Bear Lake State Park. As you get your first view of the lake, the unique deep blue color will amaze you.
Almost turquoise. The same color as the Caribbean according to some people. But what causes a lake in the mountains of Utah to turn this extraordinary color? At 5,923 feet?
It’s the reflection from limestone deposits suspended in the lake. Stop at the Bear Lake Overlook and you'll get a fantastic view birds-eye of the shimmering waters. In a stunning setting. Bear Lake State Park. Beautiful sandy beaches act like a magnet. Attracting thousands to stay and play.
One of my favorite places in Utah. Bear Lake State Park is a year-round destination for recreation and even cultural activities. And each season provides its own unique blend of activities and adventure. There’s something for everyone at Bear Lake State Park.
There are two separate towns on the shores of Bear Lake. Garden City and Laketown.
There are three distinct areas at Bear Lake State Park for day and overnight use:
Rent snowmobiles locally. Check both Idaho & Utah regulations if you bring your own. The unbelievable variety of scenery and terrain offer unforgettable experiences for snowmobilers of all levels.
Every summer during August, the harvest of the luscious local raspberry crop brings visitors from all over the country – and the world - to Bear Lake State Park.
Shoshoni Indian tribes were the first inhabitants of the Bear Lake Valley. Fur trappers followed them into this mountainous paradise. Offering abundant wildlife and solitude.
But between 1825 & 1840, mountain men and Native Americans met on the south end of Bear Lake – where thousands of people gather now to play – to trade goods and conversation. These gatherings became famous and are now known as mountain man rendezvous.
Thomas Pegleg Smith, a one-legged, ex-mountain man may have been the first permanent resident of the area. During the 1840s, he set up shop to provide supplies to people passing by on the Oregon Trail.
As in so many areas of Utah, the Mormons settled the area first in significant numbers. Brigham Young sent permanent settlers into the valley in 1863. Charles C. Rich led this group. The county is, appropriately enough, named Rich County.
Bear Lake is located near the Utah/Idaho border in the far northeast corner of Utah. Getting there from the southwest (Salt Lake City) involves a drive up one of my favorite roads – the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway. Bear Lake is a 48 mile (77.2 km) drive from Logan up over the Cache Mountains.
Logan Canyon is one of my favorite places on the planet. Why? For more than 25 years, I’ve been going there several times a year to my wife’s family cabin. And the Byway goes right past our cabin. Fantastic scenery. Uncrowded recreation areas. And less than 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Salt Lake City.
Beginning at the mouth of the canyon on the east side of Logan – home of Utah State University - it also gives you access to outdoor activities year-round. Hiking camping, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, biking, or hunting.
One of the best trout fisheries in the state – the Logan River – runs in tandem with the byway. Bring your fly gear and indulge yourself. If you want to treat yourself to some of the most stunning fall colors you’ll see anywhere, drive this route in the fall.
And, at the summit, you’ll get to experience the breathtaking panorama of the turquoise waters of Bear Lake.
Park Hours - 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round. No holiday closures.
Day Visits - $8 for a day-use permit. $75 for an annual pass. $35 for a senior annual pass.
Overnight Camping - varies by campground - $10-$25.
For further information about Bear Lake State Park, contact:
Bear Lake State Park
1030 N. Bear Lake Blvd.
Garden City, UT 84028
(435) 946-3343
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