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When you think of adventure on turquoise waters, you may not instantly think of Utah or Idaho… but you should! These neighboring states both lay claim to Bear Lake, a natural gem nestled within the mountains, and home to waters so rich in a characteristic aqua hue that it has earned the designation of being called “the Caribbean of the Rockies.” Serving as the centerpiece of the Bear Lake Valley, the lake occupies approximately 109 square miles with shores embracing Bear Lake State Park and Cache National Forest. Bear Lake is a popular destination for recreation-seekers, with an array of adventures to be found both in the water and on land.

Hit The Hiking (And Biking) Trails

Getting out and exploring nature on your own terms is not a challenge on Bear Lake. No matter your speed or ability, there is a hiking trail that is perfect for you. A multitude of walking trails for the novice to advanced hiker are easily accessible around the lake, including within the state park. Some of the most popular are the Limber Pine Trail (an easy, 1.5 mile loop), the Laketown Canyon Trail (a moderate, 7-mile round-trip), and the challenging North Fork at St. Charles Canyon (10 miles round-trip).

There is also no shortage of mountain bike, ATV, snowmobile, and horseback riding trails at various points surrounding Bear Lake. Find interactive trail maps of all types here .

For a guided tour that you will not forget, make sure to check out the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho where you will get a real taste of the wild west in more ways than one. With everything from historical museum exhibits and guided trail tours to a genuine chuck wagon dinner, this is an experience like no other.

Adventure On The Water

Water lovers will find no shortage of exciting activities at Bear Lake. Some of the more popular water sports amongst Bear Lake visitors are paddleboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, and kayaking. Boat and other water sports rentals are readily available and located at different locations around Bear Lake. There are seven boat ramps located around the lake so launching your own watercraft is a breeze.

Choose Your Beach Adventure

Rendezvous Beach

Photo Credit uniqueharsh via Instagram

Located on the south end of Bear Lake, Rendezvous Beach is a large, open waterfront recreation space with some very useful amenities. The beach has four reservable pavilions, modern and primitive campsites, and boat rentals. There is a small restaurant located near the boat ramp and rental shop. Rendezvous Beach is a popular spot for boating, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, rafting, and kayaking.

North Beach

This two-mile stretch of beach rests on the north side of Bear Lake, in Idaho. Its gradual slope and expansive waters make it an ideal swimming beach. On-site public ramps offer access to boating and water skiing fun as well! Additional boat ramps are available at the State Marina on the west side of Bear Lake.

Garden City Beach

Photo Credit: amalooop via Instagram

Garden City has a public beach accessible via Garden City Park. This is a full service recreation area, complete with a pavilion, playgrounds, basketball courts, and a large grassy area. The boardwalk located at the far end of the park leads down to the beach (an approximate quarter-mile walk). Public restrooms are available, as well as a rental shack for paddleboards and kayaks.

Adventure On The Road – Scenic Drives

Oregon Trail – Bear Lake Scenic Byway

Travel through Soda Springs and Lava Hot Springs toward McCammon, passing 15 historic and scenic points along the way.

Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway

Photo Credit: topofutahtravelguide via Instagram

Journey parallel to the Logan River through Logan Canyon, and its dense forests, lush meadows, rugged rock formations, and panoramic views. Especially breathtaking in the fall.

Bloomington Lake

Photo Credit: ayeroon via Instagram

A stunning, high elevation route filled with vibrant wildflowers, dramatic cliffsides, and two lakes. Features sweeping panoramic views of the lake and surrounding valley area.

For The Adventuring Foodie – The Bear Lake Raspberry Shake

Aside from the alluring waters, Bear Lake is also quite famous for the raspberry shake – a signature staple that can be found just about anywhere where food is served nearby. LaBeau’s in Garden City is arguably the local favorite. Garden City also hosts the Raspberry Days festival during the first weekend of August each year, in celebration of the harvest peak. Feel free to overindulge in this local treat – morning, noon, and night!

Land Excursions

Minnetonka Cave

Photo Credit: alwayspackasweater via Instagram

Minnetonka Cave Road, St Charles, ID 83272

Located in Idaho’s Cache National Forest, Minnetonka Cave is a favorite spot for exploration in St. Charles Canyon and one of two caverns administered by the Forest Service. Guests are invited on 90-minute guided tours through the half-mile limestone cave system, featuring nine rooms lined with travertine, stalactites, and stalagmites.

Bear Lake Golf Course

Photo Credit: salty_red_beard via Instagram

554 Lewis Loop, Fish Haven, ID 83287

Beautiful 9-hole mountain course situated above Bear Lake. The par 33 course, built in 1976, measures 2,715 yards. The Bear Lake West public facilities include a restaurant and sports bar with panoramic views of the lake.

Pickleville Playhouse Theatre

Photo Credit: missyhelene via Instagram

2049 S Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City, UT 84028

Proudly offering family-friendly entertainment for more than 40 years, this professional live theatre and grill is open seasonally on the banks of Bear Lake in Garden City. Enjoy an incredible meal before or after the show in the open-air pavilion.

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Photo Credit: colt.j.dixon via Instagram

322 N 4th St, Montpelier, ID 83254

Bear Lake Refuge was established in 1968 to protect and manage habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Located just outside of Montpelier, Idaho, the refuge encompasses 18,000 acres of cattail marsh, open water, and flooded meadows managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Visitors are welcome year-round for day use hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and boating.

Often referred to as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” due to its alluring turquoise waters, Bear Lake is the second-largest natural freshwater lake in the State of Utah. Covering 109-square miles from Utah across the Idaho border, it is home to four species of fish that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

About four out of every five years on average, Bear Lake ices over, setting the stage for prime ice fishing opportunities as well. Though Bear Lake has the environment to appeal to anyone in search of an outdoor adventure, anglers are especially in-store for a unique kind of paradise.

What’s Biting?

Bear Lake hosts four endemic fish species: Bonneville Cisco, Bonneville Whitefish, Bear Lake Whitefish, and the Bear Lake Sculpin. Bear River Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout can be found near Cisco Beach, Rainbow Cove, and the Bear Lake Marina. Bear Lake is home to a trophy cutthroat trout fishery where the Idaho State record cutthroat (19 lbs.) was caught. Lake trout in Bear Lake may grow to be as large as 30 lbs.

When Are They Most Active?

The Bear Lake area is a legitimate lure for novice and seasoned anglers any time of year, with fresh fish harvests springing up every season. The Bonneville Whitefish spawn in mid-December, luring Cutthroat close to shore as well. Whitefish remain active in the area until around mid-March. Bonneville Cisco spawning in late January – early February. create one of the best times for fishing on Bear Lake, with millions of Cisco drawing larger cutthroat and Mackinaw. The Bear Lake Whitefish have a month-long spawning season beginning around the end of February, continuing a run on Cutthroat and Mackinaw.

Bear Lake Sculpin come into spawn around the end of March through mid-April. Bear Lake Cutthroat spawning season runs from mid-April through the end of June, creating an expansive trolling grounds for inshore opportunities. Peak time for the most colorful Cutthroats runs from April through mid-June.

The Mackinaw spawn in late October and early November, paving the way for prize fly fishing catches averaging around 5 lbs. or more. The once-thriving Rainbow Trout is no longer a prolific species in the Bear Lake area, but an uncommon treat rewarding the occasional angler. The fishery is on a waiting list to re-introduce this species.

Where To Cast A Line (Or Dip A Net)

Fishing from boats is a classic and favorite option of many Bear Lake anglers, but there are plenty of ways to aim for the catch of the day in these bountiful waters – and more than one method to try, as well! Your successes at fishing Bear Lake largely depend on knowing where to fish, and how to lure the catch, so here are some insider tips!

On the western shores of Bear Lake, just north of Garden City, you’ll find Bear Lake State Park and Marina – home to boat slips, a 5-lane boat ramp, great trolling and ice fishing opportunities, and the annual Bear Lake Monster Winterfest event. This popular fishing competition and fundraiser is centered around the winter spawning of the Bonneville Cisco close to shore, and finds many ambitious fishermen casting dip nets to pluck Cisco from the ice.

The east side of Bear Lake is also a great place to fish. Still within the State Park, you’ll discover the areas of First Point, South Eden, Cisco Beach, Rainbow Cove, and North Eden here. Trolling and jigging are popular pastimes at Rainbow Cove and Cisco Beach, where boat ramp access is also available. Tip your jigs or bait with sucker meat or Gulp minnows in white, green and chartreuse for best results! Trollers do well using minnow type lures, rapalas, and flatfish off downriggers close to the bottom. For Lake Trout fly fishing, aim to visit in the late fall.

The DWR keeps the Garden City Community Pond stocked with Rainbow Trout. This 3-acre pond just off Bear Lake in Garden City is a favorite hidden gem and a popular spot for anglers seeking a relatively easy catch. It’s also a great location for fly fishing in the fall. Limit two trout.

Not far from the shores of Bear Lake, Laketown Reservoir is located in Rich County, Utah. This is a smaller reservoir and the waters aren’t very deep, but it’s a great place for a family fishing adventure. Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout are the primary species here, and can be fished easily from shore using traditional baits and lures. Limit four trout.

Local Guides And Equipment Rentals

• Cisco Charters – (435) 994-1649
• Epic Adventure Center Bear Lake – (435) 946-3742
• Bear Lake Funtime Rentals – (435) 946-3200
• Bear Lake Rentals – (435) 946-8611

Licensing And Regulations

Anglers in possession of a valid Utah fishing, combination hunting license, OR a valid Idaho fishing license can fish anywhere on Bear Lake. On the Utah side of the lake, you can use two fishing poles per fisherman, but use of two rods by one person on the Idaho side of the lake requires a special permit. If you are fishing from a boat from the Idaho side of the lake, you must also have a current Idaho Invasive Species Fund sticker on your watercraft.

Buy your license online and review current regulations in detail at wildlife.utah.gov . You can also purchase your fishing license(s) in-person through local vendors or the Idaho Fish and Game and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) offices. You can even display and use your licenses on your mobile device for convenience! License pricing varies based on residency, length of permit time requested, and age. Nonresidents can expect to pay $24 – $40 for 3 or 7-day fishing permits. For all local, up-to-date fishing information, check the latest fishing report.

At Bear Lake Luxury Rentals, our cabin rentals , condo rentals and vacation homes are perfect for a variety of individuals or group types. We regularly host parties ranging from single vacationers and couples up to large groups, including corporate retreats .

What about those who are looking to plan a fun getaway trip with a slightly larger family or a diverse group of friends? We have the perfect rentals for you as well. We’re also here to assist with some of the nitty-gritty details when it comes to planning these trips, which involves some careful discretion when it comes to making sure everyone is comfortable and happy with their quarters and amenities on the trip. Let’s go over several vital areas to ensure you take care in here.

Sleeping Accommodations

For starters, there’s no need for large groups to pile onto couches and floors for sleeping when you have our luxury vacation rentals available to you. We have a wide range of different property sizes based on the number of people attending your trip and their sleeping needs, with several multi-room setups that allow for privacy if several different families or groups are attending.

Also pay attention to bedroom amenities, which may include attached bathrooms, storage considerations, bunk beds for kids attending, and others.

Bathroom Considerations

Speaking of bathrooms, it’s a good idea to get an idea of your rental layout and the bathroom situation in advance. The last thing you want is to have your sleep disrupted several times a night because you’re in the bedroom that connects to the only bathroom; you won’t run into this sort of theme in our luxury rentals, but similar ones still exist. If anyone in the group has particular bathroom needs, consider whether the rental you’re choosing will fit them.

Kitchens and Gathering

The kitchen tends to be one of the top gathering locations for any vacation rental, so you’ll just want to ensure that the kitchen or living space in the rental you choose has ample size for your group. Many families or groups of friends enjoy cooking or preparing for meals together, and you don’t want anyone to be left out of the fun here.

Location, Location, Location

Finally, there are few things more important for a great vacation than the location itself. This is an area where Bear Lake stands out – there are few places with as much natural beauty, and you really can’t ask for much more when you combine this with our modern, luxurious rentals. The ability to explore and take in the outdoors while still remaining in luxury accommodations is second to none when it comes to a group getaway.

For more on important planning considerations for family or friend group vacations, or to learn about any of our fantastic rentals, speak to the staff at Bear Lake Luxury Rentals today.