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Boats on the Bear River

12K views 18 replies 11 participants last post by  Fiction32  
#1 ·
With the weather warming up, I'm interested in taking a canoe from Cache Valley to the Great Salt Lake on the Bear River.

Anybody know what the access in the area is? I figured if anybody would know, the waterfowlers would.
 
#5 ·
That's something I've been wanting to do also! It would take at least 2 or 3 days to do the whole thing. If you did it during spring runoff it would be a faster trip as long as you could still pass under the bridges. There is a spillway about 2 miles north of the state line that blocks the river, so you would have to put in below that. You will also have to paddle about 7 miles of flat water in the north end of Cutler marsh between where the river flows into the marsh and the dam. You would have to take out about a mile upstream of Cutler dam and take your canoe around the mountain to other side of the dam to keep going. Sounds really interesting, let us know how it goes!
 
#7 ·
Depending on how far north you want to start out, you could launch at the highway bridge on 13400 North near Cornish. Farther north than that would probably require permission to cross a farmer's land. There is also a WMA in Trenton that you could launch at.
 
#9 ·
Kevin D said:
Pumpgunner said:
Farther north than that would probably require permission to cross a farmer's land.
It is my understanding that a recent Utah law allows you to drift across private land as long as you don't drop anchor or try to paddle upstream. A landowner may own the river bed, but they don't own the river.
That's true, you can definitely float over private land but I'm only talking about crossing private land to launch a canoe. Between Cornish and the state line there's not many places to access the river that aren't on private land that I know of.
 
#11 ·
Kevin D said:
Pumpgunner said:
Farther north than that would probably require permission to cross a farmer's land.
It is my understanding that a recent Utah law allows you to drift across private land as long as you don't drop anchor or try to paddle upstream. A landowner may own the river bed, but they don't own the river.
The bear river is not included in the stream access issues as the river bed is publicly owned. No one ownes the bed of the bear river in Box elder county. I imagine it's the same in cache county.

You can paddle/boat all the way out to the BRBR's dam. Where the auto loop is. Once there that would be the end of the line. Simply pull your boat out of the river at the parking lot right there. Boating on the refuge would land you a several hundred dollar citation.
 
#13 ·
The Bear River was deemed navigable at Statehood, and thus the public owns the streambeds (Public Trust Doctrine) on this and the other rivers listed below:

R652-70-2400. Recreational Use of Navigable Rivers.
1. Navigable rivers include the Bear River, Jordan River, and portions of the Green and Colorado rivers. On the Green River the navigable portions presently recognized as being owned by the state are generally described as from Dinosaur National Monument to the mouth of Sand Wash, and from the mouth of Desolation Canyon at Swazey's Rapid, also known as Twelve Mile Rapid, to the north boundary of Canyonlands National Park. On the Colorado River the navigable portions presently recognized as being owned by the state are generally described as from the mouth of Castle Creek to the east boundary of Canyonlands National Park and from the mouth of Cataract Canyon to the Arizona state line. Except as specified, this Section applies to recreational navigation on these waters.
 
#14 ·
Daisy said:
The Bear River was deemed navigable at Statehood, and thus the public owns the streambeds (Public Trust Doctrine) on this and the other rivers listed below:

R652-70-2400. Recreational Use of Navigable Rivers.
1. Navigable rivers include the Bear River, Jordan River, and portions of the Green and Colorado rivers. On the Green River the navigable portions presently recognized as being owned by the state are generally described as from Dinosaur National Monument to the mouth of Sand Wash, and from the mouth of Desolation Canyon at Swazey's Rapid, also known as Twelve Mile Rapid, to the north boundary of Canyonlands National Park. On the Colorado River the navigable portions presently recognized as being owned by the state are generally described as from the mouth of Castle Creek to the east boundary of Canyonlands National Park and from the mouth of Cataract Canyon to the Arizona state line. Except as specified, this Section applies to recreational navigation on these waters.
Uintahiker,
I knew it would get posted up. Your good to paddle/boat the entire river in the state of Utah. From the boarder to the BRBR. Why stop in Corinne? You will miss seeing all the waterfowl birds as you work your way out west! When you do this take your camera and post of some pics for us to see. 8)

Interesting fact about the BR. It is the largest river in the US that doesn't empty into the ocean.
 
#19 ·
Scratch that. Just remembered that's all off limits and should be marked with buoys. Private property north and railroad tracks and tunnel south which is also no trespass. Unless you can get permission I'd look at pulling out in Cache Junction and going through Beaver Dam to the bridge below the dam or long divide to Cutler Dam road than NE past the scout camp to the same bridge. Hamptons Ford might also be worth considering.