Notable lake · Inyo, California
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a lake in Inyo, California.
Bear Lake: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. 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.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Bear Lake — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: 37.37279, -118.73086. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Bear Lake
- Spire Pass · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~3 km · Must-see
- Mount Julius Caesar · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~6 km · Must-see
- Mount Abbot · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~6 km · Must-see
- Mills Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~7 km · Must-see
- Mount Mills · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~7 km · Must-see
- Ruby Peak · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~8 km · Must-see
- Mount Gabb · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~8 km · Must-see
- Lake Italy · lake · Esmeralda · ~9 km · Must-see
- Pointless Peak · viewpoint · Inyo · ~13 km · Must-see
- Merriam Pass · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~13 km · Must-see
- Basin Mountain · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~13 km · Must-see
- Mayfield Canyon · viewpoint · Inyo · ~15 km · Must-see
- Mayfield Canyon · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~15 km · Must-see
- Recess Pass · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~15 km · Must-see
- Mount Humphreys · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~16 km · Must-see
- Stanford Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~18 km · Must-see
- Mount Emerson · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~20 km · Must-see
- Matthes Glaciers · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~20 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake
- Mills Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~7 km · Must-see
- Lake Italy · lake · Esmeralda · ~9 km · Must-see
- Stanford Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~18 km · Must-see
- Crazy Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~21 km · Must-see
- Foolish Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~21 km · Must-see
- Loch Leven · lake · Esmeralda · ~21 km · Must-see
- Nüümü Hu Hupi · lake · Esmeralda · ~26 km · Must-see
- Lake Sabrina · lake · Esmeralda · ~26 km · Must-see
- Lake of the Lone Indian · lake · Mineral · ~27 km · Must-see
- Lake Thomas A Edison · lake · Esmeralda · ~27 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is Bear Lake full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Bear Lake yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Bear Lake?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Bear Lake?
Nearby: Spire Pass (viewpoint, 3 km), Mount Julius Caesar (viewpoint, 6 km), Mount Abbot (viewpoint, 6 km), Mills Lake (lake, 7 km), Mount Mills (viewpoint, 7 km), Ruby Peak (viewpoint, 8 km).
Is Bear Lake worth visiting?
Bear Lake is listed as a notable lake in California on Spotwander.