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: 36.29975, -105.12021. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Lake

• Black Lakes · lake · Colfax · ~16 km · Must-see
• Ocate Peak · viewpoint · Mora · ~21 km · Must-see
• Kit Carson Mesa · viewpoint · Colfax · ~23 km · Must-see
• Kit Carson Museum · museum · Colfax · ~23 km · Must-see
• Rayado · attraction · Colfax · ~23 km · Must-see
• Tooth of Time · viewpoint · Colfax · ~24 km · Must-see
• Mount Phillips · viewpoint · Colfax · ~25 km · Must-see
• National Scouting Museum · museum · Colfax · ~29 km · Must-see
• Palo Flechado Pass Historical Marker · park · Taos · ~29 km · Must-see
• Philmont Scout Ranch · sanctuary · Colfax · ~32 km · Must-see
• El Rito Presbyterian Church · church · Mora · ~35 km · Must-see
• St. James Hotel · fort · Colfax · ~36 km · Must-see
• Blue Lake · lake · Taos · ~45 km · Must-see
• Baldy Mountain · viewpoint · Colfax · ~47 km · Must-see
• Pueblo Peak · viewpoint · Taos · ~49 km · Must-see
• Wheeler Peak · viewpoint · Taos · ~49 km · Must-see
• Mount Walter · viewpoint · Taos · ~49 km · Must-see
• Williams Lake · lake · Taos · ~50 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake

• Black Lakes · lake · Colfax · ~16 km · Must-see
• Blue Lake · lake · Taos · ~45 km · Must-see
• Williams Lake · lake · Taos · ~50 km · Must-see
• Lake Fork Peak · lake · Taos · ~50 km · Must-see
• Morphy Lake · lake · Mora · ~59 km · Must-see
• Morphy Lake State Park · lake · Mora · ~59 km · Must-see
• Lake Maloya · lake · Las Animas · ~127 km · Must-see
• Lake Maloya · lake · Colfax · ~127 km · Must-see
• Trinidad Lake State Park · lake · Las Animas · ~130 km · Must-see
• Abiquiu Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~147 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in New Mexico

Frequently asked