Bear Den Mountain/Calf Mountain, approximately 8 miles -Moderately Strenuous

Approximately an 8 mile retrace, this hike will start at Jarman Gap and wind through the woods, coming out to an open field at Little Calf Mountain, which offers a lovely view over the southern portion of Shenandoah National Park and beyond. From there we'll continue to Beagle Gap, crossing Skyline Drive to make the short trek up to Bear Den Mountain. I've seen no bears on this mountain, but it does have some pretty cool communication towers, along with some old timey tractor seats just sort of, well ...there, and they'll make a great, albeit slightly weird rest/lunch spot before we'll retrace our steps back to the cars.

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous, approximately 8 miles, and about 1,955 feet of elevation gain

What to Bring/Wear: Layered clothing, hat, gloves, good hiking boots, trekking poles, water, snacks/lunch

Weather: Scary forecasts will have me rescheduling for my next available weekend day. Keep an eye on the comments for updates.

Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome; they must be leashed per park rules

Fees: This hike is in Shenandoah National Park, so bring a pass; otherwise the fee (good for one week) is $30 per vehicle

RSVP: If you find you’re not going to be able to attend, please update your RSVP to “Not Going” as soon as possible. This allows those on the waitlist to have the opportunity to attend.