Native Americans named the river Quee-ya-paw for a tobacco root that grew along its banks. Trappers called it "Bear River" because of the many bears that frequented the area. Indians and trappers often held rendezvous in this area, including one in 1825 near Burnfork, just 50 miles southeast of here. The nearly 300 acres that make up Bear River State Park was opened to the public in 1991. The park has been included within the Evanston city imits and is connected to the Bear Project, a greenbelt project underway by the city. Although the Bear Project is not on the state park, it allows visitors to easily connect to downtown Evanston via an interconnecting trail system.

• Hike the trails following in the footsteps of Jim Bridger, Cut Face Sublette, Hugh Glass, and Chief Washakie.