Bear Den Overlook
Bear Den Overlook sits at 3,359 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway, facing 240 degrees with the land dropping 410 feet within 600 meters of the pull-off. Jackson Knob rises to the southwest at 2.5 miles, reaching 3,404 feet. West-southwest, North Cove Valley Overlook lies at 2.7 miles and 2,807 feet, with The Loops Overlook farther out at 3.8 miles and 3,078 feet. Table Rock Overlook (MP 329.8) is visible to the southwest at 4.7 miles, elevation 2,897 feet, and Dula Knob appears west-southwest at 5.5 miles, standing at 3,068 feet. Because the overlook faces 30 degrees off square from due west, it looks generally toward the sunset; seasonal sunset times range from 20:48 at the June solstice to 17:18 at the December solstice. Johnson City is 35.7 miles to the northwest, Hickory is 36.9 miles east-southeast, and Asheville is 39.0 miles west-southwest. Hefner Gap Overlook precedes this stop along the route, and Chestoa View Overlook follows it.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Jackson Knob3,404 ftsouthwest · 2.5 mi
- North Cove Valley Overlook2,807 ftwest-southwest · 2.7 mi
- The Loops Overlook3,078 ftwest-southwest · 3.8 mi
- Table Rock Overlook (MP 329.8)2,897 ftsouthwest · 4.7 mi
- Dula Knob3,068 ftwest-southwest · 5.5 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:32 | 19:40 | 19:06 |
| June solstice | 06:13 | 20:48 | 20:10 |
| September equinox | 07:16 | 19:26 | 18:53 |
| December solstice | 07:35 | 17:18 | 16:39 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Johnson City35.7 mi northwest
- Hickory36.9 mi east-southeast
- Asheville39.0 mi west-southwest
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How high is Bear Den Overlook?
Bear Den Overlook sits at about 3,359 feet (1,024 m).
What can you see from Bear Den Overlook?
From Bear Den Overlook: Jackson Knob (SW, 2.5 mi); North Cove Valley Overlook (WSW, 2.7 mi); The Loops Overlook (WSW, 3.8 mi); Table Rock Overlook (MP 329.8) (SW, 4.7 mi).
Is Bear Den Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Bear Den Overlook toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Bear Den Overlook?
Johnson City, 36 miles NW of Bear Den Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Bear Den Overlook?
Chestoa View Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Bear Den Overlook.
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Locals make it Verified.
Bear Den Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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