Bear Island: Apatite & Epidote Rockhounding in Montgomery County, Maryland

Updated July 2026

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: Permission required
County: Montgomery County
State: Maryland
Nearest road: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath
Postcode: 22102
Coordinates: 38.97403, -77.20274

Geology at Bear Island

This spot sits on schist, mapped as mica gneiss that formed roughly 1000 to 510 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this weathers into resistant float, and minerals that survive transport typically concentrate in nearby drainages.

Mapped unit: schist
Age: 1000–510 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian)
Rock types: mica gneiss
Elevation: 140 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Bear Island

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DALECARLIA RSVR station (5 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Bear Island?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Bear Island?+

The most comfortable months at Bear Island are February to December.

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 42 Maryland spots →

Open Bear Island on the map

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