Things to do at Bear Lake

This isn’t your usual Bear Lake post. Most people want to go to Bear Lake just for the beach, and we do that, too. But there is so much more to do in this area.

Let’s start with the lake itself, though. Bear Lake is sometimes called the Caribbean of the Rockies. This is because of the beautiful aqua color of the water. Though it’s hard to capture in photos, it does look a little bit like Aruba.

The other great thing about the lake is that the beach is very shallowly sloped. This means that the water doesn’t get deep fast. In fact, we walked out nearly 100 yards and still didn’t get the water up much past our belly-buttons. This makes it awesome for kids. It also means that the water is much warmer than it would be if it were deeper. So the beach at Bear Lake is incredible.

There are a few public beaches at Bear Lake, and they are not equal. Rendezvous Beach on the Utah side (south end) is a great place for boating and playing, but there is more mud than some people like.

North Beach State Park

North Beach in Idaho has much more sugary sand, and feels much more like a California Beach. The problem with this beach is that there are thousands (literally) of people that go there on a hot summer day. This is our favorite beach to spend the day at with the shallow beach and lovely sand.

Beginning in 2022, the Idaho State Parks is recommending a day-use reservation. We did not get a reservation because we weren’t sure what day we were going to go and when I checked availability there were still 500 passes. We arrived around 9:30/10:00 in the morning and had no trouble getting in or finding a spot. If you visit on a weekend, I encourage you to get a reservation because those days were selling out. You can find more info and check availability on reservations here. Make sure to choose day-use and/or parking pass to get the correct reservation.

East Beach State Park

The East Beach State Park is also on the Idaho side of Bear Lake. This beach is less crowded, but has just as nice of a beach and water. It’s a little bit further drive, but we had a great time at this beach. Our family did get a few cars stuck since the sand is a little deeper, so be careful where you drive.

Garden City Park & Beach

Garden City has a public beach that does not require a fee, and you can find access to it by going to Garden City Park. It’s a little bit of a walk down to the beach, but it’s nice and FREE.

But honestly, Dad doesn’t like the beach much. Three hours on the beach and he is set for the year. So this post will focus on other things to do on a visit to Bear Lake. Click on any of the links below to read a full review of things to do at Bear Lake:

Paris Ice Cave

Located about 15 miles north of Garden City, Paris, Idaho has several attractions that are worth your time (see below). Paris Ice Cave is a 10 mile drive on a dirt road, but it is our favorite site in the area. There are pillars of ice in a dark cave even in mid-July!

Paris Tabernacle

If you’re not up for the drive out to the Ice Cave, at least drive up to Paris and see the LDS Tabernacle. Built in the 1880s, it is still a working church building today. Across the street is a small historical museum, too.

Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge

This beautiful refuge features birds and other animals and even a few hiking trails. We have seen moose, owls, peregrine falcons, osprey, and many water birds here.

Limber Pine Trail

If hiking is your thing, you can head up to the summit of Logan Canyon a few miles west of Garden City and hike to a 600 year old limber pine tree. The hike is an easy 1.3 miles and very beautiful.

Bloomington Lake

A beautiful alpine lake at the top of the mountain features a sweet rope swing and cool water. Best of all, you get to hike through the forest to get there.

LaBeau’s Restaurant

Famous for it’s fresh raspberry shakes, this restaurant always has a line out front. You can get burgers and fries right in downtown Garden City at this local favorite.

Minnetonka Cave

This large cave features guided tours given by the forest service. There are 9 different rooms in the cave, which ventures deep into the mountain where it is a cool 40 degrees and very beautiful.

Bike Barn

The Bike Barn offers lots of different bike rentals for you to explore more of Garden City, including these fun surreys that can fit a family.

Firefly Power Bikes

Here is another fun biking experience. Rent some power bikes to ride around Garden City. Use the throttle and skip the pedaling. We loved zooming around on the trails.

Garden City Pond

Not far off the main Bear Lake Blvd, is a small pond for fishing. Garden City Pond has a walking trail around it, and a tiny playground. This is a great spot to escape the crowds.