Bear Lake State Park (Idaho) Explained

Bear Lake State Park
Map:USA Idaho#USA
Relief:1
Location:Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States
Nearest City:St. Charles, Idaho
Coordinates:42.03°N -111.26°W
Area Acre:966
Elevation:5900feet
Designation:Idaho state park
Established:1969
Visitation Num:162,787
Visitation Year:2014-2015
Visitation Ref:
(expressed as Total Visitor Days)
Website:Bear Lake State Park

Bear Lake State Park (sometimes called North Beach State Park) is a public recreation area bordering the north and eastern shores of Bear Lake in the southeast corner of Bear Lake County, Idaho, near the Utah and Wyoming state lines. The state park sits across the lake from St. Charles and is 15miles south of Montpelier. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies adjacent to the park's north unit.

History

The state purchased land for the park in 1969 using funds supplied through the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. At the same time, the North Beach unit was leased from Utah Power and Light. Management of the north unit continues under lease from PacifiCorp.

Wildlife

This state park is home to bonneville cisco, cutthroat trout, moose, pelicans, lake trout, deer, cranes and cougar.

Features

Bear Lake owes its turquoise blue color to the presence of suspended calcium carbonate (limestone). The park's two units each have a beach over 1miles in length with gradually sloping lake bottom and large swimming area. Camping is offered in the east unit. In winter, the park provides ice fishing access for the annual runs of Bonneville cisco.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bear Lake State Park has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Bear Lake State Park was 99F on July 27 - 28, 1931, while the coldest temperature recorded was -41F on February 1, 1985.

See also

External links