Climb, Pause and Wonder At Bears Den
Hiking to this Blue Ridge landmark offers instant gratification
by Liam Lassiter
Never entirely a rock scramble, although some parts could almost be characterized as steps due to the way the stones are arranged, climbing ever upward. There’s a sign along the path that tells about the wildlife and history of the path, and a trail map for finding the way to the Appalachian Trail for more adventurous hikers, as well as for Bears Den gallivanters to see how far they’ve come and how far they’ve yet to go.
The undergrowth is densest in the spring, so thick and vivacious it’s like getting lost in a land of green. Wear a green T-shirt and you’ll blend seamlessly! The canopy is always the same, no matter what time of year you go, although in the fall it’s beautiful to see how reds and oranges melt together like butter in a warm pan. That’s part of what makes the hike so deceptive; you don’t realize how far up
you are going until suddenly the path levels, and roots appear intermittently between stones like veins of the forest running under your feet.
Continue straight on and, suddenly, the canopy parts and you arrive at the den–two massive rocks that overlook the entire valley from this small, accessible part of the Blue Ridge mountains. Standing on those rocks, it feels like you are a giant awakening from a long slumber. The two rocks are like eyes cutting through the arching canopy. Between the two rocks is a small crevice, about two people across. One can step over from rock to rock easily, but one can walk between them easily on a path packed evenly, allowing a look over the rock at the spilling landscape below rather than looking from the rock’s crux.
Bears Den is one of my favorite hiking spots. I bring all of my nature-loving
friends to these rocks, but I also like to hike the area on my own. It’s a very manageable, 25- to 35-minute hike that, in terms of hiking, is practically instant gratification as one reaches a beautiful view in a short time. Giving myself an hour to have a picnic on the tall, flat rocks of the “den” is practically medicinal, a balm for the soul, for reconnecting with what’s important and what’s not.
Some things can cling to my mind like burrs or ticks. But given some wind in my hair, opportunities for deep breathing, and a few peanuts and M&M’s in my palm, they all fall away, falling like droplets of water. Sometimes all you need is some space, to find it or be at one with it. Sometimes, as happens at Bears Den, it can sneak up on you and come faster than you expect.
Let us all play our part in promoting responsible and safe recreational activities, allowing everyone to enjoy the parks while preserving their natural beauty.