Hiking Bloomington Lake
Bear Lake
Overview
|
Sun 69 | 52 |
Mon 73 | 52 |
Tue 73 | 56 |
Wed 72 | 55 |
Thu 68 | 54 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Sun 69 | 52 |
Mon 73 | 52 |
Tue 73 | 56 |
Wed 72 | 55 |
Thu 68 | 54 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Bloomington Lake
Bloomington Lake must be one of the best short hikes around Bear Lake. The short, immensely popular hike leads to a stunning high alpine lake surrounding by jagged ridgelines. I first visited in the mid-90's while attending Utah State University and remember it as being dramatic and lovely. When I re-visited it more recently, I was pleasantly surprised to find it still lived up to my expectations as far as scenery goes. It is an amazing lake!
The hike to the lake is just a little over a half mile, and suitable for most. On a sizzling summer weekend, you are likely to see quite a crowd making the trek to the lake. Because it is short, many carry in inflatable rafts, paddle boards, and even full-size camp chairs into the lakes shore. It can be quite a scene! If solitude is what you are after, look elsewhere! We found going early in the morning worked best to avoid the crowds. By noon, as we headed out, the trail and lake short were beginning to get quite crowded.
Bring a bathing suit and towel, the clear cool water can be irresistible to swimming!
Rugged peak along the shore of Bloomington Lake
Getting There
The trailhead is reached from Bloomington Idaho. On the south end of town, turn west on Canyon St.
- Reset your odometer as you turn west off of ID-89. ( 12T 466838E 4670710N / 42°11'16"N 111°24'06"W )
- 8.0 miles - Major junction. Go left. ( 12T 454628E 4669954N / 42°10'50"N 111°32'58"W )
- 8.3 miles - Major junction. Go right. ( 12T 454668E 4669727N / 42°10'42"N 111°32'56"W )
- 10.4 miles - Major junction, go right. ( 12T 452155E 4667693N / 42°09'36"N 111°34'45"W )
- 11.25 miles - End of road / Trailhead ( 12T 451786E 4666527N / 42°08'58"N 111°35'01"W )
The first pond reached, before Bloomington Lake
Route
From the trailhead, follow the signed trail on south side of the parking lot. It climbs briefly as it heads west, then descends past a stunning clear unnamed pond. This first pond makes a good, and usually uncrowded, place for a picnic or to hang out as well.
Just past the pond, the trail braids a bit. All major social trails end up at Bloomington Lake. My preference is to stay on the more easterly trails as they reach the northern narrow end of Bloomington Lake first. At the lake proper, there is usually a rope swing hanging from a tree on the northeast side for the adventurous and many great spots to play along most of the northern shore.
Return the same way.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead |
12T 451756E 4666515N 42°08'57"N 111°35'02"W |
| Bloomington lake |
12T 452398E 4665995N 42°08'41"N 111°34'34"W |