About Bear Lake

Basic Information:
Elevation: 5,923 ft.

Length: 19 miles
Width: 7 miles
Shoreline: 48 miles
Surface: 112 sq. miles
Depth: 208 ft.

Volume: 6.5 million acre feet
Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Utah-Idaho border in the Western United States. It is the second largest natural freshwater lake in Utah and has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color, the result of suspended limestone deposits in the water. Its water properties have led to the evolution of several unique species that live naturally only within the lake. Bear Lake is over 250,000 years old. It was formed by fault subsidence that continues today, slowly deepening the lake along the eastern side.
Originally named Black Bear Lake by Donald Mackenzie, an explorer for the North West Fur Company who discovered the lake in 1819, the name was later changed to the current Bear Lake. The lake is a popular destination for tourists and sportsmen and the surrounding valley has gained a reputation for having high quality raspberries

According to folklore, Bear Lake holds a lake monster: the so-called Bear Lake Monster. Although this originated with Joseph C. Rich, who later admitted to making up the monster, people continue to report sightings of the monster today.


Earn patches for your crossings. Collect all three to become an ultimate
swimming monster!


Source: http://www.stateparks.com/bear_lake.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Lake_(Idaho%E2%80%93Utah)