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: 46.72678, -121.01986. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Lake

• Tieton Dam · lake · Yakima · ~14 km · Must-see
• Rimrock Lake · lake · Yakima · ~20 km · Must-see
• Mount Aix · viewpoint · Yakima · ~24 km · Must-see
• Bismarck Peak · viewpoint · Yakima · ~25 km · Must-see
• Ahtanum State Forest · sanctuary · Yakima · ~26 km · Must-see
• Clear Creek Dam · lake · Yakima · ~28 km · Must-see
• William O. Douglas Wilderness · sanctuary · Yakima · ~29 km · Must-see
• Spiral Butte · viewpoint · Yakima · ~33 km · Must-see
• Bumping Lake · lake · Yakima · ~35 km · Must-see
• Saint Joseph's Mission · church · Yakima · ~37 km · Must-see
• White Pass (Washington) · viewpoint · Yakima · ~37 km · Must-see
• Umtanum Ridge · viewpoint · Kittitas · ~45 km · Must-see
• Tieton Peak · viewpoint · Yakima · ~47 km · Must-see
• Tahtlum Peak · viewpoint · Yakima · ~48 km · Must-see
• Goat Rocks Wilderness · sanctuary · Yakima · ~49 km · Must-see
• Seymour Peak · viewpoint · Pierce · ~49 km · Must-see
• Conrad Glacier · viewpoint · Yakima · ~49 km · Must-see
• Meade Glacier · viewpoint · Yakima · ~50 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake

• Tieton Dam · lake · Yakima · ~14 km · Must-see
• Rimrock Lake · lake · Yakima · ~20 km · Must-see
• Clear Creek Dam · lake · Yakima · ~28 km · Must-see
• Bumping Lake · lake · Yakima · ~35 km · Must-see
• Tipsoo Lake · lake · Pierce · ~51 km · Must-see
• Packwood Lake · lake · Lewis · ~55 km · Must-see
• Walupt Lake · lake · Lewis · ~60 km · Must-see
• Snow Lake · lake · Lewis · ~65 km · Must-see
• Bench Lake · lake · Lewis · ~65 km · Must-see
• Lake Easton State Park · lake · Kittitas · ~75 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Washington

Frequently asked