LOCAL NEWS

Smaller beaches impact turnout at some Utah lakes

Jun 3, 2024, 7:44 PM | Updated: Jun 4, 2024, 4:05 pm

GARDEN CITY, Rich County — More water is great news for Utah, but it’s leading to some challenges for those in the tourism industry.

The idea is that there is a whole lot more to do in areas such as Bear Lake.

Even you’re still only in it for the beach, there are some options to still get you there.

“There’s a few people down there, but that’s about it,” said Royce Larsen. “We can spread out as much as we want.”

Larsen is in Utah from Arizona, visiting with family. Granted this isn’t unusual for an overcast Monday in May.

Over the weekend, however, there will be a lot more competition for the space at spots like Rendezvous Beach.

“We still have access to the water,” said Mark Smoot, with the Bear Lake Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We still have beach. It’s just not as plentiful as it was before.”

Smoot said it’s great to see the lake so full. As executive director of the Bear Lake Valley Chamber of Commerce, he said it means business owners like himself are having to change their pitch to visitors reminding them that there’s a whole lot more reason to come Bear Lake than for the sand.

“Everything from horseback riding up in Logan Canyon to renting a UTV,” Smoot said. “There’s three beautiful loops you can take up.”

Some people thinking of not coming

Smoot said the Chamber is already hearing from people who are thinking of not making their annual trip up to Bear Lake because of how much the water has taken up the beaches around the lake.

The lake is expected to peak at just 2 feet below what is considered full, as a result of snowfall from both this past winter and the winter before.

You can reserve your spot online in advance for Idaho’s North Beach. State Parks on both the Utah and Idaho sides also have newly-opened beaches on the east side, both for day-use and camping with more to come later this year.

“Very beautiful compared to what we’re used to in Arizona,” Larsen said.

The area Chamber and the community are also planning a summer kickoff for June 15 that will include a contest to determine who has the best milkshake.

 

 

 

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Twin babies Hazel and Emilia Beardall from South Jordan, Utah have made it through to the quarter-f...

Tamara Vaifanua

Looking Out for the Good: Twin babies in Utah make quarter-finals for Baby of the Year competition

Twin babies Hazel and Emilia Beardall from South Jordan, Utah have made it through to the quarter-final round of Jessica Alba's Baby of the Year competition.

30 minutes ago

A rifle squad aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter SORREL fires a salute to the dead of Flight 293: the...

Feliks Banel, KSL Podcasts

Unsolved Histories episode 7: Leave No One Behind

On Episode Seven of Unsolved Histories: What Happened to Flight 293?, we untangle the bureaucracy behind what many families feel is an empty promise to “Leave No One Behind.”

2 hours ago

Soup appeared to be an exception to the shelf-positioning strategy. The more pricy, boutique brands...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

Location, location, location: How supermarkets influence the foods you buy

The cost of food has risen sharply over the last few years, but that’s not the only reason the tab at checkout can run high. KSL’s inflation buster Matt Gephardt reveals a tactic that could have you paying more.

11 hours ago

Law enforcement in Utah will be busy Tuesday watching for everything from potential threats to scam...

Andrew Adams

Law enforcement in Utah monitoring for potential threats ahead of general election

Law enforcement in Utah will be busy Tuesday watching for everything from potential threats to scams on Election Day, and they will be armed with the latest intel from federal investigators as they monitor for problems.

11 hours ago

Kent Cody Barlow is charged with two counts of murder after a crash killed two boys in Eagle Mounta...

Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com

Man charged in Eagle Mountain crash will face trial in April for murder of 2 boys

A judge has scheduled a jury trial for Kent Cody Barlow to begin April 14, 2025, after there have been multiple delays.

13 hours ago

FILE: Turkeys roam the lawn of Nathan Hege. Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret N...

Tammy Kikuchi, KSL NewsRadio

Could avian flu affect Thanksgiving in Utah?

After avian flu turned up in chickens and cows in Cache County, state officials are keeping a close watch on turkeys.

14 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Smaller beaches impact turnout at some Utah lakes