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GARDEN CITY, Utah – A combination of strong winds and frigid temperatures created some unique sights at Bear Lake Thursday, and you won't have to battle any crowds to see them.
It's not the lake's peak season, but you might find something stunning if you know where to look. Local resident and photography enthusiast Carol Dyer lives nearby and said she annually checks the ice during her favorite time of year.
"I absolutely love getting the breathtaking views, and the stunning patterns that it makes is just amazing," Dyer said.
Whether it's large ice shards near the Ideal Beach Resort, or more swirl-like formations north of the West Side Marina, the winter landscape presents unique shapes every time.
Richard Droesbeke, manager of Utah's Bear Lake State Park, said the formations vary significantly. Some years may have more formations to visit than other years, and sometimes formations present themselves later in the season.
"You get these, like, little ice shards at times," Droesbeke said. "It's kind of fascinating. It's neat to watch, and each one is a little bit different on how things happen."
Dyer told KSL-TV that it's always worth taking a look.
"As you go, you know, high above there, about 300 feet up in the air, it's just – the color is stunning. It's definitely the Caribbean of the Rockies for sure," Dyer said.
But with a shift in the weather and movement in the water, it can all change or even drift away.
