Bear Island is a river island in the Potomac near Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland, lying between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It is managed by the National Park Service as part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, with co-ownership by The Nature Conservancy. The island is best known as the setting for the Billy Goat Trail, one of the area’s most popular outdoor attractions. Because it is both protected land and a heavily used recreation area, pets are not allowed and smoking is prohibited.