I'm headed up to Bear Lake this weekend. This will be my first time there. Can anyone recommend a good camp site with beach access? Preferably on the Utah side of the lake.

Thanks!

Aaron

Rendezvous Beach at the southernmost end of the lake has is your best bet for nice camping and a nice beach. It also has trees and shade, unlike the camping on the east side of the lake. There's also a KOA in Garden City, just north of the Logan canyon road. There are many spots to pull onto the beach and lauch your cat, depending on if you have a 4x4 and the water level, such just south of the Ideal Beach Resort (near Rendezvous Beach) or just north of the ID border at the Bear Lake West beach.

I'll be up in Fish Haven on the ID side starting next weekend (about 7/15). Our cabin is right at the Fish Haven sign--stop by and say hello if you want to sail.

Photo of Bear Lake attached--note the Carribean colored water!

Hi Eric,

We've talked many times before! It's a pity I'll just miss you; but maybe I can come up the next weekend also (if I can afford the gas!)

I'm going to try for Rendevous point.

Hi Aaron

Just got home from 6 days on Rendezvous Beach with the Utah Sailing Association (USA). Conditions were great. Rendezvous offers good beach, camping, showers and restrooms and of course great wind.
Because of low water, launch access IN the State Park is run by a business who manages the launch and rental concession. We have had ok success by being respectful to the business, staying out of their way, and not backing out into the water, just keeping it close and fast at the waters edge. 4x4 is a good idea. Just my thoughts, your mileage may vary. There is free concrete ramp access at First Point a few miles around the lake on the east side past Laketown.

Have Fun!

I've been meaning to come out and meet up with some of the local sailors, but I have not had time lately.

Are there any truly active clubs around?

What sort of boats do the local fleets consist of?

Thx

From what I understand, the Bear Lake Yacht club is very active but mostly large keel boats.

I see tons of cats on the beach when I drive around, including H16s, G-cats, Nacras, Inter 18, Freestyle, Stilleto...but rarely do I see them sailing except myself, when I'm there.

Love so see more cats sailing!

After lurking around Catsailor Forums for 6 years now (my avitar says "stranger" but I don't feel like one),
I was finaly motivated to speak up when I saw Aaron's post regarding Bear Lake UT/ID.

I invite anyone(especially Aaron, Eric, and Will)interested in sailing with some nice folks in and around Utah waters to contact our fleet at www.utahsailing.com, our schedule and contact information is listed there. We usually schedule 7 official family camping/sailing events each year and then fill in the gaps from there. We usually have 7-12 boats on the beach for our events. Prindles, Hobies, Inters, and Nacras, but anyone and anything that floats is welcome to stop by and say hello.

And on a side note..

Thanks Catsailor Members!
I learn so much by reading all the advice and opinions this community has to offer. Makes be a better and safer sailor.

Jon,
Thanks for chiming in and the web site reference. I'll look for your events. I'm at Bear Lake only 2-3 weeks a year but really enjoy it. My grandparents were born in Paris, ID but moved to Calif. They bought a cabin at the Lake in the 1940s, and my family has been going there since. We're right at the "Fish Haven" sign as you're going north.

Seems like this post has received a bit of attention since 2 weeks ago. Jon - thanks so much for the link to your site. This coming weekend I've already scheduled for Bear Lake (at Rendevous Point in the Big Creek campsite right on the beach) but for future events I'm definitely interested.

Eric - perhaps there's a way we could sail up the lake to meet you? Is that a long distance for a catamaran to go (from Rendezvous Point to your beach house?)

Don't try to sail all the way (>12 miles), but stop by via land and we'll arrange a time to sail--I'm right at the "entering Fish Haven" sign (?5 miles north of Garden City)--just pull in; would love to sail your nacra with you.