Beartown Rocks in Jefferson County’s Clear Creek State Forest features a strange city of monolithic boulders and a mountain top scenic view.
Beartown Rocks is an impressive and easily accessible boulder city formation in Clear Creek State Forest. We parked at the large lot located at 41.30277, -79.06032. We could see the formation from the lot through defoliated trees during our mid-autumn trip.
The highest concentration of boulders is at the overlook, just a minutes’ walk from the parking lot. The trails here were well maintained and obvious. There is also a map posted at the information kiosk.
We followed a line of huge, strangely rectangular boulders to a tower-like formation of stacked boulders. Wooden stairs lead up to a platform on top of the tower from which to enjoy the vista of the wooded Allegheny Plateau.
After taking in the view, we descended the boulder pile and passed through a natural portal in a fortress-like boulder wall. The boulders are slanted so they can be climbed without too much effort.
We meandered northwest among the small boulder city. The boulders became less concentrated as we progressed, but we spied another grouping of boulders enticing us through the woods.
The boulders are arranged in several foci connected by a network of unblazed but clear paths through the mountain laurel. The block-like rocks have intriguing pock-marked surfaces. Their weathered stacked layers are topped with hair-like ferns and moss.
Although less concentrated away from the overlook, some of the largest boulders are found along the paths out in the woods. We followed the paths north then looped around east along the fantastic formations back to the trailhead.
Beartown Rocks is a fun and impressive formation. It is highly accessible with easy terrain making it an excellent excursion for families. For convenience, there is a latrine at the parking lot. Although the largest concentration of boulders is around the scenic overlook, be sure to spread out and explore the trails to the north and east where some of the largest boulders are located.
If you want to do some more hiking and explore, there is a network of trails from Beartown Rocks through Clear Creek State Forest and Clear Creek State Park. The DCNR map is available here.
Be sure to check out our other adventures.
