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: 44.74922, -121.84256. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Lake

• Breitenbush Lake · lake · Marion · ~7 km · Must-see
• Russell Glacier · viewpoint · Marion · ~9 km · Must-see
• Jefferson Park Glacier · viewpoint · Marion · ~10 km · Must-see
• Whitewater Glacier · viewpoint · Jefferson · ~10 km · Must-see
• Milk Creek Glacier · viewpoint · Linn · ~11 km · Must-see
• Mount Jefferson · viewpoint · Linn · ~11 km · Must-see
• Fish Lake · lake · Marion · ~12 km · Must-see
• Waldo Glacier · viewpoint · Jefferson · ~13 km · Must-see
• Ann Arbor Hot Springs​ · attraction · Marion · ~14 km · Must-see
• Mount Jefferson Wilderness · sanctuary · Jefferson · ~19 km · Must-see
• Bachelor Mountain Trail · trek · Linn · ~25 km · Must-see
• Marion Falls · waterfall · Linn · ~27 km · Must-see
• Coffin Mountain Trail · viewpoint · Linn · ~28 km · Must-see
• Pine Ridge Lake · lake · Linn · ~28 km · Must-see
• Stahlman Point · viewpoint · Linn · ~29 km · Must-see
• Castle Rocks · viewpoint · Jefferson · ~31 km · Must-see
• Battle Ax Mountain · viewpoint · Marion · ~31 km · Must-see
• Bull of the Woods Wilderness · sanctuary · Clackamas · ~32 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake

• Breitenbush Lake · lake · Marion · ~7 km · Must-see
• Fish Lake · lake · Marion · ~12 km · Must-see
• Pine Ridge Lake · lake · Linn · ~28 km · Must-see
• Wasco Lake · lake · Jefferson · ~33 km · Must-see
• Detroit Lake · lake · Marion · ~34 km · Must-see
• Santiam Lake · lake · Linn · ~38 km · Must-see
• Detroit Dam · lake · Linn · ~40 km · Must-see
• Big Cliff Dam · lake · Marion · ~43 km · Must-see
• Lost Lake · lake · Linn · ~44 km · Must-see
• Donaca Lake · lake · Linn · ~46 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Oregon

Frequently asked