Best locations and times for bear sightings on the AT

[BuckeyeBill]

Too bad you are well past Clingman's Dome/US441 area as the bears don't care about noise/people. Here is a great video as an example.

[Starchild]

If you do the entire trail you will see at least 2 bears, at the Bear Mountain Zoo. That was my case on my thru - only those 2 bears. Saw plenty later, but again only those 2

[BlackCloud]

I don't know how Shenandoah NP can support all those bears. They're everywhere. I've seen more black bears in that park than in all other outings combined. I also saw my biggest bear on Trayfoot Mtn in the Southern Section. 350 lbs I'd guess. Amazing.

[tdoczi]

I don't know how Shenandoah NP can support all those bears.

bet there are many times more people than bears on an even moderately crowded summer day

[Koozy]

Shenandoah, Smokies, and NJ.


I saw 23 bears over the course of my thru hike.
1 in Georgia (dead bear cub laying in the trail...does that count as a bear sighting?);
2 in the Smokies;
16 in Virginia (15 in Shenandoah over a 5 day period; 5 being the most in 1 day)
3 in New Jersey (ridge nI got mock charged)
1 in Baxter State Park.


Generally within 30 minutes of sunrise and sunset you have the best chance of seeing bears. This goes for pretty much all wildlife in general. In Shenandoah I saw bears at every point in the day.