp on the lawn with your pet. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed in the lodge or on the property. There is a 7-day limit for stays.

Section Hikers

Bear’s Den is..

7.9 miles south of Blackburn Trail Center
19.5 miles south of Harper’s Ferry
3 miles north of Sam Moore Shelter
33.5 north of Front Royal

Shuttle services are available through trusted partners. You can park your car at Bears Den for the long or short term, hike north or south and they will pick you up at your final destination and bring you back to your car.

North

Blackburn Trail Center (7.9 miles north. Up and down rocky terrain. One day hike)
Harpers Ferry (19.5 miles north. Up and down rocky terrain. Suggested two-day hike. Very well conditioned hikers can complete in one full day.)

South

Route 605 road crossing/Morgans Mill Road. (6.2 miles south. Up and down rocky terrain crossing streams. Moderate pace can complete in 4 hours.)
Route 50 road crossing/Ashby Gap. (13.5 miles south. Up and down rocky terrain. Full one-day challenging hike or break it into 2 days as you pass Sam Moore Shelter.)
VA 55/Manassas Gap/Linden. (25.3 miles south. Up and down rocky terrain. 2-3 days.)
Route 522/Front Royal. (33.5 miles south. Up and down rocky terrain. Several AT shelter options. 2-4 days.)

Day Hikers

Park in our day use lot ($3/car) or at Route 7. Three trails allow you to meander through the Bears Den grounds. Pick up a trail map from the campground or at our lodge door. Follow the blue-blazed trail to the Appalachian Trail and to the Bears Den Rocks Overlook, massive quartzite rocks where you can relax and admire the expansive Shenandoah Valley.

Nature Trail (1 mile loop/Easy)
Demonstration/Interpretive Trail (1.5 miles loop/Moderate.)
Historic Trail (.5 mile/Moderate. A great loop to walk in the morning.)
Tributary Bridge (2 miles round trip/Moderate. This popular out and back hike winds you down the mountain to the first stream crossing south on the Appalachian Trail. The hike down is easy, ascending back up can be as challenging as you want.)
Crescent Rock (6.4 miles round trip/Challenging. About a six hour hike out and back on the Appalachian Trail. Crescent Rock Overlook offers a wonderful view of Shenandoah Valley and the opportunity to see rock climbers.)
Spout Run & Sam Moore Shelter (6 miles round trip/Challenging. About a six hour hike out and back on the Appalachian Trail. Head south to find this bubbling mountain stream and visit an AT Shelter).

Biking

The biking enthusiast will find Bears Den a sweet respite after a ride in the saddle.

Pick your pleasure. All this and so close to DC… it’s a biker’s paradise.The Washington & Old Dominion terminus is in Purcellville, VA, only 7 miles from Bears Den (call about shuttles). The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath is about 30 miles north or Bears Den at Harpers Ferry.
The mountain is surrounded by remote country roads weave through cornfields, orchards, and cattle and horse farms.

Suggested rides:Take a day to ride country roads to Middleburg and back.

The rolling hill landscape is filled with horse farms and country towns.
Two-day ride from DC. DC to Bears Den on the W & OD. Stay the night and return on the W & OD.
Three-day ride from DC. Day 1: DC to Bears Den on the W & OD; Day 2: country roads from Bears Den to Harpers Ferry (visit museums and stay at Sandy Hook Hostel); Day 3: Harpers Ferry to DC via the C & O Canal Towpath.

Scouting

Bears Den offers an ideal setting for scout groups in the fall, winter, spring or summer! Our lodge can sleep up to 26 guests, our cottage can fit 10 people and our campground can fit up to 50 campers.

Lots of activities are at Bears Den:

Hike the famous Appalachian Trail
Camp Out for the night and tell stories by the Fire
Meet and talk to Appalachian Trail Thru-hikers
Volunteer for service work
Watch the sunset
Practice using a Map and Compass
Study flora and fauna, and More…

All Scouts find Bears Den practical for many applications.

Some camp overnight while on a challenging “Roller Coaster” section hike in training for Philmont. Others stay a weekend to work on rank requirements.Troop service work projects are available.

We also have had many Boy Scouts complete Eagle Scout Projects. In 2006, one Boy Scout built an information kiosk at our day use parking lot and campground. In 2012, another Boy Scout built 12 benches to put around our property and campground. In 2017, a Boy Scout built new Adirondack chairs & benches, and rebuilt all the fire pits in the campground. E-mail or call us if you are interested in doing an Eagle Scout Project for Bears Den.