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Bear Lake Valley History
The
Bear Lake area was first visited in the winter of 1811-12 by a small group of
trappers who had separated from the Wilson Price Hunt Expedition.
These trappers discovered and named the river and lake Miller after
Joseph Miller, their leader and guide, who was probably the first white man to
explore the Bear Lake Valley. Six
years later Donald McKenzie and his party came to this valley and renamed the
river and lake after many black bears they had discovered.
In 1826, Jim Bridger, with the Ashley Party, followed Bear River to the Great
Salt Lake.
Thomas L. Smith, known as “Peg Leg Smith”, was the first settler in the Bear
Lake Valley. He operated a cattle
business, trading post, and horse exchange on an island in the Bear River near
what is now Dingle, Idaho.
Under the direction of Brigham Young, hundreds of Mormon pioneers seeking homes
helped settle the Bear Lake Valley. In
1863, Apostle Charles C. Rich led an exploration party into the valley to select
a permanent townsite. They chose the
westside of the valley at North Twin Creek, which was later named Paris Creek.
The settlement they created is named Paris.
The principal crops of Bear Lake County are wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa, meadow
hay, and several kinds of garden vegetables.
Father south in the Bear Lake region, raspberries are grown.
The wide ranges are excellent areas for the raising of livestock.
Bear Lake, from which the county derives its name, is one of the most attractive
scenic areas of Idaho. It is 20
miles long by 8 miles wide, its elevation is 5,924 feet above sea level, and it
abounds in fish of many kinds, such as several varieties including Bonneville
Cisco, Sculpin, Utah Sucker, and Cutthroat Trout.
There are other scenic points in the county. Northwest of the lake are St.
Charles Canyon and Minnetonka Cave. To the northwest is Bloomington Canyon at
the summit is Bloomington Lake, nestled below huge cliffs.
Northwest of Paris is Canon Basin, in which is an ice cave of blue
limestone and ice formations. Big
game abound in the forests, and fishing in the streams and lakes is excellent.
Tradition supports the existence of the Bear Lake Monster which has been sighted
periodically since the days when Indians roamed freely in the valley.
Garden City, Utah
Garden City has a scenic 4.2 mile paved hiking and biking trail from Harbor
Village to Ideal Beach Resort. Interpretive
signs and benches are placed along the trail for those interested in learning
about the wildlife, fish, Legend of the Bear Lake monster, early settlers to the
valley, and why the lake is blue.
Garden City Park
A
raised wooden walkway to Bear Lake located is located at the Garden City Park.
Interpretive signs tell the story of the lake and surrounding areas.
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