WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 275
Idaho · Couples · Two nights

Bear Lake

Turquoise water and raspberry shakes.

Bear Lake straddles the Idaho-Utah border at nearly 6,000 feet, and its water is an unlikely Caribbean turquoise thanks to limestone in the lakebed. Land at Bear Lake County Airport near Paris, Idaho, drive around the lake to Garden City, Utah, for a famous raspberry shake, stay in a glamping tent at Conestoga Ranch, spend the day on the beaches of Bear Lake State Park, and drive the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway.

LakeGlampingMountains
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
The turquoise water and sandy shore of Bear Lake
Bear Lake’s famous blue water.
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to 1U7
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~1607 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~10 hr 56 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

A county airport near the lake.

1U7, Bear Lake County Airport, is a non-towered airport at 5,933 feet with a 5,728-foot main runway near Paris, Idaho, about 45 minutes from Garden City.

The FBO

Bear Lake County Airport

Bear Lake County Airport, Paris, ID

208-847-1374

High elevation; compute performance carefully. Birds on and near the airport. 100LL only. Arrange a car ahead; services are limited. Logan-Cache (KLGU), with Leading Edge Aviation, is an alternative over the mountains. No live fuel price is shown.

Mountain flying: high density altitude on summer afternoons, strong winds and turbulence over the ridges, afternoon thunderstorms in summer, and winter snow and icing. About 1610 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.

02 / Where to stay

Glamping or a luxury B&B.

Rates and availability need travel dates. Summer books early.

03 / Where to eat

Raspberry shakes and a ranch grill.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Lake, caves and canyon.

The lake is coldest in June and warmest in August.

05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Bear Lake events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample Bear Lake weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at 1U7, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    Drive around to Garden City and a raspberry shake.

  3. Evening

    Dinner by the lake.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    Beach day at the state park.

  2. Afternoon

    Minnetonka Cave.

  3. Evening

    Campfire at Conestoga Ranch.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    Logan Canyon drive.

  2. Before leaving

    Compute takeoff performance and allow time at the FBO.

  3. Fly home

    Mountain winds build by afternoon; leave early.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging and a car.

Very long flight

About 1,610 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.

Altitude

Nearly 6,000 feet.

Best seasons

June to September.

Reviewed · Destination 275

Reviewed November 6, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.