Why is it called Bear Lake?

This was the first recorded account of Europeans seeing the beautiful lake. He attended one of the Native American gatherings at the south end of Bear Lake in 1819, aptly naming the area Black Bear Lake after the abundance of black bears in the area. This was later shortened to Bear Lake.



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Bear Lake contains abundant suspended microscopic particles of white-colored calcium carbonate (lime) that reflect the water's natural blue color back to the surface, giving the lake its intense turquoise-blue color.

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Summer recreational activities abound as sailing, waterskiing, and boating attract thousands to the lake. Bear Lake is also noted for its surrounding natural habitat and the production of succulent red raspberries, as well as cisco and lake trout from within the lake itself.

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With a depth of 208 feet, Bear Lake is the deepest lake in Utah. Bear Lake is Utah's deepest natural lake, popularly known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” It boasts 208 feet of depth! Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake in the Bear Lake Valley that straddles the Idaho-Utah border.

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It's high elevation makes this region one of the coldest areas in the state. The intense inversion also accounts for some extremely cold temperatures in winter. The coldest temperature on record, 50°F below zero, was recorded at Woodruff in February of 1899.

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At 1,943 feet (592 meters), Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world. The depths were first explored thoroughly in 1886 by a party from the U.S. Geological Survey.

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You want to jump in but watch out for leeches - Review of Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO - Tripadvisor.

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Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Idaho–Utah border in the Western United States. About 109 square miles 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.



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Bear Lake is beautiful -- but resist the urge to jump in, or else you may come face to face with an alligator! Swimming is prohibited here for this reason, so keep your pupper well away from the shores at all times.

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Endangered, threatened, and species of special concern use Bear Lake and its surrounding habitats. Bald eagles and white pelicans stop near the lakeshore to fish and rest during migrations. Grey wolves are expected to be returning to the area as they expand outward from Yellowstone National Park.

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Top: This bull moose swims easily in Bear Lake. Bottom: Bulls grow palmate antlers with velvety skin each year.

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Despite weighing more than 400 pounds, sumo wrestler, Kelly Gneiting, becomes only the fourth person to swim across Utah's Bear Lake and then back again.

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The shells have lasted this long because of the calcium chemistry in Bear Lake water. Some that do get crushed become part of our sand. According to a U.S. Geological Survey study, the shells were in great abundance in the shallows of Bear Lake when the lake was around 50 feet higher and filled the whole valley.

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If you plan to camp overnight, please use one of the many public and private camping areas around the lake (see map). No camping after 10 p.m. on the public beaches or exposed bed of Bear Lake.

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People will see trumpeter swans escorting their broods through the emerald-green marsh and feel gratified that mule deer, moose, badger, beaver, trout, garter snakes, and leopard frogs will have homes for a long time to come here at Bear Lake NWR.

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Bear Lake is stratified in summer-spring where lighter water overlies denser water. During the winter months the mixing processes of winds and surface cooling break down the layers and the lake freezes over. Bear Lake does not completely freeze over every year but typically three out of five years.

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