BLWPOA

WELCOME TO BEAR LAKE WEST

PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION

Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Utah-Idaho border, which is often referred to as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” due to its unique turquoise-blue color. Formed over 250,000 years ago, it was known to the Native American in the region and inhabited by the Shoshone tribes. In 1818, French-Canadian trappers came up the Bear River into the valley, being the first known white people to visit. Southern Bear Lake became a Rendezvous in 1827 and 1828 where trappers, including Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger, and Native Americans met to trade furs for store goods.

​

Although Bear Lake lies close to the northern part of the Oregon Trail, pioneers didn’t arrive to settle the valley until the Mormon Pioneers led by Charles C. Rich arrived in 1863, and gradually settled throughout the valley. Many descendants of these original settlers still live in the valley. Bear Lake has become

a popular recreation area with resort housing and recreation locations around the valley

including Bear Lake West, and has a reputation for high quality raspberries.