You’ve started planning your family reunion, picked the date, assembled your planning committee, and have now found an idyllic destination for your next family reunion, on the tranquil shores of Bear Lake.
Bear Lake is a four season recreational paradise on the Utah-Idaho border and is the perfect destination for your next family reunion with private cabin rentals nestled along the shoreline, family-friendly restaurants to accommodate the whole crew, and an abundance of unique Bear Lake activities, adventures, and new experiences.
Fun-Filled & Unique Bear Lake Adventures
#1 Summer Activities on Bear Lake
Bear Lake boasts 110 square miles of brilliant turquoise waters, fondly known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies”. Boating is one of the top activities in Bear Lake and the lake comes alive in the summer months with pontoon and power boats, jet skis, kayaks, SUPs, floating water trampolines, and families playing in the calm waters.
Bring your own gear or boat rentals are available at Bear Lake State Park Marina, Epic Marina, Rendezvous Beach, and North Beach in Idaho State Park with a two-mile beach, perfect shallow waters and water activities for all ages. Remember to bring your own beach towels!
#2 Plan a Fishing Competition
Bear Lake offers four seasons of fishing and is home to four unique species of fish found only here in our bountiful and brilliant turquoise waters. Pick up some rod rentals from the marina and head out for a multi-generational fishing competition, the perfect opportunity for grandpa to show the kids his tricks and share aged-old fishing stories. A valid fishing license is required and can be purchased online when planning your Bear Lake family reunion. If fishing is a new experience for your family, no worries! There are plenty of local and experienced fishing guides in Bear Lake to help you plan your fishing fun.
#3 Take A Family Bike Ride Around Bear Lake
Bear Lake is surrounded by a network of biking trails. The whole family can take a cruise along the 4.8-mile flat, paved Bear Lake Trail running along the western shoreline or the avid mountain bikers in the family will find challenging mountain bike trails with technical features, stream crossings and even historic ghost towns along the way. If you’re driving to Bear Lake, bring your bikes and comfy shoes for riding. Alternatively, Epic Adventure Center in Bear Lake has all the latest bike rentals and accessories with e-bikes for easy cruising, and fat bikes or mountain bikes to head into the mountains.
#4 Spend The Day At Bloomington Lake
Getting to Bloomington Lake requires a short, easy 1.4-mile hike through Bloomington Canyon or a high clearance vehicle can get older family members closer with a short 0.25-mile hike. Bring your camping hammocks to hang in the trees, rods for trout fishing, and swim wear to play on the rope swing and dip in the glacial alpine lake water (be warned, it’s chilly!). There is a $5 day use fee per vehicle.
#5 Book A Tee-Time For A Round Of Family Golf
Book a tee-time for a round of family-friendly golf at one of two nearby golf courses, the Bear Lake Golf Course on Sweetwater Hill and the Bear Lake West Golf Course. Both courses offer 9 holes of play and stunning views of Bear Lake from the fairways.
#6 Horseback Riding In The Forest
Saddle up for a family-style horseback adventure on the horse riding trails in and around Bear Lake. Trails lead through the wilderness of the Cache National Forest with beautiful views of Bear Lake from the mountain ridges and guided rides available for all ages and abilities. MW Quarter Horses at Kearl Ranch in Laketown offer short term boarding options to bring your own horses to your Bear Lake family reunion.
#7 Go Spelunking At Minnetonka Cave
Minnetonka Cave lies only 15 minutes northwest of Bear Lake in the scenic Saint Charles Canyon in Idaho. This impressive cave is one of the largest limestone caves in Idaho (open from Memorial Day through Labor Day) with nine unique rooms lined with stalagmites, stalactites, and travertine. Guided tours are available, please note groups larger than 15 require a reservation in advance.
#8 Sip Raspberry Shakes!
Raspberry Shakes are a long-standing Bear Lake tradition, there’s even an annual Raspberry Festival! The elevation of Bear Lake provides an ideal climate to grow some of the sweetest and tastiest raspberries in the world and our famous Bear Lake Raspberry Shakes are proof! They’re the perfect treat any time of day and you won’t need to look far to find one at a local restaurant, café or food stand along the lakeside.
#9 Rent A Snowmobile Or ATV
Bear Lake offers hundreds of miles of off-road trails for ATV adventures in the summer and bucket-list winter snowmobiling in the “Greatest Snow on Earth”. ATV and snowmobile rentals are available from local outfitters in Bear Lake with 2-seater, 4-seater, and 6-seater options for the whole family to explore the great outdoors and backcountry of the Bear Lake Valley.
#10 Ski “The Beav” In Winter
Beaver Mountain Resort has been a family affair since 1939 and constantly voted Utah’s #1 family-friendly resort! Located only 13 miles from Bear Lake, Beaver Mountain Resort is affordable, friendly and a delight for all ages. Non-skiers can stay cozy by the fire in the Beaver Mountain Lodge, there’s ski school for the little ones ages 6 and up, a full-service ski and snowboard shop to rent all your gear at the mountain, a mountain grill to refuel and an outdoor patio to hang out on bluebird days, reconnect and make lifelong family memories in Bear Lake.
#11 Pickleville Playhouse
The Pickleville Playhouse is Utah’s most unique family theater experience and another well-loved tradition in Bear Lake. Book your tickets for a family reunion dinner show, and if you’ve got an adult-only event planned, sign the kids up for an insanely fun musical theater camp (ages 8-18).
Family Reunion Activities At Home In Bear Lake
#12 Trivia Night & Talent Show
Gather outdoors (or cozied round a winter fire) for a fun night of ice-breaker activities. Bring out the family-themed swag, plan a family history quiz, talent show or charades or rent a karaoke machine for young and old to belt out their favorite tunes. Breaking the ice after time apart is a great way to set the tone for a fun family reunion.
#13 Signature Family Reunion BBQ
Every family reunion needs a signature event. Whether your style is a summer BBQ cook-off, a bring and share pot-luck with favorite family dishes, a catered event or western-style family hoedown dinner and dance, our Bear Lake cabins offer the perfect setting, plenty of space and high-end amenities for families to gather together.
#14 Indoor Or Outdoor Movie Night
Rent a Bear Lake cabin with an indoor theater or bring along an old school projector and turn your lakefront lawn into a family drive-in. Pick a big screen classic that appeals to all ages or have one of your tech-savvy family members collate your own family movies and relive your childhood memories.
#15 Master Chef Competition
Create a family cookbook of your favorite treasured recipes and get cooking! Our Bear Lake family reunion cabins all feature modern and fully-equipped kitchens well stocked for the ultimate master chef competition, a perfect indoor or rainy day activity for the kids (with an added dose of patience and humor for the parents!).
Bear Lake Restaurants & Catering For Family Reunions
Coopers at Bear Lake West: Coopers overlooks the fairways of the Bear Lake West Golf Course and offers unmatched food, exceptional service, and elevated views over Bear Lake. They are open year round and cater for the whole family with $5 kids meals, half-portions for light eaters and a diverse selection of delicious options to refuel after your Bear Lake adventures. Reservations are highly recommended!
Cody’s Gastro Garage: Cody’s Gastro Garage is a fun four season place to eat in Bear Lake! This unique, auto-themed diner is a hit with all ages with a big selection to choose from including an affordable kid’s menu, Burger Blocks for big groups and a delicious, raspberry breakfast Cinna Block with two pounds of roll to feed the crew, the perfect addition to a raspberry shake after a bike ride along the lakeside. If you’re looking for caterers for your family reunion in Bear Lake, they have a funky food truck you can book!
Café Sabor: Plan a Mexican-themed dinner on the outdoor patio at Café Sabor in Bear Lake or gathered together as a family in your Bear Lake Cabin. Café Sabor offers year round catering for family reunions and will cater your event with chips and dips, amazing party platters, delicious desserts or even your own Street Taco Bar, a unique addition to your family reunion events.
Ruca’s: Ruca’s is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day and is a seasonal favorite with visitors to Bear Lake. Stop by for a traditional Æbelskivers breakfast, gourmet sandwiches & salads, a refreshing Arnold Palmer ice-tea on the patio, and fun outdoor lawn games on the grass. Private catering is available on request.
Bear Lake Family Reunion Cabins & Homes
There’s no need to rent multiple rooms in a hotel when you can connect and gather together under one roof in the comfort of a Bear Lake cabin. Our handpicked selection of Bear Lake cabin rentals feature luxury indoor and outdoor amenities, multi-generational games, fun bunk rooms for the kids, and easy access to the top activities in Bear Lake. Whether you’re planning a small family reunion with those closest or a large group gathering, our Bear Lake cabins are the perfect place to celebrate and share your heritage.
