Ask a Utahn about Bear Lake and you’ll hear about two things: the impossibly turquoise water, and the raspberry shakes. A trip to Garden City without one hardly counts.
Why Bear Lake raspberries are special
Bear Lake has been growing raspberries for about a century. At roughly 6,000 feet, the area stays cool in summer, and the signature berry is the sweet Canby, according to the Bear Lake visitors bureau. It hasn’t always been easy: a plant virus that arrived in 2001 wiped out whole farms, and growers have fought to keep the tradition alive ever since.
The harvest usually starts around the third week of July, and the town celebrates with Raspberry Days every August, with a parade, a rodeo and a boat light parade. The 2026 festival ran August 6 to 8.
And that water? Bear Lake gets its famous turquoise color from limestone particles suspended in it, which is why people call it the “Caribbean of the Rockies.”
A note on timing: Bear Lake’s shake stands are summer-only, generally from late spring through Labor Day. Plan your shake run for June through August, and check hours before you go.
1. LaBeau’s Drive-In
Come for: the shake food writers rave about.
LaBeau’s has been serving Bear Lake since 1981, and Tasting Table named its raspberry shake the best drink in Utah. Some local berries have come from a nearby Garden City farm. Expect a line on summer afternoons, and know the house rules: no call-in orders, and it’s closed Sundays.
Order: the raspberry shake. That’s the whole point.
Where: 69 N. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City
Season: Roughly mid-May through Labor Day. See labeaus.com
2. Zipz
Come for: a newer favorite with fun flavor twists.
Zipz opened in 2014 and has quickly become one of the busiest shake stops in town. Visit Utah calls it a popular spot that’s always buzzing with visitors. Fans recommend trying a raspberry lime shake if you want something a little different.
Where: 75 N. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City
Season: Summer
3. Hometown Drive-In
Come for: a classic shake from a crowd favorite.
Hometown Drive-In is another stop Visit Utah singles out as always busy in summer, with a raspberry shake that regulars rank among the best in town.
Where: 105 N. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City
Season: Summer
Locals’ advice
All three stands sit within a couple of blocks of each other on Bear Lake Boulevard, and as Visit Utah puts it, you really can’t go wrong. Locals all have their own favorites, so the best plan is a taste test. Split a shake at each, compare, and argue about it the whole drive home.
- Go late July or August for peak raspberry season and Raspberry Days.
- Beat the afternoon line by getting your shake before lunch or after dinner.
- Bring patience on summer weekends, when lines get long.
Making a northern Utah road trip? Pair Bear Lake with our foodie day trip through Cache Valley, and see more Cache Valley stories.
Details in this guide draw on Visit Utah, the Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, Garden City, the Herald Journal, Tasting Table and each business’s own website. Stands are seasonal and hours change, so confirm before you go. Top photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.