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: 36.33057, -107.04532. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Lake

• Capulin Peak · viewpoint · Rio Arriba · ~33 km · Must-see
• San Pedro Parks Wilderness · sanctuary · Rio Arriba · ~41 km · Must-see
• Christ of the Desert Monastery · church · Rio Arriba · ~41 km · Must-see
• Chama River Canyon Wilderness · sanctuary · Rio Arriba · ~43 km · Must-see
• Stinking Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~45 km · Must-see
• El Vado Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~51 km · Must-see
• El Vado Reservoir · lake · Rio Arriba · ~53 km · Must-see
• Stone Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~57 km · Must-see
• Echo Amphitheater · attraction · Rio Arriba · ~58 km · Must-see
• Heron Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~60 km · Must-see
• Eagle Mesa · viewpoint · Sandoval · ~62 km · Must-see
• Abiquiu Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~65 km · Must-see
• Cerro Pedernal · viewpoint · Rio Arriba · ~65 km · Must-see
• Abiquiu Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~71 km · Must-see
• Gavilan Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~6 km
• Laguna Seca · lake · Rio Arriba · ~14 km
• Horse Heaven · viewpoint · Rio Arriba · ~16 km
• Adobe Knobs · viewpoint · Rio Arriba · ~22 km

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake

• Stinking Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~45 km · Must-see
• El Vado Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~51 km · Must-see
• El Vado Reservoir · lake · Rio Arriba · ~53 km · Must-see
• Stone Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~57 km · Must-see
• Heron Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~60 km · Must-see
• Abiquiu Lake · lake · Rio Arriba · ~65 km · Must-see
• Abiquiu Dam · lake · Rio Arriba · ~71 km · Must-see
• Two Rivers Marina · lake · Archuleta · ~103 km · Must-see
• Trujillo Meadows Dam · lake · Conejos · ~120 km · Must-see
• Echo Canyon Dam · lake · Archuleta · ~122 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in New Mexico

Frequently asked