AN ELUSIVE MONSTER

Bear lake, Utah

Bear Lake is called the Caribbean of the Rockies for its intense blue water. It is the most striking of all lake colors. No one can agree on just what, that color is. Turquoise or cobalt blue, anything, but just plain blue.
The blue color is due to the light reflecting off the limestone particles, suspended in the water. Unlike the other lakes Bear Lake is the same color at all distances and angles.
Bear Lake is in northeast Utah, straddling the Utah, Idaho borders.
Bear Lake was named by early trappers who found the valley full of black bear.
It was a hunting and meeting place for the Native American tribes of the Shoshone, Bannock and the Ute.
In the early 1800’s mountain men like Jim Bridger, John C. Fremont and Jeddah Smith trapped for furs here.
It was settled by Mormon’s in 1860.
The elevation of Bear Lake is 5923 feet. It is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide with a depth of 208 feet.
It is rumored to have an elusive “Bear Lake Monster” It has never been captured.
This is the water sports paradise. Boating, sailing, jet skiing, and swimming.
The fishermen love it here. Bear Lake has 4 species of fish that can not be found anywhere else in the world.
Bonneville Cisco is the most well known.
In the winter the ice fishing is most popular. The Cisco comes close to the shoreline to span in mid-January. They can be dip-netted through a hole cut in the ice.
With 48 miles of shoreline this lake sees a lot of people enjoying themselves, winter and summer.
It is a beautiful drive in the early fall with the leaves turning colors.
They now have a new information center with photo taking platforms and picnic tables.