Bear Lake & Logan · Utah

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Helicopter Flight Safety Briefing

We're excited to share this experience and want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable flight. Please follow these instructions carefully:

  • Don't approach the helicopter without a guide (Laura), who will wait until the pilot gives a clear thumbs up. Never approach without the pilot's approval, and always maintain eye contact.
  • Never walk toward the rear of the helicopter. Always approach and exit from the front or side only. The tail rotor is extremely dangerous and contact can be fatal.
  • Doors are off for this flight. DO NOT WEAR hats, flip-flops, Crocs, or other loose footwear. Secure all clothing and personal items — loose items can be pulled from the cabin and could strike the tail rotor, potentially causing a serious emergency.
  • Infants and very young children may not fly. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Children must be old enough to understand and follow all instructions and stay buckled on their own. The pilot will be focused on flying and unable to closely monitor passengers, so parents or guardians are responsible for that judgment.
  • Cameras and phones are welcome. Hold them securely.
  • And finally, most importantly — relax, enjoy the incredible views, and have fun.

If anything is unclear, please ask the guide before approaching the helicopter.

🏔️ Logan, Utah — info & things to do

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Two players per team. 14 & under is single elimination; 15 & up is double elimination (you're out after two losses).

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Schedule

06
THURSDAYAugust

Hosted by MaRea & Kyle · Angie & Adam · Laura & Nick

Move to Logan — zip line, helicopter, cold plunge

  • NoonCheck out of Bear LakeThen drive to the Thatcher property in Logan. Set up tents and campers, or check into a Logan hotel.
  • LunchEat in LoganFast food or sit down — see Logan resources below.
  • 3:00 PMZip line, rope swing, playground, spike ball
  • 3:00 PMFree helicopter rides
  • AfternoonCold plunge and sauna
  • 6:00 PMDinnerStreet corn chicken tacos, lemonade, Creamies.

For reference

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Monday to Thursday

Bear Lake resources

Everything you need for the first three days.

Free time ideas — 32 things to do in the area

None of this is scheduled. It's a list of options for open afternoons — on the lake, up Logan Canyon, and over into Idaho.

On the water

  • Bear Lake State Park MarinaLaunch your own boat or rent one. Gates open 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. 435-946-5800.
  • Epic RecreationUTV, boat, jet ski and paddleboard rentals. 584 W Logan Road, Garden City. epicrecreation.com
  • Rendezvous BeachWide sandy shoreline on the south end. Good for swimming and launching kayaks and paddleboards.
  • North BeachTwo miles of shallow, kid-friendly water on the Idaho side, a short drive north.
  • Cisco BeachRockier and quieter on the east shore. Also one of the lake's dive sites.
  • Scuba divingThree sites — Cisco Beach, The Wreck, and the Car Lot artificial reef. Summer water runs 55–65°F, so a wetsuit helps.

Adventure & rides

  • Bear Lake Adventure ParkZip lines, ropes course, climbing wall, giant swing, tubing slide, trampoline, zorb ball and mini golf. Playground and nine-hole disc golf are free. Food on site, and very little shade. 722 S First Light Drive, Garden City. bearlakeadventurepark.com
  • Bike & surrey rentalsThree-wheel banana bikes, four-wheel roadsters, two- and four-person pedal surreys, mountain bikes and child trailers. Next to Mike's Market in Garden City.
  • Bear Lake Legacy PathwayPaved path along the shoreline for biking, walking or rollerblading.
  • Bear Lake West Golf CourseFamily-run nine holes with four par 3s, in Fish Haven just over the Idaho line. Look for the white rock arch.
  • Montpelier Golf CoursePar 36, nine holes, full driving range and a large practice green. 208-847-1981.

Caves, canyons & trails

  • Minnetonka CaveNinety-minute guided tour through nine rooms of stalactites and stalagmites, about 45 minutes north in St. Charles, Idaho. Over 400 stairs, 40°F year round — bring a jacket. $12 adults, $9 ages 6–15, under 5 free. Book ahead and print your tickets; there's no cell service there. Details  ·  Tickets
  • Paris Ice CavesIce that never melts, in a small cave up a dirt road about 10 miles into Paris Canyon. Late summer is the best time to go.
  • Tony Grove LakeAn alpine lake at 8,048 feet, about 20 miles up Logan Canyon then 7 miles of paved road. Easy 1.3-mile loop around the water, stocked with rainbow trout, wildflowers at their peak in August. Small parking fee.
  • Wind CavesThe most popular hike in northern Utah — a natural arch with a cavern you can climb into. Trailhead at Guinavah-Malibu Campground in Logan Canyon. Steep but well maintained, roughly 3.5 to 4 miles round trip. No fee. Go early.
  • China WallA mile-long band of limestone cliffs along Logan Canyon. The Crimson Trail is about a 3-mile loop from Spring Hollow Campground running along the top, with the Wind Caves visible across the canyon.
  • Ricks SpringA spring pouring out of a cave opening, a few steps from the highway in Logan Canyon. Two minutes out of the car.
  • Limber Pine Nature TrailEasy shaded 1.3-mile loop at the Bear Lake Overlook on Highway 89, with interpretive signs leading to a 600-year-old limber pine. Good for anyone who wants a short walk with a big view.
  • Logan Canyon guideThe visitors bureau publishes a 31-stop guide to the canyon with mileposts and GPS coordinates for every overlook, trail and campground between Logan and Bear Lake. explorelogan.com

In town

  • Pickleville PlayhouseFamily-friendly summer productions in Garden City since 1977. picklevilleplayhouse.com
  • Heritage ParkGarden City's gathering spot — playground, ball fields, pickleball courts and a stocked fishing pond.
  • Garden City ParkPlayground, big grassy field and a boardwalk leading down to the beach.
  • Raspberry shakesLaBeau's is the original. Merlin's Drive Inn and the Bear Lake Chevron are the other local favorites.

History & museums

  • Paris TabernacleBuilt by Mormon pioneers in 1889 from red sandstone hauled 18 miles from Indian Creek. Free guided tours. In Paris, Idaho — the first town settled in the valley.
  • City of Paris Historical MuseumExhibits and artifacts from the valley's early settlement, across the street from the Tabernacle.
  • National Oregon/California Trail CenterRide a simulated covered wagon guided by a live cast of pioneers, plus the Montpelier Heritage Museum and the Historical Quilt Museum. 320 N 4th Street, Montpelier, Idaho. oregontrailcenter.org
  • Butch Cassidy MuseumAt the Bank of Montpelier — the last standing bank Butch Cassidy robbed.
  • Big Hill wagon rutsActual ruts cut by Oregon and California Trail wagons, visible from roadside pullouts on US-30 starting around milepost 440.
  • Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge18,000 acres of marsh and open water north of the lake. Sandhill cranes, herons, and one of the largest Canada goose nesting areas in the western states.

Planning links

  • Bear Lake Valley visitors bureauListings for rentals, restaurants and attractions on both the Utah and Idaho sides. bearlake.org
  • Visit Bear LakeAnother local guide to activities around the valley. visitbearlake.org
  • Garden City, UtahOfficial town site, including Raspberry Days information. gardencityutah.gov

Where we're staying

Camp Hunt 2000 N Bear Lake Blvd
Garden City, UT 84028
801-475-7485  ·  Open in Maps

Check in from noon Monday. Check out noon Thursday.

Boats, kayaks & rentals

Bear Lake State Park Marina 940 N Bear Lake Blvd
Garden City, UT 84028
435-946-5800  ·  Open in Maps
Gates open 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Launch your own boat here, or rent one. Four kayaks and three floats are already at Camp Hunt for anyone to use.

Wednesday night · tickets required

Pickleville Playhouse Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 7:30 PM
picklevilleplayhouse.com

Sells out well ahead of the show. Buy early.

Wednesday morning

Bloomington Lake Meet at Camp Hunt at 9:00 AM and caravan up together. Allow about an hour and fifteen minutes to the trailhead.

Getting there & hike information

Driving directions

  • StartTravel north from Utah along the west shore of Bear Lake on the main highway.
  • TurnoffReach the small town of Bloomington, Idaho. Turn left (west) onto Canyon Street, right near the post office.
  • Canyon roadEnter Bloomington Canyon on the dirt and gravel road. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended — the road gets rocky and has washboard sections.
  • Forest roadStay on Forest Road 409, following the signs and forks toward the lake.
  • FeesWatch for the self-pay fee station about a mile before the trailhead. $5 day-use fee — bring cash.

The hike to the lake

  • Trail lengthAbout half a mile from the upper parking lot to the water.
  • TerrainAn easy, family-friendly walk past wildflowers and small creeks.
  • FacilitiesPit toilet and picnic tables at the trailhead. Motorized vehicles and bikes must stay in designated areas — foot travel only for the final approach to the lake.

You'll pass a small pond before the real lake — that isn't it, keep going. There's a rope swing and cliff jumping at the lake, and the water is genuinely freezing. It fills up by midday, which is why we're leaving at nine.

Eating around the lake

Fast food and shake stands line Main Street in Garden City, a few minutes from Camp Hunt.

Bring a sack lunch Wednesday, or eat in town. Either way, get a famous Bear Lake raspberry milkshake — LaBeau's is the original, and Merlin's Drive Inn and the Bear Lake Chevron are the other local favorites.

Happening the same week

Bear Lake Raspberry Days August 6–8 in Garden City — parade, craft fair at Heritage Park, kids' rides, live music, boat light parade and fireworks.

The parade is Thursday morningSame morning we check out and drive to Logan. Expect crowds and slow traffic through Garden City. Leave extra time, or go watch it before you pack up.

Groceries

  • Mike's Market4.5 ★ 557 North Bear Lake  ·  6:30 AM to 9:00 PM Well stocked with a wide variety. Reasonable prices for a tourist area, clean and well organized.
  • Bear Lake Market4.3 ★ 25 N Bear Lake  ·  6:00 AM to 11:00 PM Smaller, good for quick essentials. Has a Subway inside.

Stocking up in bulk

Both of these are in LoganNot at the lake — figure about an hour each way over Logan Canyon. They're the closest warehouse stores to Bear Lake, so if you're stocking up for the week, do it on the drive in.

Thursday

Logan resources

After checking out of Bear Lake at noon.

Where we're gathering

Thatcher Property 2694 West 1800 South
Logan, UT 84321
Open in Maps

Set up tents and campers here, or check into a Logan hotel. Activities start at 3:00 PM.

Lunch · fast food

  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Super Chix
  • Chipotle
  • Zao
  • Café Rio
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Old Grist Mill
  • Logan's Heroes
  • Culver's
  • McDonald's
  • Center Street Pizza

Lunch · sit down

Sit-down places will be slow with a group this size. Call ahead or send someone early.

Family board

Questions & announcements

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