Description

The Caribbean-blue waters of Bear Lake are nestled high in the Rocky Mountains at the Utah-Idaho border. Seven state-owned facilities provide boating access, and camping and day-use opportunities.

Geography:

Bear Lake was formed 28,000 years ago by earthquake activity. At an elevation of 5,923 feet, Bear Lake is 20 miles long and eight miles wide, 208 feet deep, and covers 112 square miles.

Originally Bear Lake was called Black Bear Lake by Donald Mackenzie, explorer for the North West Fur Company who discovered it in 1819 while scouting for fur-bearing animals. The name was later changed to Bear Lake. Two Mountain Man Rendezvous were held in the area in the mid 1820's.

WHY IS IT SO BLUE? Its beautiful and unique green-blue color is the result of calcium carbonates suspended in the lake.

Recreation:

Waterskiing, swimming, scuba diving, and sailing are favorite activities. Anglers enjoy fishing for cutthroat, mackinaw and whitefish. Winter draws snowmobilers, ice anglers, and eagle watchers.

Facilities:

Bear Lake State Park - Rendezvous Beach is located on the south shore near Laketown on Utah State Road 30. Rendezvous Beach includes a large day use beach area with a reservable group day use pavilion; the Willow (3), Cottonwood (3), and Big Creek (1) group-use campsites; and, the Birch (60), the Big Creek (49), and the Cottonwood (23), individual campsite campgrounds. All Rendezvous Beach campgrounds provide restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. The Birch and Big Creek campgrounds offer the utility hookups of power, water, and sewer. A wide, long, gradually sloping, sandy beach makes this a very popular place.

Bear Lake State Park - Eastside areas are located on the east side of the lake and provide four primitive campgrounds at: South Eden (20); Cisco Beach (56); Rainbow Cove (13); and North Eden (35 campsites with one group site that has 4 rv hockups, and 14 parking stalls for cars); along with boat launch ramps at First Point, Cisco Beach, and Rainbow Cove. In addition, South Eden has two group campsites. Activities include scuba diving, boating, and fishing. Drinking water is available at each campsite in the South Eden Campground. The South Eden campsites can be reserved. All other Eastside campsites are first-come, first-served.

Bear Lake State Park - Marina is located on the west side of the lake, just north of the town of Garden City on U.S. Highway 89. The marina facilities include a seven-lane boat launch ramp, a group day-use pavilion, a vessel pump-out, a fish cleaning station, and 21 overnight/transient boat slip rentals. The marina also moors 369 boats on a season long basis.

Nearby Attractions:

Rendezvous Beach Rentals / Bear Lake Fun is located at the west end of the day use beach at Bear Lake State Park - Rendezvous Beach. They offer boat, Sea Doo, and non-motorized watercraft rentals, boating and fishing supplies and accessories, a small fast food grill, and cozy camper cabin rentals. Call (435) 946-2900 / (435) 946-3200 or visit www.bearlakefun.com.

Marina Rentals / Bear Lake Fun is located within the Bear Lake State Park - Marina. They offer boat, Sea Doo, and non-motorized watercraft rentals along with boating and fishing supplies and accessories, on-the-water fuel, and a small fast food grill. Call (435) 946-5800 / (435) 946-2900 or visit www.bearlakefun.com.

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