The turquoise waters of Bear Lake straddle the northeast Utah and southwest Idaho borders. With a setting reminiscent of Lake Tahoe, Bear Lake is a major regional recreation destination for boating, swimming, snowmobiling, skiing and year-round hiking. Travel to the lake on US 89, the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway.
The Lake
The Utah State Marina and a number of motels in both Utah and Idaho rent boats, personal watercraft and paddling watercraft. Several marinas specialize in boats powerful enough to pull water skiers and wakeboarders. The heavily mineralized waters in the lake add slightly to your buoyancy, which adds to the thrill when waterskiing or splashing through the wakes.
Spelunking
Exploring the nine-room Minnetonka Cave in the mountains adjoining Bear Lake takes you into a year-round 40-degree environment. Some of the stalagtites and stalactites in this attraction are more than four feet in diameter. Ninety-minute tours are offered within the cave. The nearby Paris Ice Cave, a limestone eroded sink, has fewer rooms than Minnetonka but it features a 100-foot high skylight where water eroded the ceiling of one of the rooms.
Hunting
Hunt in the fall for mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk. These prized wildlife, carefully managed by the States of Utah and Idaho, are not easy prey for hunters. With the history of hunting in the Valley dating back to pioneer days, these healthy herds require shooting skill, stealth, and endurance. The herds are most accessible after the first snap of cold.
Snow mobiling
Pull on your helmet, and saddle up your snowmobile. The Bear Lake area is well known for its snowmobiling trails. There are more than 350 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and hundreds of miles more of backcountry trails that are just dots on the map. With elevations ranging from 6,500 feet to over 8,000 feet, snowmobiling at the lake is for those just learning and for experienced backcountry riders.
Trails
Strap on cross country skis in the winter or take your mountain bike in the summer. Most of the 350 miles of trails for snowmobiling can be used for cross country skiing when the Utah powder is on the ground, or mountain baking and hiking when it's dry and warm. The trails wend their way high into the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, circle the lake on all sides, and offer breath-taking views.
Pickleville
Spend part of a day at the Pickleville Playhouse and adjoining beach at the south end of Bear Lake. The soft sand beach and gentle slope in the water makes this a safe location for family swimming and water play. The beach is part of the Utah State Park system and has picnic areas and playgrounds. The adjoining Pickleville Playhouse is a log theater featuring live performances, occasional melodramas with an old west flavor, and family performances drawing audience members into the production.
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