Our guests often ask when is the best time to visit Bear Lake? Our response is always anytime of the year! Bear Lake is a vacation destination that offers outdoor adventures, lake experiences and family-friendly activities year round. Each season is special in its own unique way and the best time to visit Bear Lake depends entirely on the experience you’re seeking.
Bear Lake in Spring
The spring shoulder season is a quieter time in Bear Lake with fewer crowds on the beaches, less boat traffic and cooler trails for hiking and biking. Beaver Mountain does not make snow, but spring snowfalls are likely through to May, so spring skiing at Beaver Mountain is left up to Mother Nature. Our guests still get to enjoy snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing at the higher elevations through the spring months along with lake activities with slightly cooler waters for the brave.
The temperatures are still fairly cool and Bear Lake weather in March sees highs in the 40s gradually warming up to the 60s by the beginning of summer. For a cool, tranquil retreat in Bear Lake, the spring season is idyllic.
Bear Lake in Summer
Bear Lake is a very popular Utah summer vacation destination, and the brilliant blue waters of the Caribbean of the Rockies attract large crowds through the warmer months. Imagine long sunny days on the lake with endless water sports, lake activities and fishing, horse rides through the forest, family bike rides around the lake, golfing with unparalleled Bear Lake views, famous raspberry shakes, and so much more!
June to September are the most pleasant months to play in Bear Lake. The Bear Lake weather in June has average daily temperatures in the 70s heating up to the mid-80s in July, the hottest month of the year in Garden City and Bear Lake. The Bear Lake water temperature averages at 55-65F during the summer so you can always cool off in the calm, brilliant blue waters of Bear Lake.
Bear Lake in Fall
Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Bear Lake with cooler temps, vibrant fall foliage and, again, fewer crowds. Head out on the hiking, biking and ATV trails through canopies of red and orange maples or take a scenic drive up the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, one of the top scenic byways for leaf-peeping! For bird lovers visiting Bear Lake, September and October are the best months to birdwatch at the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge on the northern shores in Idaho, as hundreds of birds prepare to migrate south for the winter.
Peak season for fall colors in Utah is from late September to the end of October. As the colors begin to turn, the leaves begin to fall and so do the temperatures. The Bear Lake Utah weather in September averages highs in the low 70s, dropping to the 60s in October and down to the low 50s by November and the onset of winter in Bear Lake.
Bear Lake in Winter
As the snow begins to fall, the winter months in Bear Lake bring an abundance of winter snow sports and activities. Our guests spend their days skiing and snowboarding at Beaver Mountain Ski Area, cross-country skiing in the pristine wilderness, snowmobiling on over 350 miles of groomed trails and jigging for trout and whitefish on Bear Lake. Bear Lake typically freezes over every three out of five years and the annual Bear Lake Monster Winterfest draws visitors for cisco fishing, chili cook-offs and the polar plunge into the icy waters of Bear Lake.
The winter season is from November to early March with average daily highs around 50F. Early snowfalls often occur in the fall months, however, the first significant snowfall is usually mid to late November transforming Bear Lake into a scenic winter wonderland. The Bear Lake Valley boasts some of Utah’s finest powder and is the perfect destination for powder hounds seeking a winter sports vacation in Utah.
Whatever the season, whatever the adventure, our team can match you with the perfect home for your Bear Lake vacation. Lakefront rentals with private beach access, swimming pools and tennis courts for the summer months or crackling fireplaces, hot tubs with views of the snowy peaks and all the comforts of home. Call our team today to match your adventures with the perfect Bear Lake vacation home.