Bear Lake Scenic Byway
A Journey Along The Lake’s Southeast Side

A Short Drive With Long Views

The Bear Lake Scenic Byway traces Utah’s SR-30 between Garden City and Laketown hugging the lake’s west shore for about 15 miles. It’s a short run … less than half an hour without stops … but that first sight of the water never feels small.

Looking down from the summit at the top of Logan Canyon, the lake looks almost unreal. A bright, tropical blue set against sage hills and the Bear River Range. At 69,760 acres, it is Utah’s 4th largest lake.

That color isn’t a camera trick. It comes from sunlight reflecting off fine limestone (calcium carbonate) particles suspended in the water. This interaction scatters blue-green wavelengths and gives Bear Lake its signature hue.

Getting Oriented

Most visitors arrive from Logan via US-89 over Logan Canyon. The descent into Garden City is a jaw-dropper. Turn right at the light in Garden City and you’re immediately on the byway rolling along the southwest shore toward Laketown.

Coming from Evanston/Woodruff, follow SR-16 to Sage Creek Junction. Then head west on SR-30 towards Laketown where the byway begins (or ends, depending on your direction). Either way, you’re never far from water, soft sand, and that impossible blue horizon.

Lake Life, Four Seasons

Bear Lake is a year-round destination wrapped inside Bear Lake State Park and the byway stitches several of the park’s units together. Summer brings beach days and boat wakes with mornings flat as glass. Afternoons tend to be choppier due to the winds that typically kick up at these altitudes and on such a big lake.

In fall, cottonwoods gild the shoreline while evening light turns the water cobalt. Winters are surprisingly active. In cold years the lake edges freeze and the famous Bonneville cisco run draws anglers to the east shore for a dip-netting tradition you won’t find anywhere else.

Spring is for quiet walks, migrating waterfowl, and that first picnic when the breeze still carries a hint of snow from the high peaks. Summer, though, is still my favorite time at Bear Lake.

What You’ll See On
The Bear Lake Scenic Byway

If you turn left on the byway coming down the road from Logan Canyon in Garden City, you’ll roll past the Bear Lake Marina. It is the home base for launches, rentals, and sunrise photos. You’ll quickly see the shoreline widen into long, shallow sweeps of sand.

Even though not officially part of the byway, this stretch should be. In fact, to make this byway a much more scenic and enjoyable road trip, it should include the stretch going all the way up the west side to the Idaho border.

Heading south from Garden City, the byway threads past state park day-use sites and private resorts. Then it arcs toward Rendezvous Beach near Laketown. This is a broad south shore stretch tailor-made for family basecamps.

The driving is easy, shoulders are generous and turnouts are frequent. You can pull over as often as you want just to take in the panorama or to wander a boardwalk to the water.

Along the way, keep an eye out for American white pelicans, grebes, and the occasional bald eagle. Early and late in the day, the lake surface can turn into a mirror. On windless evenings, the entire south end looks like a watercolor in motion.

Why This Short Byway Belongs on Your List

Not every scenic byway has to be a white-knuckle mountain pass or a half-day epic. Bear Lake’s south shore is almost like an exhale between adventures.

An easy cruise with big views and no stress. It also anchors a wider adventure if you’re looking for more.

Pair the Bear Lake Scenic Byway with the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway for a classic day. Mountain meadows, limestone cliffs and the Logan River on the way in.

Turquoise water and beach time on the way out. Or use Garden City as a base and fan out to nearby trailheads, OHV routes, and quiet backroads into sage country.

Beaches, Walks, and Water

You won’t need a checklist here but a few spots always seem to rise to the top. The Marina is ideal for a short stroll, people-watching, and boat-launch theater on summer Saturdays. This is near the official entrance to Bear Lake State Park.

Rendezvous Beach near Laketown is the place for a lazy swim, castle-building sand, and that classic “toes in the water, nose in a paperback” afternoon. Between the two, small pull-offs lead to shallow coves where kids can splash and paddleboards skim across knee-deep blue.

Bring shade as tree cover is limited. Remember to stake it well as south shore breezes can kick up by mid-afternoon on this lake. I’ve seen wind and storms roll in quickly and people running for cover.

One interesting addition to this drive, although not part of a byway, is a drive up the east side of Bear Lake. After never having driven on this side, we drove about ¾ of the way up a couple years ago. It is just as scenic but with far less traffic, development and commercialization.

Raspberry Shakes (and Other Obligations)

Yes, the shakes are real. And yes, they’re worth it. Garden City is famous for raspberry shakes, a sweet echo of the valley’s berry-growing history.

If you visit in early August, Raspberry Days turns Main Street into a festive stroll with parades, fireworks, and more shakes than any single town should reasonably produce. Expect crowds and lines.

Crowds, Growth, and the Feel of the Place

Bear Lake Scenic Byway corridor has changed a lot in recent years. There are many more cabins on the hillsides, new eateries in Garden City, busier weekends.

The byway, though, still drives relatively relaxed and family-friendly. Weekdays keep the “small lake town” rhythm although not so much in mid-summer.

If you prefer quieter sand, aim for early mornings or slower seasons. Also consider Laketown’s south-shore access which tends to be sleepier than the marina side.

Local leaders are starting to keep an eye on unchecked growth. We are now hearing honest conversations about balancing development in the whole area with the Bear Lake that generations have fallen in love with.

Blue water, open views, and room to breathe are still possible.

This past summer, I saw a bumper sticker on a truck in Garden City. “Welcome to Bear Lake. Now go home.” Probably someone who bought a cabin there a couple years ago.

Winter Notes You Might Not Expect

The byway doesn’t close just because the calendar flips. Winter drives can be luminous on blue-sky days with lake-effect clouds draped over the water and fresh snow on the benches.

When temperatures plunge, the famous Bonneville cisco run fires up on the east side (a short drive from the byway), and ice anglers pepper the lake with sleds and pop-up huts.

Even if you’re not dipping a net or drilling a hole, it’s a unique scene to witness. Part festival, part old-Utah tradition, and very much Bear Lake.

Making It Your Own

The beauty of the Bear Lake Scenic Byway is how simple it is to customize your visit. Want a quick taste? Drive Garden City to Laketown and back with one beach stop and a shake.

Want a full day? Pair the byway with a drive along the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway, a picnic at the marina, a lazy swim at Rendezvous Beach, and sunset photos as the light goes peach over the water. That’s a lot of Utah in a short, easy package.

This little byway provides a snapshot of the whole Bear Lake area. You can check out my Bear Lake State Park page for more detail about this area – one of my favorite areas in the state. 

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Wasatch Mountains

Lake Powell

Zion National Park

Arches National Park

Great Salt Lake

Monument Valley