Berry Picking Near Salt Lake City: What You Need to Know
Salt Lake City sits near Bear Lake, whose raspberries are so celebrated that the area hosts an annual raspberry festival drawing visitors from across the region. Strawberry and blueberry farms along the Wasatch Front round out a berry season that runs from June through August.
Mountain West Berries
Berry picking in the mountain west is a more rugged and varied affair than in the country's major commercial berry regions, blending small cultivated raspberry and strawberry farms with a strong tradition of wild foraging for huckleberries, chokecherries, and buffaloberries. Montana's wild huckleberry is something close to a state obsession, found in everything from jam to ice cream, while Utah's Bear Lake raspberries have built a regional following strong enough to support an annual festival. Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming all contribute small but dedicated berry-growing communities that take advantage of the high-altitude sun and cool nights to concentrate flavor in whatever fruit they produce.
Best Time to Go Berry Picking Near Salt Lake City
June through August, anchored by the celebrated Bear Lake raspberry harvest in August alongside strawberries and blueberries along the Wasatch Front.
Tips for Your Salt Lake City Berry Picking Trip
Bear Lake raspberry season from Salt Lake City peaks in August, and the area's raspberry festival is worth timing your visit around if you want the full regional experience beyond just picking.