Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Idaho–Utah border in the Western United States.
A lake, 6 mi northeast of Garden City
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 8°, with about 37" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Smithfield, 28 miles southwest. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul and Aug
June, July and August are the mild months, with highs of 74–84°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Census job and town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Garden City. Green months are the mild ones.
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Idaho–Utah border in the Western United States. About 109 square miles (280 km2) in size, it is split about equally between the two states; its Utah portion comprises the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Utah, after Utah Lake. The lake has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color, which is due to the refraction of calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits suspended in the lake. Its water properties have led to the evolution of several unique species of fauna that occur only within the lake. Bear Lake is at least 250,000 years old and could be several million years old. It was formed by fault subsidence that continues today, slowly deepening the lake along the eastern side.
- Type
- Lake
- Area
- 109 square miles
- Elevation
- 5,924 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 42K a year
Towns near Bear Lake
Towns within 30 miles, closest first. Hotel and restaurant jobs show how many places there are to stay and eat.
| Town | From Bear Lake | Hotel & restaurant jobs | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City 73% vacation homes | 6 mi southwest | 116 | 608 | $655K | — |
| Laketown 24% vacation homes | 12 mi south | 0 | 437 | $406K | — |
| Bloomington 33% vacation homes | 14 mi north | 0 | 255 | $377K | — |
| Paris 39% vacation homes | 16 mi north | 15 | 562 | $267K | — |
| Cokeville | 20 mi east | 2 | 370 | $245K | — |
| Montpelier | 23 mi north | 144 | 2,694 | $240K | A− |
| Cove | 23 mi west | 0 | 521 | — | — |
| Franklin | 24 mi west | 7 | 1,034 | $370K | — |
| Randolph | 24 mi south | 19 | 722 | $204K | — |
| Richmond | 25 mi west | 88 | 3,000 | $395K | — |
| Smithfield | 28 mi southwest | 362 | 14,408 | $450K | A+ |
| Hyde Park | 28 mi southwest | 7 | 5,540 | $574K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Bear Lake
Other well-known places within 68 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
55 mi⛰ MountainBen Lomond Mountain⛷111 mi⛷ Ski areaBeaver Mountain54 runs · 1,607 ft vertical⛷62 mi⛷ Ski areaSnowbasin Resort157 runs · 3,000 ft vertical
30 mi🏞 National MonumentFossil Butte National Monument21K visitors a year⛷48 mi⛷ Ski areaPowder Mountain Ski Resort155 runs · 2,755 ft vertical
68 mi🏞 National Historical ParkGolden Spike National Historical Park54K visitors a year⛷222 mi⛷ Ski areaCherry Peak Ski Area37 runs · 1,210 ft vertical⛷327 mi⛷ Ski areaPine Creek Ski Area33 runs · 1,361 ft verticalPhoto credits
Ben Lomond Mountain: Joe Tordiff, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Fossil Butte National Monument: Phil Stoffer (USGS), Public domain · Golden Spike National Historical Park: Unknown, Public domain
Visiting Bear Lake
What town is Bear Lake near?
Garden City, UT, about 6 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Bear Lake?
June, July and August, with highs of 74–84°.
What is the closest airport to Bear Lake?
Ogden Hinckley (OGD), about 66 miles away. The nearest big hub is Salt Lake City (SLC), about 90 miles.
Where should I stay near Bear Lake?
Garden City (6 mi, 116 hotel and restaurant jobs), Montpelier (23 mi, 144 hotel and restaurant jobs) and Smithfield (28 mi, 362 hotel and restaurant jobs).
Tips from people in Garden City
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Garden City’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.