Published by Paul Ivinskas
Saturday, October 24, 2026

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Bear Lake viewed from US Route 89 near Garden City, Utah.
State park · Northern Utah

Bear Lake State Park

The “Caribbean of the Rockies,” a turquoise lake straddling the Utah–Idaho border. Beaches, boating and raspberry shakes in Garden City.

Photo: Hermann Luyken · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

File photo, September 30, 2012. Lake overview from US 89.

Plan your visit: access, parking and practical details

Check the operator’s current fees, reservations, parking, transit, restrooms and accessibility arrangements before leaving. Confirm specific mobility or sensory needs directly with the venue.

Official visitor information ↗

Bear Lake’s striking turquoise color comes from fine limestone particles suspended in the water. The lake is about 20 miles long and straddles the Utah–Idaho line, with the state park’s marina, Rendezvous Beach and east side units on the Utah side.

Summer is the season for swimming, sailing and boating, with sandy beaches on the south and west shores. Garden City’s raspberry shakes are a tradition, and the drive over Logan Canyon on US-89 is beautiful, especially in fall.

Don't miss

  • Rendezvous BeachA long, sandy beach on the lake’s south shore.
  • Bear Lake MarinaBoat rentals and launching near Garden City.
  • Raspberry shakesA Garden City summer tradition made with local berries.
  • Logan Canyon Scenic BywayA beautiful drive from Logan over the mountains to the lake.
  • Cisco discoA January event when locals dip-net small Bonneville cisco, found only in Bear Lake.
Grassy campsites with shelters and picnic tables near Bear Lake
File photograph from the official park gallery. Photo: Utah State Parks (photographer not identified) · Utah.gov informational-use terms · Utah State Parks official park gallery

Good to know

  • The water is cold until midsummer, even on hot days.
  • Beaches and campgrounds fill on summer weekends. Reserve ahead.
  • Raspberry days in early August are the peak of the season.

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