Bear Lake

Bear Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Bear Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Bear Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 38.55163, -89.37930. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Lake

• South Shore State Park · sanctuary · Clinton · ~13 km · Must-see
• Eldon Hazlet State Park · sanctuary · Clinton · ~16 km · Must-see
• Carlyle Reservoir · lake · Clinton · ~24 km · Must-see
• Raccoon Lake Dam · lake · Marion · ~29 km · Must-see
• Lebanon Temple Church · church · Saint Clair · ~46 km · Must-see
• Governor Bond Lake · lake · Bond · ~52 km · Must-see
• Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area · lake · Jefferson · ~66 km · Must-see
• World's Largest Catsup Bottle · attraction · Madison · ~67 km · Must-see
• Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam · lake · Fayette · ~70 km · Must-see
• Dunlap Lake Dam · lake · Madison · ~70 km · Must-see
• Baldwin Lake · lake · Randolph · ~71 km · Must-see
• Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Marion · ~71 km · Must-see
• Lake Hillcrest Dam · lake · Madison · ~72 km · Must-see
• SIUE Gardens · park · Madison · ~75 km · Must-see
• Lake Joy · lake · Clinton · ~4 km
• Big Swan Lake · lake · Clinton · ~5 km
• Greenville Old City Lake · lake · Clinton · ~9 km
• Corcoran Hill · viewpoint · Clinton · ~9 km

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake

• Carlyle Reservoir · lake · Clinton · ~24 km · Must-see
• Raccoon Lake Dam · lake · Marion · ~29 km · Must-see
• Governor Bond Lake · lake · Bond · ~52 km · Must-see
• Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area · lake · Jefferson · ~66 km · Must-see
• Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam · lake · Fayette · ~70 km · Must-see
• Dunlap Lake Dam · lake · Madison · ~70 km · Must-see
• Baldwin Lake · lake · Randolph · ~71 km · Must-see
• Lake Hillcrest Dam · lake · Madison · ~72 km · Must-see
• Rend Lake · lake · Crittenden · ~76 km · Must-see
• Rend Lake · lake · Franklin · ~77 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Illinois

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