Bear Lake

Bear Lake

The Bear Lake area has over 350 miles of groomed trails and wide open play areas with no crowds and no fences! There are miles of groomed trails connecting Utah and Idaho that take you by spectacular wonders. Off the groomed trails, you can seemingly drive forever in wide open places or climb the mountains for a spectacular view of Bear Lake and the surrounding hillsides. The snowmobile season starts in late November and extends into April. The variety of terrain and spectacular scenery offers snowmobilers of all ability levels the chance to find challenges and fun!


TRAIL SYSTEM

There are about 260 miles of groomed trails served by 17 trailheads between Montpelier and Soda Springs Districts with warming shelters in Horseshoe Basin, Trail Canyon, Diamond Creek and Caribou Basin. Sno-West magazine rates the cache portion of the districts as one of the five best rides in the west.

  • Elevation: 5923-9500
  • Groomed Trails 260, linking with Utah 350 miles
  • Snow Prime Season: November – April

POPULAR SPOTS

Bear Lake - Fish Haven/St. Charles Snowmobile Trails

Beautiful Bear Lake has a network of 350 miles of groomed trails and has extensive additional mileage in marked, ungroomed trails. Changes in elevation offer terrains varying from mountainous to open meadow.

  • The St. Charles-Fish Haven Loop is one of the most popular in the area.
  • Paris, Mink Creek, Bloomington.
  • Georgetown-Montpelier Loop, Crow Creek, Stump Creek, 8 Mile Meadow Creek, and Ant Canyon. Several parking areas make the trails easily accessible.

Preston Area

Preston Area Snowmobile Trails sport groomed trails that connect to the Bear Lake Snowmobile Trails. Some riding areas include Cub River Canyon, Paris Meadows, Midnight Mountain, Green Basin with a very nice warming cabin, Copenhagen Basin, Egan Basin, Franklin Basin, and Whites Canyon. Great snow, competition type hill climbing, or a great scenic ride along the river or ridge line.


EVENTS

  • RMSHA Snowmobile Hillclimbs, Geneva, Idaho, first weekend in February. TBA.

TRAILHEAD DETAILS

Trail Description Services Grooming Info Base Elev. Top Elev.
Montpelier Canyon Trail Head Roughly 14 miles of groomed trails. Average snowfall: 62.6” Guard Station at Clear Creek. (208) 945-2565 6400ft 7225ft
Home Canyon Trail Head 12.75 miles of groomed trail. Average snowfall 62.6”   (208) 945-2565 6298ft 7225ft
Bloomington Canyon Trail Head 10.5 miles of groomed trail. Average snow fall 94” Yurt available for camping (208) 945-2565 5970ft 8186ft
Fish Haven Canyon 12.5 miles of groomed trail to the Egan Basin Guard Station. Average snow fall 94”   (208) 945-2565 5958ft 8085ft
North Canyon Trail Head Average snowfall is 80.2”   (208) 945-2565 6283ft 7390ft

For more info about snow depth and precipitation please visit: www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow

Top Idaho Destinations

Lodging H3

Southeast Idaho
Bear Lake Recreation Area

Bear Lake Lodging and Services

Bear Lake Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
69 North Paradise Parkway Bld A, Garden City UT 84028
(800) 448-2327
www.bearlake.org

Bear Lake/Montpelier Chamber of Commerce
925 Washington St. Montpelier, ID 83254
(208) 847-0067
www.bearlakechamber.org

Montpelier Lodging and Services

Clover Creek Inn
243 North 4th St.
(208) 847-1782
www.clovercreekinn.com

Park Motel
745 Washington
(208) 847-1911
www.parkmotelidaho.com

Super 8 Motel
276 North 4th St.,
(208) 847-8888, 1-800-800-8000
www.the.super8.com/montpelier08573

Three Sisters Motel
112 South 6th St.
(208) 847-2324

Montpelier Ranger District
(208) 847-0375
www.fs.fed.us/r4/caribou-targhee

AHO’S Espresso Deli
835 Washington,
(208) 604-0050

Arctic Circle
408 Clay Street
(208) 847-1755

Broulim's Thriftway
130 S. 4th
(208) 847-0662

Dan's Drive In
733 Washington,
(208) 847-1963

El Jaliciensa
194 North 4th
(208) 847-0520

JJ's Gas & Groceries
218 N. 4th
(208) 847-2912

Jensen's A G Market
120 N. 8th
(208) 847-0087

Jolara's Pizza
629 N. 4th
(208)-847-2489

Mandarin Cafe
253 S. 4th
(208) 847-2088

Maverik Country Store
107 S. 4th
(208) 847-2501

Lott’s
690 N. 4th St.
(208) 847-1091

The Ranch Hand Trail Stop
23200 N. Hwy 30
(208) 847-1180
www.ranchhandtrailstop.com

Subway
285 North 4th
(208)-847-2353

Studebaker's Pizza
802 Washington
(208) 847-3020

Taco Time
218 N. 4th
(208) 847-2912

Twisted Subs
450 Washington St.
(208)-847-1310

U-Save Convenience Store
286 N. 4th
(208) 847-3550

Craiggerbuilt
ATV and Snowmobile accessories
934 Washington
208-847-2500
www.craiggerbuilt.com

The National Oregon/California Trail Center
320 North 4th Street, Montpelier, ID 83254
(208) 847-3800 or 1-866-847-3800
www.oregontrailcenter.org

Allinger Community Theatre at the
National Oregon/California Trail Center

(208) 847-3800
www.oregontrailcenter.org

Jolara Lanes Bowling Alley
629 N. 4th St., Montpelier, ID 83254
(208) 847-2489

Centre Theater
804 Washington St.
Montpelier, ID 83254
(208) 847-1095

Paris and Ovid Lodging and Services

Robinson Rental House
55 E. 2nd S., Paris, Idaho.
208-681-4295
www.bearlakeparis.com

Bear Lake’s North Pole Cabins
7630 Hwy 36

Bear Lake Ranch House
52 North Pole Loop
(208) 945-2150
www.bearlakeranchhouse.com

Braeggers Cabin
29 North Pole Loop Hwy 36
(435) 723-7362
www.braeggerscabin.com

SN&P’s 500 Cabin
317 North Pole Loop
(801) 941-6382
www.snandps500.com

Suttons’s Cabin at Bear Lake’s North Pole Cabins
236 North Pole Loop Hwy 36
(208) 467-3894
www.suttonscabin.com

Paris Cafe
48 S. Main
(208) 945-1267

Paris Country Store
209 S. Main
(208) 945-2292

Bloomington Services

Barrie’s Ski and Sports
Hwy 89 and Bloomington Canyon Rd, Bloomington ID
(208) 390-1234 or (208) 945-1268

St. Charles Lodging and Services

Bear Lake Country Cabins
45 West Center
(208) 945-2226
www.bearlakecountrycabins.com

Bear Lake State Parks
(208) 945-2565 or (888) 922-6743
www.idahoparks.org

Minnetonka Market & Cafe
US Hwy 89
(208) 945-2348

Fish Haven Lodging and Services

Bear Lake Lodge
5221 Hwy 89, 5 mile marker north of Fish Haven,
(888) 977-8639 or (888) 296-8636
www.bearlakelodge.com

Bear Lake Vacation Rentals
(888) 977-8639 or (888) 296-8636
www.bearlakelodgerentals.com

Coopers at Bear Lake West Restaurant & Sports Bar
4 miles North of Garden City
(208) 945-2222
www.bearlakewest.com

Gladys' Place Fresh Deli
2703 Hwy 89
(208) 945-2306

Photos by Bill Richey
Idaho State Road Conditions,
Phone dial 511 or (888) 432-7623, on internet, log in to www.511.idaho.gov or go to www.itd.idaho.gov and click Travelers Services then click Road Conditions.

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