Bear Lake Valley was first visited by a small group of trappers in the winter of 1811-12. Thomas L. Smith, known as ‘Peg Leg Smith’ was one of the first settlers to the Bear Lake Valley. Two fur-trader Rendezvous were held during the summers of 1826 and 1827. Such notables as Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger, William Ashley and Tom Fitzgerald were in attendance. Mormon Apostle Charles C. Rich settled the Bear Lake Valley in 1863 on the west side of the valley known today as Paris, Idaho.

The Paris Tabernacle was completed by Mormon Pioneers in 1889

Bear Lake Elevation: 5,923 feet

Length: 20 miles

Width: 8 miles

Shoreline: 48 miles

Surface: 112 square miles

Depth: 208 feet

Volume: 6.5 million acre feet

Fish: Bear Lake Cutthroat, Lake Trout(Mackinaw), Bonneville Cisco, (endemic fish), Bear Lake Whitefish(endemic fish), Bonneville Whitefish(endemic fish), Bear Lake Sculpin(endemic fish), Utah Sucker, Utah Chub, Carp, and Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, and Brook and Brown Trout

Wildlife: Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, Red Fox, Cottontail Rabbit, Unita Ground Squirrel, Western Gribes, Common Loon, Comorants, Golden and Bald Eagles, Mergansers, Seagulls, Pelicans, Assorted Duck and Geese, Muskrats, Beaver, Blow Snakes, Western Garter Snakes, Great Basin Rattlesnakes

Population / 2000 Census

Bear Lake County: 6411

Rich County: 1961

Average High and Low Temperatures in the Bear Lake Area - Summer mid 80's, Winter 32 or less

Mileage from Salt Lake City:125 miles, Mileage to Yellowstone National Park: 180 miles

Minnetonka Cave, largest commercially developed limestone cave in the state of Idaho.

Full service communities - Garden City, Utah, Montpelier, Idaho

Historical Sites

Wilford Woodruff Home, Randolph, Utah

Paris Historical Museum, Paris, Idaho

Paris Historical District, Paris, Idaho

Montpelier Historical District, Montpelier, Idaho

The National Oregon/California Trail Center, Montpelier, Idaho

Rails & Trails Museum, Montpelier, Idaho

Recreation: Hiking, swimming, waterskiing and watersports, mountain biking, bird watching, snowmobiling, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, camping at Idaho and Utah State Parks, private campgrounds, fishing, golf, horseback riding, guided tours and shopping.