Montpelier is a historic small town surrounded by natural beauty
Montpelier sits in the southeastern corner of Idaho, less than 20 miles from both the Wyoming and Utah state borders. This quiet mountain town is a popular vacation destination in the summer and the administrative and service center for Bear Lake County throughout the year. Originally settled in the mid-19th century by Mormon pioneers, Montpelier became a significant waypoint on the Oregon Trail over the following decades. Today, the local economy is driven by a mix of agriculture, small-scale retail, healthcare and government services. “It’s basically a small town with a close-knit community, like a lot of other places around the country,” says broker and Montpelier native Devin Skinner of Property PROS Realty. “What separates it from other places is all the outdoor recreation. You’ve got the mountains, the lake, tons of hunting and fishing. It’s basically a resort town without the resort.”
Early-20th-century builds and midcentury ranches
Home styles in Montpelier run the gamut, from century-old bungalows, Tudors and farmhouses to midcentury ranch-style homes to scattered modern homes. It’s also fairly common for incoming residents to buy a plot in or around town and build their own home. The town’s location in the Bear River Valley means many homes get clear views of either the Bear River Mountains to the west or the Caribou Range to the east. Most homes in the area sell for between $230,000 to $400,000, though some modern properties and homes on acreage can go for a bit more. Lot prices start at around $50,000 for a half-acre in town.
Tons of outdoor opportunities just outside town
Montpelier maintains a handful of public parks, including Stock Park, which has tennis courts and a playground and is home to the National Oregon/California Trail Center. The Montpelier Golf Course on the north side of town is a 9-hole public course with mountain views. To the east of town, Montpelier Canyon offers tons of hiking and scenic views, along with access to Caribou-Targhee National Forest. “I love that we’re surrounded by mountains,” says Skinner. “You can literally hike out of town and walk into the Caribou Range.” Bear Lake is just a few miles south of town and has beaches, fishing and boating. In winter, snowmobiling is a popular pastime, and groomed trails extend into the surrounding hills and national forest lands. The town is also less than an hour away from two ski areas.
Retail is concentrated along Washington and 4th
Washington Street and 4th Street are home to most of Montpelier’s shopping and restaurants. Broulim’s Fresh Foods, the local supermarket, is located at the intersection of the two streets, just across the road from Gunderson Ace Hardware. A few smaller shops can be found around town, but residents looking for major retailers generally have to drive all the way to Logan, Utah—about 70 miles away by car. The town’s small but diverse restaurant scene includes highly rated spots like Ohana Island Grill, Dan’s Drive In and El Jaliciense. Montpelier’s small, walkable downtown area on Washington Street is home to both of the town’s bars, Butch Cassidy Museum and the Centre Theatre—the only movie theater in the area. The Bear Lake Memorial Hospital on the south side of town is the county’s only hospital and one of Montpelier’s largest employers.
Bear Lake County public schools
The local public schools are overseen by the Bear Lake County School District. A.J. Winters Elementary and Bear Lake Middle School both have B-plus ratings on Niche. Bear Lake High School has a B and offers dual enrollment courses through partnerships with multiple Idaho colleges, including the College of Southern Idaho.
Quaint local events draw some crowds
The Montpelier Fourth of July parade draws residents from around the county and includes fireworks at the high school field. Every year the Butch Cassidy Museum reenacts Cassidy’s robbery of the Bank of Montpelier. The original robbery took place on August 13th, 1896, and the reenactment occurs on the Saturday closest to its anniversary. During Bear Lake’s Raspberry Days festival in nearby Garden City, Utah, Montpelier businesses often coordinate sales and activities to catch the overflow of visitors.
U.S. Routes 30 and 89 connect to the rest of the world
Montpelier has two major thoroughfares: U.S. Route 30, which runs northwest to southeast, and U.S. Route 89, which runs northeast to southwest. There is no public transportation system, so owning a car is generally viewed as a necessity. The nearest airport with commercial service is Logan-Cache Airport in Utah, about 70 miles away. It’s another 90 miles to the larger Salt Lake City International Airport. Road conditions can be challenging in the winter months, especially on backroads and higher elevation routes.
