The Bear Fence Letterbox, established August 10, 2002.

Location: Shenandoah Nat'l Park, Rappahannock County, Virginia

Difficulty: The trail itself is only a 0.8 mile loop but there is a
lot of rock scrambling/climbing. This box should ONLY be sought
after by those who are sure footed, wearing good shoes, and are not
afraid of heights. This trail is NOT recommended in rainy/snowy
weather as the rocks can be slippery and the trail is at a good
elevation.

Necessities: Good shoes, $10 entrance fee, compass, and of course,
your stamp!

Interesting things: This is one of our favorite trails; it just so
happened that on this trip to plant our letterbox, my now-fiance
asked me to marry him! You will soon see why it was just the perfect
spot! We also saw a total of 7 black bears throughout the day.

And so the hunt begins...
Start your quest by entering Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National
Park. The entrance fee is $10, but we recommend that you shoot for
the $20 season pass if the park is accessible to you. This
particular trail is great fun and there are plenty others that will
keep you coming back and are perfect for the family or the dedicated
hiker.

Pick up a map/guide from the ranger upon entering the park. The Bear
Fence trail is located near the 55-mile mark on Skyline Drive and is
well noted on the map. If you are entering the park from the North
or Thornton Gap Entrances you must drive south (north, of course, if
you enter from the South Entrance).

The trail begins directly across from the parking lot for Bear
Fence. Once you begin up the incline, you will see your first
milepost and note that you are crossing over the Appalachian Trail.
Continue toward the Bear Fence Rock Scramble. As you follow the
trail and begin climbing over rocks, you may have to keep your eyes
out for the blue trail blazes to stay on track... But don't worry,
it's marked very well.

At the scramble's climax you will be treated to an awe-inspiring 360
degree view of the mountain chain and valley. It is really just
beautiful so take your time and please be careful. Once you have had
your fill, continue on the trail. You will climb a few more rocks on
your way down.

When you reach the second mile post, do an about-face. Take 10 steps
forward. Turn to 90 degrees and walk up the rocks to the top of the
ridge. To your right is a large boulder covered in some brush. You
will find the letterbox under a flat rock, under the boulder. Please
enjoy our stamp, leave yours, and return the box as you found it.

Once you get back to the mile post on the trail you have two options:
you can continue on the loop by heading toward the left or link up
with the Appalachian trail to the right, which will return you to the
first mile post you saw.

There are plenty of other trails to check out in the Shenandoah and
campsites/lodges are available in several locations from early spring
to mid-fall for reasonable fees. Thank you for visiting our
letterbox and enjoy the rest of your trip to Skyline Drive and
Shenandoah National Park.

-the junebugs in va