South Eden Campground

Bear Lake is just gorgeous. They are not kidding when they call it the “Caribbean of the Rockies” because the aqua blue waters look like something you’d see on a tropical island.
The campgrounds is nothing fancy, but you can’t beat the location. Site 8 is 50’ from the water and has uninterrupted views of the water. The camp is a loop with sites 1-13 being directly on the water on across the road (no sites between the road and water in those cases). 2 different pit toilets, both clean and close. Water and electric on most sites. There is a paved bike path that circumnavigates the entire lake so being your bikes.

We came for a 4 day stay. My boyfriend, our 3 kids and myself. They keep the toilet area clean. I recommend spot 002 if you want shade. Its the only spot with a big enough tree to block the sun for most of the day. Bring something for shade if you get any other spot. All the spots are nice and large and pretty flat. Really rocky beaches and shores (I also recommend water shoes lol).

The beach has one shady spot. It on the other side of camp spot 2 (the one mentioned above) We were there when the camp host had family visiting. We were told to move past the rocks because we were in a campsite. Didnt realize that sweet spot was an actual site till we were asked to move forward. We did. No one occupied the camp site that night or the next morning. The hosts and thier family occupied the shady part of the beach. Okay fine. Maybe the family rented spot 2 for the day and they were enjoying the shade. Next morning, we go to the opposite side of the beach where the tree is still shading. We are maybe 5 feet from where the water hits the beach. Kids are all out swimming in the water. We hear someone yelling angrily behind us. We turn around the camp host is making gestures and tells us that spot is rented and we are getting the boot when the people in site 2 show up for their spot. We say 'your wife said in front of the rock yesterday and we are abiding by that' He starts yelling at us. Were had already felt uncomfortable that first day after they asked us to move and then they occupied where we were sitting. So my boyfriend asks for the number for the office. At this point I feel harrased. Host says follow me. So my bf does. Gets the flyer from the host while the host is getting in my boyfriends face, 2 members from the hostess family came over and started telling my boyfriend if he "didn't like the way he was being treated to just leave".
Officer was also called, as my boyfriend and I felt threatened. There were 20-25 of them and 2 of us being adults and the rest of us kids. Now mind you, this officer was friends with the camp host and had just stopped by to ticket the wife for pulling people on tubes without a flag (camp host talked officer out of ticketing him. Camp host was yelling it at his wife after officer left from that incident)
The camp host had his dog off the leash the whole time. I dont mind dogs, but this one barked at us for a good 20 minutes on the beach before anyone even came to grab him. Also let the dog crap on the beach and left it there for the 4 days we were there.

Overall, great camp site! Just hope the host doesn't have all their family up there when you go, or that you don't get profiled like we did.

(Just to note. We weren't loud or obnoxious,we picked up our site everyday, didn't leave garbage around, left the place cleaner than we found it, in bed by 10. Idk what that guys problem was but I hope they replace him or teach him a few things about customer service and not to assume the whole camp site is yours. People pay to be there. He gets paid to be there. 🤷)

The State Park website mentioned road work on Cisco Road but . . . The last four miles to the campground (from Laketown) is extremely rough and dusty. Then once in the campground you are only about 50 yards from the road that is undergoing major construction. It's like camping in the middle of a major construction project.

Aside from the road construction (and the heavy smoke throughout the area) it's not a very nice campground. The lower section (lakefront) are the best sites. The sites are very large (48 feet wide) but the front 30 feet are in a dip about 2 feet lower than the back section. The site is a mix of gravel, grass and weeds and there's a water outlet on every other site.

The beach is rock, no sand, with trees growing in the water. If you have a boat, you have to launch outside of the campground and deal with the road construction.

I have not seen the other campgrounds in the area but I would not stay in South Eden again.

We have been camping here every year for the past 5 years. The campsite is a large group site with a huge pavilion and grassy area for tents. There's also a fire ring with log benches all around. The lake depending on the water level has been 10-30 feet away. It's rockier than the Idaho side and more popular beach sites but this side gives you plenty of space and privacy.