Rich County: Nature, History and Trails

Rich County brings together the Bear Lake landscape, historic buildings and activities that vary by season. When planning your trip, it’s worth keeping both seasonal conditions and the different places and routes in mind.

Bear Lake: Landscape, History and Seasonal Experiences

Bear Lake’s distinctive color comes from tiny suspended particles of calcium carbonate. They originate in limestone deposits in the surrounding mountains and are washed into the lake. Fur traders held rendezvous on the south shore in 1827 and 1828. Landscape and history therefore meet here across different periods.

Uses of the state-owned portions of the lakebed in Rich County, on, under and above the lakebed, must be regulated. Goals include protecting navigation, fish and wildlife habitats, scenic beauty, public recreation and water quality. Check the applicable requirements before making plans. At Bear Lake, visitors can dive in a marked diving area off Cisco Beach on the lake’s east side; conditions depend on the season and weather. Fishing for Bonneville Cisco is also subject to time-dependent fishing regulations. Check the current rules before fishing.

Bear Lake raspberries are harvested in late July or during the first weeks of August; the exact timing varies with the weather. This seasonal guide differs from the longer-term nature and history topics around the lake: timing matters for raspberries, while the rendezvous on the south shore are historically associated with the years 1827 and 1828.

Seasonal Activities

Winter activities in Rich County include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Whether they are possible depends on snow and access conditions. In summer and fall, options include hiking, camping, backpacking and horseback riding; conditions and land management rules come into play. The seasons therefore offer different planning priorities, and the same activities cannot be assumed to be available year-round.

The named trails also differ in how they are described. The Limber Pine Trail has markers leading to a limber pine that is more than 500 years old. The markers and the tree’s age give this trail a special connection to nature. For the Little Creek Reservoir Trail, the parking area is at the cemetery in Randolph, next to the old fire station. Access rules can change, so check the information before your visit.

Routes Around Randolph

The New Canyon Trail begins west of Randolph near Little Creek Reservoir and ends at Cottonwood Canyon/Laketown Road. The Twin Peak Road, by contrast, begins in Randolph, passes Little Creek Reservoir and ends at State Route 30, seven miles east of Laketown. The two routes thus differ in both their described starting points and their endpoints. Check the conditions on each route before your trip.

The numerous mine shafts on the east side of the Crawford Mountains are another feature of the historic landscape. If you’d like to consider nature and history alongside each other as you plan your trip, the trails and historic sites offer different points of interest.

Historic Buildings in Laketown, Woodruff and Randolph

The Laketown Relief Society Hall was formally dedicated on July 29, 1906. It preserves Laketown’s pioneer heritage and houses the local chapter of the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers. This institutional use may change. In Woodruff, the Woodruff Stake House is considered the only remaining historic building of local significance representing the Mormon Church and its strong influence on the community.

The Randolph Tabernacle was built between 1898 and 1914 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is considered an outstanding example of Victorian eclectic religious architecture in Randolph and Rich County. Together, the three buildings reflect different historical connections: the dedication and pioneer heritage in Laketown, the local influence of the Mormon Church in Woodruff, and an architectural style significant to Randolph and Rich County.

Discover more destinations: Laketown, Daggett County, San Juan County, Sanpete County, Iron, Carbon, Wayne County, Duchesne County.

For the main travel overview: Utah.