Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border is called the Caribbean of the Rockies, and the nickname holds up: the lake's famously vivid turquoise color reflects light the way tropical oceans do. Conestoga Ranch Glamping Resort (rated 4/5 on TripAdvisor with 755 reviews and ranked #1 of 8 specialty lodgings in Garden City) sits on 18 acres right along the shoreline, and it's the kind of resort that makes camping feel like a completely different activity.
Royal and Grand Tents sleep between 2 and 6 guests with in-suite bathrooms, proper beds, and views over the lake. For groups, covered wagons sleep 4 to 6. There's a campfire valet who builds and lights your fire, complimentary cruiser bikes, a spa bathhouse, a restaurant, and a bar. Rates start from $233/night for 6 guests (which is about 39 per person!).
🏴☠️ Pirate Tip: Our family comes to Bear Lake every year, and the raspberry shakes are always one of the highlights! Garden City’s roadside stands and drive-ins serve thick, fresh raspberry shakes all summer, and people definitely have strong opinions about where to get the best one. LaBeau’s is the classic, but Zipz, Hometown Drive-In, and even the local Chevron all have loyal fans.
Raspberry season runs from July through August, so if you’re visiting in summer, getting one is basically mandatory. The lake itself stretches for 20 miles, and the water is usually warm enough for swimming from June through August.
