Bear Lake State Park ~ Idaho

​Bear Lake is a huge natural body of water in the Rocky Mountains and this is quite the place to be during the summer season. Bear Lake covers over 100 square miles on both sides of the Idaho-Utah Border, so plenty of elbow room can be found in this place. The turquoise blue water is world famous and this is the main attraction that lures visitors from distant places. The word "distant" in this case is good to keep in mind, because Bear Lake is in a very remote location. A trip to Bear Lake requires some lengthy travel time, but all it takes is one look to see that the long trip is well worth doing!

At Bear Lake, a wide range of state park venues can be found on either side of the border. A previously published article about the Utah Bear Lake State Park describes the southern side of the lake. The southwest side of Bear Lake is where the marina is located and Utah State Parks also manages several picnic areas, beaches and campgrounds along the southeastern shoreline. Much of the southern shoreline is privately owned and this is where seasonal lodging can be found. 

The Idaho side of the lake has seen much less commercial development than the Utah side, so there are more wide open spaces to be found. For this reason, the Idaho Bear Lake State Park appeals to those who seek a more natural setting. Anglers also seem to prefer the Idaho side of the lake, because there are more grassy coves for doing some serious fly fishing. A state record Cutthroat Trout was actually caught in these waters and this definitely adds to the charm! 

The Idaho Bear Lake State Park offers several boat ramps, picnic areas and campgrounds along the northwestern shoreline. The shoreline butts up against the mountains in this area, so the scenery is as picturesque as can be. The small farms and grassy meadows are perfect for doing some bird watching and flocks of seagulls can be even be seen floating around on the lake. 

Just like with the Utah State Park, the Idaho Bear Lake State Park sites are scattered along the 48 mile shoreline of this big blue lake. The northern most portion of Bear Lake borders upon the much smaller Mud Lake and only a long narrow dike separates these two bodies of water. Muddy Lake is managed as a wildlife refuge and wetlands estuary, so this area is also good place to do some serious bird watching.

Upon first glance, the long dike that separates Bear Lake and Mud Lake actually resembles ocean beachfront property, because there is so much activity on this long sandy beach. This stretch of the state park shoreline is managed as an aquatic sports recreation area, so there are plenty of entertainment options. The north shore is a haven for sail boarding, paddle boarding and jet skiing. There are several light watercraft rental shacks on the north shore to choose from, so practically anybody can join in on the fun!

As can be seen, the venue of recreational options are plentiful in Bear Lake State Park Idaho. There is even an old historic powerhouse to check out on this end of the big blue lake. Bear Lake has some of the bluest water in the world and the Rocky Mountain Range setting is all the enticement needed to make the venture happen!