Bear Lake State Park resides half in Idaho and half in Utah, with the dividing line crossing through Bear Lake itself along the East Beach. Even so, it’s one of the most beautiful parks in all of Idaho, especially during the winter when the park is blanketed and snow and open for innumerable snow activities. Let us help you plan the perfect winter weekend getaway to enjoy Bear Lake State Park and get the most out of your weekend trip.
Start your winter weekend getaway by stocking up on hunting, gunsmithing, and fishing supplies at Elk Country Sports in nearby Montpelier, Idaho. The shop is only around 30 minutes from Bear Lake State Park and will provide you with the perfect opportunity to pick up anything you might have forgotten or still need.
While in Soda Springs, you have to check out their best attraction, the “largest man-tamed geyser.” It was (accidentally) created in 1937 when a local man was drilling underground for hot water. He got a lot more than he bargained for, as this geyser shoots upward 100-150 feet in the air. It is conveniently located behind the Enders Hotel, and can be enjoyed at any time of day, with particularly good viewing options when the sun is out.
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From November through April, Bear Lake County offers snowmobiling. The park offers over 350 miles of trails, both groomed and ungroomed, with changing elevation ranging from mountainous peaks to rolling meadows. You can snowmobile on the St. Charles/Fish Haven Loop, or choose from Paris, Mink Creek, Bloomington, or more. There are various parking areas close to the trails, so you don’t need to worry about accessibility.
Bear Lake Valley has hundreds of miles of ATV trails that will take you throughout Idaho and across the Utah border. We recommend trying the Swan Peak Trail for the best bang for your buck.
Bear Lake is known for its fantastic ice fishing. The lake is home to lake trout, cutthroat, Bonneville cisco, whitefish, and more. Fish for four species of fish that you can’t find anywhere else on this special lake.
You can start hunting in Idaho in mid-winter, so make sure to plan your trip appropriately. Waterfowl hunters will find plenty of geese to keep them busy while predator hunters can take advantage of tracks in the snow for easier tracking.
Snowshoeing can be one of the most fun activities to take part in during the snowy months. The Bear Lake Refuge offers some of the best terrain to do so and is a must-do if you’re visiting for a winter weekend getaway. Cross-country skiing is also a popular activity among the public, it will certainly work you up a sweat, with plenty of spectacular winter scenery to be admired along the way.
The Butch Cassidy Museum’s claim to fame is preserving the last bank robbed by Butch Cassidy. Learn about how Butch Cassidy robbed the Bank of Montpelier in 1896 and explore downtown Montpelier while you’re at it.
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A local favorite, Studebaker’s Pizza offers the perfect end to a fun winter weekend. Enjoy pizza, subs, and cheese sticks while you warm up from your time in the Bear Lake wilds.
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There is nothing like spending a long day outdoors combating the cold with winter activities, and then coming back to a warm and charming hotel. That and more are provided at the famous Enders Hotel & Museum. Enders is one of the oldest hotels in Idaho, so as you can imagine it comes with quite a history. You can admire the hotel and its historic past that dates back to the early days of the American Frontier in the 1917. It obviously required a restoration, but as they state: “the exactness and detail of this million-dollar restoration will make you glad that in this world of change some things stay the same.”
