Each autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains, daily crowds gather along North Carolina’s Highway 64 to spot the famed Shadow of the Bear. The road — particularly where it abuts Whiteside Mountain near the Georgia and South Carolina borders — is a perfect vantage point for this fleeting phenomenon. As the sun begins to set, it casts a shadow along the rocky terrain and gold- and red-tinged foliage, slowly revealing the shape of a bear, imposing and charming all at once.
The Shadow of the Bear is best viewed between Highlands and Cashiers in southwestern North Carolina. The phenomenon appears for about 30 minutes each day starting in mid-October, always drawing admirers along the highway to watch the nightly show.
“The black bear … seen often around western North Carolina is a symbol that resonates with people. For the black bear to make an appearance on the mountain itself just adds to the mystery and the intrigue,” Nick Breedlove, the executive director for the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority, told iBestTravel. “It’s the only one of its kind in the country. You get chills the first time you see it, it’s sort of this ‘aha’ and this inspiring moment when it finally emerges, and you can feel the crowd get energized when you’re waiting for it to come out.”
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The striking sight appears at Whiteside Mountain, which has an elevation of 4,930 feet. According to Breedlove, as many as 30 to 40 people visit the Highway 64 viewpoint facing the mountain each evening, about as many as the space can accommodate.
Where to See It
Breedlove said the image of the bear is best viewed from the Rhodes Big View Overlook off of Route 64. However, he notes that you should be careful when parking and walking along the highway, as it is a major and busy road.
When to Go
The Shadow of the Bear emerges from around 5:30 to 6 p.m. each clear evening between mid-October and early November. Interestingly, the bear can also be seen between mid-February and early March, a time that may be less crowded.
“The bear is very particular,” Breedlove said, adding that it only comes out “on sunny days after 5:30 p.m.” Therefore, you should aim to arrive early, around 4:45 to 5 p.m. at the latest.
“What I recommend is people arrive there early if they want a spot because people will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to see this phenomenon,” he said. “There’s limited space to view this and it does take some time. It starts as a little black spot on the mountain and it gradually grows into a bear. Consequently, close to the end of it, it looks more like a mouse.”
