2 Best Sights in Northern Utah, Utah

Eight miles wide and 20 miles long, Bear Lake is an unusually radiant shade of blue, thanks to limestone particles suspended in the water. The Utah half of the lake is a state park. Along the south shore of Bear Lake, Highway 30 traces an old route used by Native Americans, mountain men, and settlers following the Oregon Trail. Harsh winters persuaded most settlers to move on before the first snows, but hardy Mormon pioneers settled in the area and founded Garden City. From town you can stroll along a ¼-mile boardwalk through a small wetlands preserve to the lakeshore, and there's a large marina just to the north. The park operates a few other recreation areas along other parts of the shore, including Rendezvous Beach to the south, which has a marina and burger stand, and Cisco Beach on the lake's quieter eastern shore, where the lake bottom drops off quickly, making it a favorite spot among anglers and scuba divers. The lake is home to four species of fish found nowhere else, including the Bonneville cisco, which draws anglers during the January spawning season.

In summer, this 2,800-acre lake dotted with several marinas and sandy beaches is festooned with colorful umbrellas and the graceful arcs of water-skiers and wakeboarders. In winter it's a popular spot for ice-fishing. Middle Inlet, Cemetery Point, and Anderson Cove are the three developed beaches, and Anderson Cove also allows overnight camping. The Cove has a boat launch. The beaches at Pineview Trailhead, North Arm, and Spring Creek are free and have restrooms but no other amenities.