Bear Island — Rockhounding in Montgomery County, Maryland

Bear Island is a mapped rockhounding spot in Montgomery County, Maryland. Reported finds include apatite, epidote, amphibolite, sphene, zircon. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Montgomery County
State: Maryland
Nearest road: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath
Postcode: 22102
Coordinates: 38.97403, -77.20274

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Bear Island

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Bear Island.

Across the state line from Bear Island

Bear Island is close enough to the Maryland border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Bear Island FAQ

Where is Bear Island?+

Bear Island is in Montgomery County, Maryland, at 38.97403, -77.20274. Nearest road: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bear Island?+

Bear Island is reported to produce Apatite, Epidote, Amphibolite, Sphene, Zircon.

Is collecting allowed at Bear Island?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

How do I get to Bear Island?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.97403, -77.20274 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.

More rockhounding in Maryland

See all 38 Maryland spots →

Open Bear Island on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.