Construction activities are advancing on the Bear Lake Marina expansion in Garden City, Utah. The Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are overseeing the project. Located at the West Beach North site, the development is expected to increase marina capacity, enhance recreational access and address infrastructure limitations identified over the past two decades.

According to the project’s official website, the expanded marina will feature 394 boat slips, including overnight, rental and side moorage options. Alongside additional launch ramps, the design also includes a deeper marina to allow boat access under various water conditions.
As part of the layout, 125 trailer parking spaces and 402 auto parking spaces are planned, split between the north and south marina areas. Several amenities are under consideration for inclusion in the final design, such as picnic areas, fueling stations, fairways, a concessionaire building and dry storage upgrades.
The need for expansion was first outlined in the 2005 Bear Lake State Park Resource Management Plan and further developed in a 2016 programming study. In 2022, funding for the project was approved, allowing progress toward an anticipated construction start in spring 2025. The build is expected to take approximately 18 months; however, timelines may shift due to factors such as weather, supply chain issues or material availability.

Ongoing work includes the placement of fill material in the expansion area. To support structural development, blasting operations are scheduled to begin as early as 11 July at a rock source west of Garden City. The extracted rock will be used for shoreline protection and essential infrastructure. Starting in August, materials will also be transported from a second source south of Garden City.
In addition to increasing capacity, the project aims to ease lake congestion and improve safety. A deeper marina and improved access routes will allow for more reliable launching, even during low water levels. The site is also designed to support quicker evacuation and emergency response during storm events.
Construction updates, environmental monitoring and further design refinements will continue to be posted on the project’s official site as progress continues.