Enjoy The Rich History Of Bear Lake Valley

By Author: Shea Sealy
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Bear Lake Valley, which crosses the border of Idaho and Utah, has a rich and colorful history. Native Americans, trappers, outlaws, grizzly bears and even a mythical lake monster all add to the intriguing past of this beautiful valley.

Bear Lake Valley was originally used by traveling Shoshone, Ute and Bannock tribes as prime hunting and camping grounds, but in 1818, mountain men began exploring the area for trapping and hunting. One of these mountain men, an explorer for the North West Fur Company named Donald "Fats" McKenzie, discovered the lake in 1819 while attending an Indian gathering. He named the lake "Black Bear Lake", after the large number of black bears seen in the surrounding valley; later, the name was changed to "Bear Lake".

In 1827 and 1828, Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger were documented to have rendezvoused with the Native American tribes, suppliers and trappers along the south end of Bear Lake, to trade furs and goods. John C. Fremont also added his mark to the area by naming many of the peaks, canyons and streams around the valley as he passed through in 1842.

Early pioneers initially ...
... found out about Bear Lake Valley through the Whitman-Spalding party, who came to establish missions among the Native American tribes in 1836. Their message about the settlement opportunities in the Oregon Territory spurred the beginning of thousands of people moving through the valley; in 1841, the valley became a stopover point for the famous Oregon Trail.

Pioneers began settling the valley in 1863 and with the pioneers came the outlaws; gangs like the "Wild Bunch" rustled cattle and robbed banks. In 1896, the infamous Butch Cassidy left his imprint on Bear Lake Valley by robbing the Montpelier bank with two of his men; Cassidy got away with a grand total of $7,000, a large amount of cash in those times. An interesting fact about this robbery is that it happened at 3:13 pm, August 13th, right after the 13th deposit of $13.00! Every year, this robbery is reenacted in Montpelier, complete with horses, costumes and revolvers.

The settlers of Bear Lake Valley were unprepared for some of the natural hazards of the area. One of the bears, a grizzly known as Old Ephraim, is just a part of the valley's colorful history. Old Ephraim, also known as "Old Three Toes" due to a deformed paw, roamed the Wasatch Mountains causing havoc and general mayhem for early settlers. Although his reign of terror only ran from 1911 to 1923, this nine foot, eleven inches tall grizzly stomped his way into Bear Lake Valley legend as one of the nastiest bears ever known.

The Native American tribes added to the unease by telling the pioneers about the "Great Bear Lake Monster", a serpentine creature that lived in the waters but sometimes came to land. Oddly enough, scientists have been unable to disprove the creature's existence, and many locals claim to have seen it. The last sighting of this ninety-foot long creature was reported in 2004.

Due to its bright, turquoise-blue waters, the 150,000 year-old, natural freshwater lake has also been nicknamed the "Caribbean of the Rockies". One of the largest freshwater lakes in the western U.S., Bear Lake hosts several unique species in its crystalline waters, one of the many reasons the State of Utah uses the southeast beach as a State Park and the west side as a marina.

Although the yearly population of Bear Lake Valley is limited because of harsh winters, the late spring to early fall months bring many visitors, tourists and sight-seers to the area, and is a popular summer vacation spot. With the many marinas and beaches, two state parks (one in Idaho and one in Utah) and tourist towns, there's a little something for everyone.

That "little something" includes the famous Raspberry Days festival held during the first week of August. The festival brings thousands of visitors from around the world and includes rodeos, dances, craft fairs, talent shows, a raspberry recipe cook-off and more. Bear Lake Valley is a paradise for outdoorsmen, history buffs, water sport enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys beautiful country and lots of fun.
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Plan your next vacation surrounded by mountains. We offer the perfect location for family reunions, corporate retreats, or any other gatherings, large or small. For premier bear lake hotels that offer lakefront lodging in Bear Lake Utah-Idaho visit www.bearlakestay.com.